Lung Cancer - I might have it.

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Ok, so, here goes. I have recently found out that I probably have lung cancer.
I went to the doctor the week before last because I had a cough that would not go away and my breathing was becoming strained, I was getting out of breath quickly and I thought maybe I had asthma (my mom has it). I went for an xray on Monday at 9am and within 4 hours my doctors office phoned me to ask me to come in that evening and bring a friend or family member. My immediate thought was 'oh shit' and I wasn't wrong. There is a large 'mass/tumour' on the centre of my left lung. The doctors says it is best that I prepare myself for the fact it is cancer. I am on whats called a fast track or '2 week' list, this means I should be having further tests and a final prognosis within 2 weeks. I am going for my CT scan tonight at 5.15 (my time). So what I want to know is if there is anyone here who has been through this and what happened to you? Please know it took a great deal of thinking before I posted this, I don't want anyone thinking that I am just after sympathy or a 'poor MM', that's not it at all. I am after information, any information, good or bad, from anyone who has been through this or knows someone who has. As you can imagine my head is a shed at the moment, my brain wont switch off. Also has anyone heard of or tried apricot kernels for cancer? Thanks for listening/reading.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Oh shit.

No info here, but please keep me informed!

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Will do and thanks. Also I haven't told my family in Canada yet as I want to have all the facts first so please don't post anything on FB about this.

 

[angelbears]

Tammy, I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. I refuse to say that you have cancer until they are 100% sure. They put Debra through something similar a few years back. Turned out to be nothing. I know of others that have also been scared and it turned out to be nothing or at least not so serious.

If it is cancer it is a challenge not a death sentence! You must stay positive Be ready to go to war and win. Get a support system. I for one am here and I know others will be here too. You have my email, use it if you need to vent or just need an ear.

Sending positive thoughts!

Robin and Debra

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Thanks Ladies. I am hearing survivor stories all the time, and me being the bitch I am I know I can and will beat the shit out of it but its never a bad idea to be fully armed.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Will do and thanks. Also I haven't told my family in Canada yet as I want to have all the facts first so please don't post anything on FB about this.

I won't!

 

[raechiemay]

Sending positive vibes your way! And I'm also here if you need someone to talk to. Lung cancer took my grandpa 2 years ago & his brother a month after him. I know you're probably think wtf why is she telling me this? I'm saying it because my aunt was also diagnosed. At a very young age. I never actually heard what stage it was considered but from what I understand it was bad. She went through a very intense regime of chemo & radiation. There were times when we weren't sure it was going to work for her. At Christmas time 2 years ago we had to call the ambulance to come get her & take her to the hospital ASAP as we thought it was time. I will tell you that she fought tooth & nail & she is now in remission.

I told you that because I want you to stay strong. We are all here for you when you feel like you can't be. I'm going to be sending lots of prayers up for you. Keep us posted even if you don't post it here. You got this girl!!!

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I am so sorry, Tammy. I don't have any experience to offer but know that I am here if you need anything. You are in my prayers and please keep us updated.

 

[musicdeb]

I'm so sorry, Tammy. I cannot offer any advice because I've never known anyone with cancer. Please keep us posted on what the CT scan shows, let's hope that is a non-malignant tumor.

 

[TN Dogues]

My friend's mother recently went through this. After the initial x-ray, they will take a small sample to determine the type of cancer. They may also want to do a biopsy of your lymph nodes - to see if the cancer has spread. There are different types of cancers, and depending on whether yours is a slow growing or fast growing will determine what the doctors will do to fight it.

With a fast growing tumor doctors may recommend radiation and or chemo treatments first to kill it, followed by surgery and more chemo.

With a slow growing tumor, doctors may opt for surgery first and test you afterwards to see if you are cancer free. Then if you are not, they will follow up with radiation and chemo.

The most important thing for them to determine at this point, is whether it has spread to any other part of your body. It is very possible that you caught it quickly and it has not yet had a chance to spread.

Even if it has spread, chemo and radiation can be very effective at killing it.

Take each step as it comes, you will get through this. My friend's mother had lung surgery to remove one mass and is now cancer free and doing fine. Many people recover and can live normal lives.

Hope this was the info you were looking for.


You are also in our prayers.

 

[alejandro]

That's one of the worse news one can get, good luck stay strong, i don't wanna get "chaman" on you but it's my way, a few years ago my aunt had a cáncer diagnosis an someone told her about a guy in Cuba who makes a medicine that cure cáncer, people swear it works and they go from all over the world to see him, i wen't to Cuba around that time and look for the guy, even when in the end i got all the info to find him i didn't have the time to, but i do have the info if you care i'll be happy to send it to you, let me know. Anyway many people bit cáncer this days, YOU CAN DO IT TOO.

 

[AKBull]

I don't have any experience with it, but my thoughts are with ya, kid.

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

TN that is exactly what I had hoped to hear thank you!! By all means alejandro send me the information. Thank you everyone!

 

[Al and Julie]

Hi I am sorry too hear that but I am sure you can beat the odds. There is also a chance that they are wrong stay positive. Feel free to vent anytime you need to.

 

[DMikeM]

Tammy I am so sorry you are going through this. I have had 2 friends beat this one lost a 1/3 of her lung but she is doing very good. The other only lost a golfball sized mass that had attached to his lung.
The only thing I can recommend is DMG my friend Steve started taking it as soon as he scheduled for surgery and continued to take it through his Chemo treatments. The doctor said his time to heal and recover was cut in half at least.
Dimethylglycine | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Dear MM, if you smoke, QUIT.
Find a great probiotic with 10 Billion or more active cells. (Your immune system starts in your stomach...start the fight there!)
Get yourself at least 4, but up to 10 thousand IU of high quality vitamin D.
Omega 3 supplements...good ones...we are all getting too much Omega 6 and 9 in our diets...Unless you eat cold water fish 3 times a week it's almost guaranteed you are unbalanced. We use Omega 3 from Krill, it's purer and sustainable.
If you don't have a Naturopath find one. I believe my sister-in-law survived her very aggressive breast cancer because her Oncologist and her Naturopath worked together!!!

I've encountered several people over the years that have developed lung cancer. In one case there was no underlying issue, no smoking, no gardening with carcinogenic chemicals, no exposure to radon gas, no off gasing from new carpets or composite flooring, no exposure to petroleum fumes. Nothing! In his case, he had one side of his lungs removed. I can't remember if there was follow-up chemo though it is likely.

I don't know anything about apricot kernels, but there was a therapy re apricots that was available in Mexico, but banned in US and Canada.

I read some material earlier this year about ph levels and how they can be manipulated to send cancer packing. Tony Robbins the big US motivational speaker is a believer in the system and there are some talks on YouTube where he is discussing it. I know Dr. Oz did a piece on it. So going to his website and doing a search for PH Levels will provide you with a primer on the lifestyle change (change how acid/alkaline the foods are that you eat.)

No matter what happens, everyone here will be pulling for you. You will be in my prayers.

 

[NYDDB]

MM- I am also sad to hear about this. I have no other helpful information to offer, really, except that my sister had the same symptoms (also has asthma), got it checked out and discovered it was pleurisy. The symptoms sound very much like yours...

That probably doesn't help, as your doctors have seen a mass. I was just thinking that maybe....it could be something else...

In any regard, stay strong and know you have tons of support here.

(Will be following, as I have a genetic family history of fairly weak lungs....)

 

[voidecho]

So sorry MM! Hope it turns out to be nothing serious. No experience here to share.

 

[alejandro]

Just pm the info, let me know if there's anything else i can help you with.

 

[DennasMom]

EEK!! Not a good thing. But stay strong and positive - doctors and medical treatments are making loads of progress on getting rid of cancers these days.

I was just looking at this site yesterday (can't remember why...): Alternative Cancer Treatments (Dont Underestimate Mother Nature)
...it led me to put two things on my reference list, should I ever need them:
Amazon.com: Cancer-Free: Your Guide to Gentle, Non-toxic Healing (Fourth Edition) eBook: Bill Henderson, Carlos M. Garcia MD: Kindle Store
Amazon.com: Beta-1 3-d glucan 500mg 60 caps: Health Personal Care

There are all sorts of "alternative" stories out there... but don't listen to me - listen to your doctors and listen to your heart.

I have heard of the apricot kernel "cure"... basically taking low doses of a toxin to go after the bad cells... which could be where the idea for chemo came from.

My Mom and Sister are both breast cancer survivors (due to their experiences, I've been getting mammograms since I was 32). Mom had radiation and chemo, Sister (5 years later, and a totally different tissue type) just chemo. Both are long past the 5 year "clean/cured" goal post.

When my husband's grandma was recovering from the removal of a tumor in her stomach (radiation did a number on her esophagus, which caused all sorts of problems), I ran into this book: One Bite at a Time, Revised: Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Friends: Rebecca Katz, Mat Edelson: 9781587613272: Amazon.com: Books
So, if you ever get to a point where you don't feel like eating - check out some of the comfort foods they recommend.

My cousin just went through a Whipple surgery, and they found a cancerous polyp... they had him on some good anti-nausea drugs during his chemo - he never did get nauseous. He just finished up his treatments, and is doing great. His story is here: Ed | Story | CaringBridge

And... of course... I absolutely will be sending you best wishes and positive thoughts that this is all just a scare and the "mass" they found is benign. As AB pointed out - it could be nothing. That's why they need more tests, right??