I've got stage 2 lung cancer (lower right lobe - adenocarcinoma) and had a (painless) needle biopsy as a bronchoscopy wasn't possible. I will be having surgery to remove the lower right lobe soon, which, hopefully will be curative.

A bronchoscopy with EBUS is minimally invasive, in that they don't have to make any holes in you to do the biopsy, whereas the needle biopsy does. 

Prior to my biopsy I was told it was stage 1 and it wasn't until I'd had the biopsy that it was assigned as stage 2 (actually stage T2A).

To my best knowledge it's not imperative to have a biopsy before having a lobectomy but I suggest that you ask the consultant or the nurses here.

It would be a shame just to give up and die when an operation may offer a cure. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway.

Your mum's fortunate to have you to support her. 

Hi Sharza,

Thank you for your reply and kind words.

Yes, I agree with you. I am hoping I can get lots of info so she can make the right decision for her and I will support what ever she decides to do. She is quite fit and healthy and apart from shortness of breath (ex-smoker and also has COPD) she has no other symptoms and can still complete housework, shopping etc.

Take care and I wish you all the best with your surgery and for the future.

Thank you and all the best to you and your mum.

Another thing....

In January, this year, I had a CT scan to check my heart.

It was this CT scan that showed a mass on my lung so the hospital that I was under referred me to their respiratory team.

The respiratory consultant 

Oops - I noticed that not all of my post turned up. To continue....

The respiratory consultant said that they wouldn't do a biopsy but, subject to satisfactory lung function tests, would do a PET/CT scan (to check any spread presumably?) and then operate to remove the tumour.

I did ask why a biopsy wasn't necessary before the operation and the consultant said there was a risk of an air leak.

I then asked my GP to refer me to a different, more specialist, hospital which is where I am being cared for now. As it happens they had a slightly different approach and I did have a biopsy with them, as I mentioned in an earlier post.

So, to summarise: one hospital offered me a biopsy before surgery and another hospital didn't. So, I guess a biopsy isn't imperative.

Thank you for your information and reply. Mum doesn't want any tests at all now but I just need to find out some more information about her diagnosis to give me peace of mind. We don't know the size, or approx stage and if treatment would be for an curative intent or to prolong life. All we know is that is there is no treatment it would be months rather than years. Let's hope I can find the answers. Wishing you all the best Sharza. 

Yes, I hope you do get some answers. And my best wishes to you. Your mum is so fortunate to have you there for her. It must be a strain having to deal with all this.

Thank you Sharza. We have the answers we need. Just focusing on making each day count now. Take care

And you take care x

And you take care x