mets to lung
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Singlemom, I was told to avoid massages too. It really stinks because I am in desperate need.
I have a 3 cm mass in my lower left lobe and a total of 17 or so from 3 mm to 2 cm all over my lungs and above the clavicle. Taxol original shrank a few of the smaller tumors and there was minor shrinkage in the largest mass. Two scans since then have showed minor progression which is freaking me out a bit.
Both my pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon feel that the 3 cm mass looks completely different than the others and strongly feel that it's primary lung cancer. I am currently on tamoxifen but it's not doing anything yet, however the mass has grown.
I am going in for a bronchoscopy next week and am a bit nervous. Due to the placement of the mass, they aren't certain that they'll be able to reach it to collect a sample. For those who have had this done, can you share your experience?
I'm not the best patient being under during procedures like this. I am slow to recover and always seem to end up being admitted for several days. I will try but this isn't going to be a peaceful week.
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GatorGal and SlowDeepBreaths, thanks for the information. I've been reading up on the surgery and it does sound pretty rough. They don't know yet if it's mets or a new cancer, guess we'll find out. My surgery is June 6th, I'll keep you posted. I may PM you with more questions - thanks again!
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Avoid massage? I've never heard that. Doesn't make sense to me. Better circulation is a good thing especially if you have metastatic cancer. You need to keep your lymphatic system moving. This is why exercise is also important.
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re. massage and cancer, breast cancer, with lung mets - all of my clinicians have always encouraged massage and body work throughout my 25 years with cancer.
I have mets in lung, pleura, liver, peritoneal, lymph nodes and a few bones.
The only contraindications are to avoid vigorous manipulation near bone mets and to wisely massage arm with lymphedema.
This might be a regional acceptance of hands-on healing - I'm north of San Francisco where every other person has a license to touch, that is a massage license.
Was so dismayed to read this recommendation here, that I started a thread on the Holistic Forum with hopes that others will contribute...surely bco has massage therapist members? I also included several resources on acceptance of and contraindications to massage in people with cancer.
https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/79/topics...
Just last Tuesday when I took my lumpy neck bumps to my oncologist and hospice doctors they both approved gentle massage to the region. And yes, they think there're cancer cells in those bumps!
Warmest healing wishes, Stephanie
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Hi Minxie,
I didn't have a lobectomy for a single tumor, but I did have lung surgery (a VATS pleuradesis) to seal my lung linings together because they kept filling with pleural effusion fluid.
That was over 4 years ago, so I'm a bit hazy on the details. It was a general surgery and I was in hospital four days. It took another 2-3 weeks before I was back on my feet and several months until I was fully myself.
I have had several friends with lobectomies for other cancers metastasized to the lung and it really benefited them!
One friend with one missing lung and only 2/3 of her remaining lung went on to become a triathlete. She was an amazing person and her memory is a blessing!
I've read many good reports of surgical and radiation treatment of oligometastatic cancer in lung and liver when disease is confined to just one or two sites.
Make sure your surgeon answers all your questions before you agree...maybe we can help you ask better questions.
good healing wishes, Stephanie
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Regarding massages, my MO has a massage therapist come in offer complimentary services during infusion.
I had asked him about returning to my chiropractor for therapy and he recommended against it. His opinion was that many therapists don't know how to properly care for cancer patients, especially those of us with bone mets.
My chiropractor did minor adjustments but mostly utilized touch therapy and muscle building.
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Noni, My Pulmonologist said they couldn't reach mine with a bronchoscopy. I wish I had some info to share. Hopefully someone else will come along that has had one.
Stephanie, Thank you for sharing the information about massage!!
When I was going through PT for my RA, they used TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) on my neck. A few months after my PT was completed, I went through a pain management course and the physical therapist associated with the course said that was not recommended for BC patients. That is something I hadn't heard either. Differing opinions in the same field make me a bit crazy.
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Noni I had a bronchospy with an endobronchial ultrasound. I was told only 3 docs in CT were certified to do this kind of bronchoscopy. The procedure went fine and we obtained the biopsy. I had no problems afterwards. I was told it would be "dicey" with a regular bronchoscopy due to the location.
Thank you for feedback on massages. I am going to look further into information you provided long term.
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Texasrose, I think you were supposed to get your Pet scan results on Friday. Just Checking in, I hope it was good news!
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Good Morning all....well I did get my PET scan results on Friday and I am stable! I will take stable any day! I will stay on the current chemo regimine and will have a CT scan in 2 months to see how things are going! So good report!
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Oh...almost forgot. I did ask about massages and she said they actually offer them through Texas Oncology. Massages are not off limits.
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Awesome news Texasrose!!!
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Thank you Susan!
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Great news Texasrose! Stable is awesome. How often is your chemo regime - is it IV? I'm stable on the Ibrance/Faslodex combo, but still get pleural effusions.
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Good news, Texasrose!
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Yeah for stable!
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Thank you Ladies!! Yes...STABLE is GOOD! I can live with stable anyday!
LaLady1....my chemo is once every 3 weeks. It is an Infusion that takes about 2 hours with the steroids and Benadryl. It is called CMF (Cyclophosphamide, Methotrexate and Fluorouracil also known as 5FU) the 5FU is very similar to Xeloda. Very minimal SE's! Suppose to be a good chemo for TN, which I am.
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Great news Texasrose
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Wondering how reliable cat scans are for lung mets? When I had original biopsy on lymph node in lung, the pulmonologist made some kind of statement that once he got in there it wAs different than what he eexpected based on the CAT scan. I was so upset hearing the news of the cancer being my lungs that I did not ask him more questions about this statement. I remember him also stating that he was pretty sure it was cancer from what he saw before the results of biopsy was in. I am not sure how much to rely on the subsequent cat scans now. Originally the cat scan said 5 to 7 nodules of low volumebut I can't stop thinking of that off handed comment that pulmonary said.
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My onc also stated that we are not sure how many nodules you have but we are pretty sure they are cancer
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My experience with CT scans....I was diagnosed stage IV in May of 2015. 1 met to my sternum and 4 small mets to my lungs (largest 1.5 cm and the rest .7 mm). Started Taxol on May 22. CT scan done in July showed regression, CT done in September showed NED. I was so happy. In November my TM started rising so PET scan was ordered...the PET scan confirmed that all of my original mets were still active. There was also a new .8 mm met in my right lung. The largest nodule was now 1.6. My ONC asked the Radiologist to re-evaluate the CT scans...he told her the mets were not showing up in the CT. So....we have decided that CT scans do not work for me so the last 2 scans I have had have been PET scans. The insurance companies do not like to approve PET scans...but I have been lucky so far. I personally do not trust CT scans.
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Congrats Texas on your stable report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rosieo
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Thank you for sharing your experience texasrose
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CT scans have been the most reliable method for me so far. I've only had one PET scan and that showed mets to my hip which was a surprise. That's only because we didn't do a CT scan of my pelvis originally. I've had MRIs and x-rays as well as a bone scan but the CT scan a are most useful.
Most of my mets are above the clavicle. There are many in my lungs including a 3 cm mass that's growing and another 1.5 cm one that is stable in spite of chemo and hormones. My latest scan (4/22) showed additional spots that had appeared out of nowhere.
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Thank you for responding Noni. I am so sorry to hear of your additional spots. I see that you are hormone positive and just wondering if your Docs have discussed Ibrance with you? I noticed we are of similar age and I too also have a 10 year old daughter
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Singlemom1, I'm not sure what the next step is. I have a 2nd opinion appointment scheduled for the 23rd of this month and need to hear what they have to say. My current MO wants to keep me on tamoxifen until the end of June, just to see what happens.
I had a lung biopsy yesterday and am very anxious to see those results. They said I should hear from my pulmonologist by Tuesday. It's going to be a long weekend. He and my thoracic surgeon both feel that the mass is lung cancer. Having two primary cancers would be a real game changer.
How is your daughter handling everything?
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Noni, I hope your biopsy results are better than what the doctors are thinking! I hope you receive a great deal of support during this difficult weekend. Going for a 2nd opinion is always a good idea! You may want to read about Ibrance and then ask your medical team about it. My daughter knows the cancer has returned but does not know how serious it is this time. I plan to keep it this way for as long as possible. How is your daughter doing
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Barb I miss you..
Sleep in peace my dear
Ebru
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Texasrose, great news about your stable report! Wonderful.
Well, an update on Mary but it's not the kind I wanted to give.
She's decided not to have chemo anymore and use holistic methods instead. She never made it to UCLA. She got stuck in traffic and didn't make it. Then didn't call back to reschedule. And yesterday informed me she wasn't going to call back. I am very sad and fearful,of what might come. She says she's doing this for the family because she thinks this will give her more quality of life, less pain. She had allot of pain with chemo. (You Think??) To me, she's just giving up too fastand I know she was looking for any chance to just get out of it.
I will continue to stand by her, as hard as it is to understand her decision, and be there for her. She's feeling more tired and looked pale yesterday. She has not been as open with me as usual but I think she was dreading telling me of her decision. She waited a week before telling me.
Thanks for your thoughts and I truly appreciate all of you. It's amazing what I've learned from being here.0 -
Hi Blessed,
Not the news most of us wanted to hear, we'd rather she'd gone to UCLA and got the magic bullet to make all the cancer go away and live a longer, healthier life.
Yet, there are no assurances in any course of action and it sounds like she chose the one that she can go with now.
It's up to you to choose how you'll support her now.
I know that I personally have limits for supporting people I think are making unwise treatment decisions.
Example - a friend with uncontrolled diabetes who continued to drink cola drinks and eat junk. She lost vision, limb, function and eventually her life. Just agonizing for me to witness. Had to limit my exposure. Figured it was more my limitation than hers, but I'm not so highly evolved to go along with everything.
Support of someone who's suffering of whatever cause requires so much of us.
I hope you know your strengths and limits.
Blessings, dear Blessed, Stephanie
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