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Awaiting possible lung cancer diagnosis

donzx6
Offline

Hi - male, early 50s. Ex-smoker

 

Had symptoms of finger clubbing (incredibly mild, only index finger nails are visibly curved) and numbness in hands.

A little shortness of breath, but I think that started when I began getting concerned about my health so possibly in my mind.

 

GP was 50/50  whether to wait and see whereas I probably pushed a bit stating I'd rather have these things checked given the better prognosis if these things are caught early.

 

So have had chest x ray and bloods done this week, waiting on the results.

 

What I can't do at the moment (and not helped by working at home all the time for Covid) is stop my mind racing.

 

I have two beautiful young girls at primary school and I keep thinking about times I would be missing from their lives - dad's race at sports day, teaching them to drive, giving them away etc. 

 

And that's before I think of my partner and how she would cope.

 

It all makes me so sad I can't stop being upset (particularly blaming myself) and I haven't even had a diagnosis.

 

Does anyone else have these sort of thoughts and any tips on how to manage them ?

 

Peace to all,

D

  

 

 

  • Offline in reply to lou1982

    Hi Lou,

    Not a definitive update I'm afraid.

    The PET scan went ahead, and there is takeup in the right lung, but the SUV is 2.6. My understanding that is just on the wrong side of borderline, but borderline none the less.

    Unfortunately as it's not a "mass" as such, its ground glass without any solid component, the surgeon doesn't believe they can get a reliable biopsy.

    The only way they could get the margins on surgery is to take the lobe out which given it doesn't seem to be growing means it could be a loss of tissue I need at some point.

    So back for a CT in 3 months to see if any further change.

    Symptom wise - no cough, no breathlessness - I get occasional pains in back and shoulders but its on both sides and is discomfort rather than pain.

    CT will  be  end Oct so will post update when I find anything out.

    Peace to all,

    D

    There's no indication of growth of the ground glass opacity,  

  • Offline in reply to donzx6

    I wish you all the best for the next scan xx

  • Offline in reply to lou1982

    So the October scan didn't happen as I caught covid. Nothing significant, but CT was put off till early 2022.

    Caught up with respiratory consultant in Jan, and given I had no respiratory symptoms, agreed to do CT in May.

    Meanwhile I have had a few odd things going on:

    1) Raised liver enzyme - part of going onto statins means GP wants to monitor my liver function. The AST enzyme had been consistently climing for 6 months (not off the scale - 60 I think) so I was referrred for MRI. Only thing of note is they found a small hemangioma in my liver (benign tumour). Told to go on a low sugar diet as my blood results had me almost pre-diabetic.

    2) Frothy urine (TMI, sorry!) for the last 6 (maybe?) months . I've had it checked by GP and as there is no protein in it he's not worried.

    3) In a similar timeframe  as the urine, my left eye has been really gunked up in the morning and I have a strange sensation around my eyebrow/eyelid - feels like a light tickle. 

    At first I thought it might be Horners or something, but the eyelid isn't drooping. GP suggested bathing the eye nightly which I've done, but the sensation is still there. Bit of searching around and I'm pretty sure the eye has sunk back into the socket (enopthalmos I think is medical term). 

    4) Last 6 weeks or so I have been getting intermittent back pain, where I believe the opacity is in my right lung - around the 10th rib. I did ask the respiratory consultant whether I should have the CT sooner, but he said not to. I *think* the pain is getting more frequent, but couldn;'t 100% say.

    So, scan is next week and we'll see what's what then.

    I seem to be going through a whole new round of anxiety with this - permanent mind fog etc. I'm even thinking of asking if I can have some unpaid leave from work.

    Not quite sure why I've typed all these details in, hopefully may help if someone else has similar symptoms.

    So...still here and still don't know.

     

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