Saw the Doc today

[silverhead]

About a month ago I went in for a routine exam from my primary care Doctor and she ordered the usual lab tests and some X-rays to check my COPD (which is mild enough), but she was concerned about a lung nodule that showed up and sent me to a pulmonary specialist, he ordered a CT scan and then on seeing that ordered a needle biopsy of the nodule, of course with my luck they collapsed the lung and I spent a miserable next day upstairs while that sorted itself out, getting ready for discharge the Doc came in to pull the tube out of my back and as she started removing the huge quantity of tape they had put around it i heard an "OH-OH", and of course asked what OH-OH, she and the nurse then told me I apparently had a bad skin reaction to some of the tape and it was all blistered and red, it is slowly healing 5 days later but sure itches like crazy, anyway, the upshot was an office visit today to learn that the nodule is indeed Cancer, now we begin a new round of tests to find out if it is still localized and then setting up whether surgery is possible (probably not in his opinion), but we can try radiation and maybe Chemo, but that is up in the air right now.
Oddly, I was expecting this diagnosis, so no surprise to me, and feel better now that I know there may be treatment options available, he said that he expects I will be around for at least a year and hopefully more, so I have plenty of time to get things straightened out here and can spend some quality time with my family.  I just had my 72nd birthday and am amazed that I made it this far, considering the rough life I've put my body through, so no regrets here.......
Tom

[jbeany]

 
Such tough news to hear.
I hope you can find it in you to enjoy every minute of every day - and don't let the oh-oh moments get to you, silver.  We're here for you.

[MooseMom]

Oh, goodness.  I don't know how anyone can be prepared for news like this.  I hope they discover that it is indeed localized and can be treated.  Please do keep us updated with any information you get.  We are here for you.

[Jean]

I just cant believe this is happening to you.You have been thru so much already, you really dont need this now. But, I tell you my late husband had lung cancer, a big fat tumor right in the middle of his chest and extending into both lungs. So, no surgery and they did about 3 radiation treatments, and no chemo. I brought him home and cared for him for six weeks, he was suffering I think from RLS, so the Dr. had me bring him in. Lo and behold, his tumor was gone. Amazing. He then lived another 10 haooy and healthy years, worked all the time, Until Fathers Day in 1995, he did not feel well and 6 months later he was gone. But, at least we had ten more happy years together. So, keep the faith as it could happen to you too. 

[Kitty Cat]

I am so sorry for everything you've been through and what this road may offer you. I am praying that with a little treatment it can be cured. If it can't, the only thing I can recommend is to live each minute to the fullest, enjoy everything and make memories with your loved ones.

[Seamus]

Silverhead--

From another siilver head, 72 is young.  I'm praying that you have many years to come.

Seamus

[billybags]

Tom, so sorry to hear this. I hope every thing goes alright for you.

[looneytunes]

Aw Tom.....I'll be praying that it is localized and radiation/chemo can take care of it.  Silver, though you might be, you have a lot to offer this world and we need you around for a LONG time.  Many hugs to you.        

[boswife]

Oh Silverhead, i dont like the news at all............... but i do so love your attitude..  My prayers are with you dear friend of ours, and do keep us involved as much as we can be. I wish you health and healing.     sent with much love and hugs 

[silverhead]

I appreciate all the replies very much, it means a lot, still waiting for word on the PET scan, should be this week, that will tell them where it is and how involved, meanwhile our local Cancer center called me today and set an appointment for next Tuesday to have a meeting with the Surgeon, cancer Oncologist and the Radiation Oncologist to set up a plan, meeting all 3 at once really makes sense and relieves me of some anxiety about multiple office visits and the confusion that can result. I'll do my best to keep you all up to date.

In  the meantime, I spent a good amount of time in the kitchen today and cleaned, hulled and hand sliced a big bowl of fresh Strawberries, their is a big container of French Vanilla in the freezer that is screaming out my name right now.......
Tom

[willowtreewren]

 

I was really sorry to read this, Tom. You have already endured so much.

My hope is that this is treatable and you will be around for a long time!

 

Aleta

[breezysummerday]

I'm hoping you get a second opinion Tom.  Someone close to me had
triple bypass at 75 years of age...still enjoying life as I type... please get a
second opinion...you deserve sooo much..........deborah

[MooseMom]

I just went back and read your very first post...2007...when you introduced yourself and Sharon to us.  It was such a lovely read; I had not known,  your history.  You've been through so much, and I hope this latest challenge will be small.  Yes, please do keep us posted; thank you.

I hope you enjoyed the strawberries (when my son was small, he didn't talk much at all; his autism affected his speech development, but he loved strawberries, and he called them "stawbebbies".  Sometimes I still find myself saying "stawbebbies").

[monrein]

So sorry to hear this news Tom and I too hope that you will be lucky with treatment and a good outcome.   

[texasstyle]

Thinking of you Tom

[Poppylicious]

So sorry to hear this, Tom.  Sending many *huggles* your way.

[vcarmody]

No words can even express how I felt after reading this.  You have spent so much time as a caretaker and now you have your own illness to battle.  I will be praying for you Tom.

[Bajanne]

Caring thoughts and prayers coming your way!   I love your attitude!!!

[silverhead]

Just to let you know the latest news, yesterday I had to go in for a pulmonary Function test, took a couple of hours of huffing and puffing into a computer and they will send the results to the Docs, This morning I went in for a MRI of my brain to see if there was any sign it had spread to my head, then had about a 2 hour wait to visit with the various specialists for the last words about my treatment plan.
The word is that it is confined to my right lung (the bottom 2 of the 3 lobes), no sign of it in my lymph nodes so far, so we are making plans to have the bottom 2 lobes surgically removed either next Monday or the week after (I'm leaning toward asking for the 8th of Aug.), to many things to do around here in preparation.
So it is a sort of relief to me to know it is still localized, they say to plan on 6-7 days in the hospital and then to a rehab place for a week or so then I can come home........
Tom

[MooseMom]

Oh yes, I can see where you'd be so very relieved; at the very least, now you have more concrete information.  Please let us know the date of your surgery so that we can send our prayers.  I am so hoping that this surgery will be all you will need to beat this thing.  Thank you so much for giving us your update.  We are all rooting for you!

[Ang]

hope everything goes to plan

[looneytunes]

Thinking of you Tom and sending good wishes and prayers your way.    

[Darthvadar]

Thinking of, and praying for you, Tom...

Hope it all goes really well...

May God bless and protect you, and may he guide the surgeon's hand....

Love...

Darth...

[silverhead]

Well it is almost midnight and I'll try to get a few hours sleep before reporting at 5:30AM for the surgery, your thoughts and prayers will be gratefully received, Don't know when I will get back online, but will report back when it is possible........
Tom

[Jean]

Best wishes Tom, will be thinking of you and    for you.