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Question regarding T4N3M1c Lung Cancer

MCB
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Hi, 

My mum has been for a biopsy (after suffering with a hoarse voice and shortness of breath for weeks), she had an Xray and they called her back in for a CT scan 3 days later. My question is, they sent her home with a letter and 'Reason for Admission' being 'Scan Suspicious T4N3M1c lung cancer' I have googled the code and realised it’s the worst case scenario for each code BUT the nurse has just rang my mum to say that the 'stuff' they've removed is dead and they can't analyse it so they need to do another biopsy. What I’m wondering how can they give the T4N3M1c code if they need to do another biopsy? Do they use this code as a general term? If so, why?! And also, what could be dead in the lung? 

Sorry for all the questions but my parents are of the era where you don’t ask questions!! And this information totally contradicts itself which is driving me up the wall!!

Thanks

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    Hi MCB,

    I'm not a medic, but know that this site describes the codes very well (see below)

    www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../tnm-staging

    Sometimes cancer results in dead (necrotic) tissue. They need living tissue to do a more complete biopsy.

    If your Mum parents agrees you can talk to her medical team direct, and ask any questions you wish.

    Wishing you all the best, Harry

  • Offline in reply to Harry2

    My mum has had a second (different) biopsy which again apparently was unsuccessful, so they are planning on doing a 3rd where my mum is fully sedated this time. I really don’t understand (based on the suspected code i.e. suspected bigger than 7cm) how they could have been unsuccessful getting a result again, in my eyes it’s just costing my mum time! My mum also was admitted to the hospital last weekend because of chest pains which was apparently because of inflammation of the lungs pressing on the rib cage???? 

    I'm so angry at my mum for smoking and never quitting and I’m angry at the hospital for failing to get a proper biopsy! And I’m tearing my hair out waiting!!!

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