Thanks Billy for tagging me.

Hey [@Milton]‍  I'm not sure how much help i can be really but i am/was in a very similar situation to you, age and symptoms wise  and like you i thought the worst BUT there is hope honestly. From my experience (which is limited) that size of tumour is treatable and for me they are looking at it being a curative measure, the tumour is still small enough for surgery which i have just gone through on the 2nd September. probably once you see the respiritory doctor they will order more tests, in my case a PET CT scan and quite possibly a biopsy or broncoscopy, i didn't have the biopsy although this was done during the sugery and unfortunately in my case it had spread to the lymph nodes but there is still hope, i am currently waiting on a treatment plan which i know will involve chemo although all of this is still to be confirmed.

I still have hope although i have my ups and downs which is natural so please please try not to get into such a tizz, it won't change anything and all it will do is make sicker.

I haven't told my immediate family and at this moment in time andthat is the way it will be staying (personal reasons) i have told my partner though and it sounds like you have a loving wife so if possible just be honest with her right from the start, she will be devastated of course but you and she will need the support of one of another and it also makes things much easier once your nearest and dearest know.

I hope that it has helped you in some small way to understand that you are not going to drop down dead tomorrow as i thought i would but i know that as soon as you hear those words, tumour/mass/shadow then all sense of reasoning goes right out of the window.

Please come back and keep us updated on how things go for you.

PJ

Being on a cancer pathway doesn’t mean you have cancer. Having a X-ray with  mass doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Please don’t write yourself off yet! You could have unresolved pneumonia. They will send you for a CT scan within the next couple of days and if it’s any thing urgent you will be brought in to clinic immediately (within a couple days at most). Wishing you all the very best.x

Thanks Billy, it’s a lovely post from PJ

Hi PJ, 

thanks for taking the time, it’s reassuring you’ve been there before. I take your word and thank you for it. It’s a day later and you’re right, I didn’t drop down dead  

Interesting you haven’t told your immediate family. I wasn’t going to tell mine, but then my wife called my mum and my mum put it up on WhatsApp so now everyone knows. I’d worried about worrrying everyone, but now the cats out the bag and over the roof so what can I do. I go for CT tomorrow and will hear back a few days after, then I’ll just be part of a process, life calling to itself. I hope it listens  and I’ll keep you posted thank you

You know what [@Milton]‍ it's maybe a good thing that "the cat is out of the bag" It just saves you from worrying about telling people and one less thing to worry about is a good thing. I'm sure you will find that now some people know then they can support you through this, whatever "this" may be.

I should have actaully said to you what [@Cookied]‍ did to start with. A shadow or mass could also be numerous things, an infection, scarring of the lung and various other things, i actually presented with a shadow on mine a good few years ago and after a 6 week follow up, they concluded that it was new bone growing from broken ribs so i will try to remember that fact when i answer anyone else in future.

I sincerely hope that your CT scan today show things in more detail for your respiritory doctor and it turns out to be nothing much to worry about but if it doesn't then please don't feel that all is lost. There are still things that can be done and people on here can be a massive support when or if you need them. Again, please keep us updated on your progress.

PJ  :)

Hi PJ,

thanks again for taking the time. I know you're right, it is better that people know (if you have the right relationship).

I've now had the CT scan and will be seeing the doctor on Thursday. My brother will be coming with me and my dad's going to go with my wife to pick my son up from school so they're rallying around. My brother's a doc, so I'm sure he'll be a great help asking the right questions if i can't take anything in. He also reassures me (as you very kindly have been doing too) that it might be other things - infection, a bone, wow, and that  the fact i haven't lost weight and have no haemaoptosis, blood in the coughing, is a good sign. But, but, but...

My wife is holding up, but very tearful, and i'm taking sleeping pills to avoid the shadows at night and getting on with other things in the day. It is what it is, and will be what it will be.

FIngers crossed for Thursday, I'll  let you know what happens. And thanks again, you've been a real help :)

Hi Milton, i know it's a while yet but best wishes for Thursday, I'm on forum quite regular and if i notice people struggling i try to find someone to help like you and pj,. In case you're wondering what I'm on here for I've got prostate cancer what's gone to lymph nodes, spine, ribs, pelvis and a lung, I'm noncurable,, but I've found if I can help others it makes me feel better, like a good deed,,. Hope things go well for the future.... Billy 

Hi Billy,

thanks so so much for the good wishes. And thanks for sharing your situation, it is a good deed you do helping others, and I wish you every comfort in your situation too. 

For me I suspect it’ll be hang tough till I collapse in a puddle of tears in Thursday. 

But we’ll see, I won’t know until I know :)

Hi [@Milton]‍  That is great that your Doctor brother was going with you today and i'm sure that he was a great help to you because it is so easy to misunderstand some things and a 2nd pair of ears is no bad thing as it is easy to forget or misunderstand what has been said althoug in my limited experience, the "non brother" Doctor does explain things very well in human language rather than Doctor speak.

If you can, then please let us know how you got on today although i suspect it is more tests for now but at least you know that they are on the ball with your care and are doing everything possible for you. Hang in there and hold on tight to that hope i spoke of. :)

PJ