I have been away from this site for most of a week now. I am sorry, but I was hospitalized for a couple of days with all the symptoms of a heart attack. Turns out it doesn't appear to have been one, but I was scared!

During the testing, they discovered some "nodules" in my left lung. I will be seeing a pulmonoligist in a week to get them checked as well as working with other doctors to check out what brought on the symptoms.

For some of you "old timers" from the "sight which shall not be named", you may remember that my first wife's lung cancer was discovered coincidentally while looking for something else. She was told to wait and get it checked again to see if it grew. She did wait and died of lung cancer two years later. I am not waiting! The fear here is very real.

I would appreciate your prayers.

I am going to post this in the religion forum, staff lounge, and luxury box.

Thank you.

 

I should elaborate for the folks who don't know the whole story. My wife of 31 years, Karen, died 8/22/04 from lung cancer. On 5/4/07 I was blessed to get a second chance when I married Sue. She is holding my feet to the fire about taking better care of my health and is strongly with me as we look at further issues.

Sue had been a friend of many years and was with Karen and I through all the earlier cancer stuff. She is a real fighter and again I have been blessed to have her in my life this past year plus!

Thank you for all the prayer support folks!

 

No worry, my friend. She was 54 years old at the time of her death, which is still pretty young.

Thank you. Mom was Betty Jane. She died, at age 61, in 1992. I don't know this prayer ritual. Would you elaborate on its meaning, origins, etc.? I would be honored if you would pray it on my behalf, thank you.

 

Thank you very much

 

I certainly will. The next "moment" will be the pulmonoloigist next week. I really don't expect to hear much then other than, "here are the additional tests I want done!"

Thanks again to everyone.

 

I visited the pulmonologist today and got a moderately encouraging report. The nodule in my right lung is only 9X3 mm in size or a little smaller than a tic-tac. In at least 1 case in 3 they disappear upon a second review. The news that bothers me it that I need to wait to take further action.

A spot that small is not a large enough target for a needle biopsy, a bronchiscope, or a PET scan. Thus four weeks from now I will have a high resolution CT scan targeting that specific area. From there we will continue to make decisions. If it is malignant, which according to the pathologist and the pulmonologist is unlikely, it does not move from stage I (roughly 90% survival rate) to stage II (lower depending on type) until it passes 3 cm. or over 300% larger.Thus while the doctor urges caution and diligence, he also tells me not to be concerned. Wish me luck on that score!
Thank you for all the prayers and notes of support. I will be keeping you informed.

 

My deepest thanks to you all!

 

I remain asymptomatic and am feeling well. The tests on my neck and arm have revealed the beginnings of some arthritis and I will be seeing a nuerosurgeon in Nov to figure out a course of action.

I have another CT scan to check the spot in my lung on Friday and get the results on Monday before I go on vacation. We'll see what's what then.

Thanks to all again for all the prayers and support.