Advice, Opinions, Recommendations, Please...

My step father has been told he has several (3) masses on his lung. This was discovered after 3 months of being told he had bronchitis; I finally convinced him to push his primary dr. to research further and perform further testing to rule out any major problems, hence discovering these "masses" in the chest xray, further confirmed by a cat scan. This was 3 weeks ago, he is scheduled for a mediastinoscopy tomorrow following a bronchoscopy that was inconclusive. NOw, he's being told maybe it's just an infection. Yet, he has lost almost 24 lbs since last November. Has anyone had a mediastinoscopy? How did you feel after? Was it successful in identifying what the problem is? I'm curious, frustrated, sad, worried, emotions I'm sure you are all familiar with. Please let me know of your first experiences and of questions we should be asking. Any help is appreciated.

**Can anyone recommend dr's in the Chicagoland area?

Hi,
Here is a site - http://medicine.creighton.edu/forpatients/mediast/mediastin. - that has a great amount of information on the test you inquired about. My mother had lung cancer and was treated with radiation which shrunk the tumor, but the cancer spread throughout her body. Wishing you all the best and praying it is some type of infection. My heart goes out to you...it is one great big roller coaster ride of emotions but think positive...and pray fervently.

Sincerely,
Deb

I have had the bronchoscopy and a CT scan and that's how they found my lung cancer. I had been told that I had bronchitis also, so I know what you are going thru, but my best advice is to find a doctor up there that won't stop until you know what it is for sure. God bless and if there's anything you want to talk about feel free to email me anytime.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom. I'm a 37 yr. old, mother of 2 daughters. Ages 10 and 8. I was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2002, it got in my bloodstream and went to my brain, they did surgery, and I underwent 40 radiation treatments, it reduced it, and I get scanned again in July. Doctors first told me 5 years ago that I had bronchitis, but I believe now it was my cancer. Wish I would of pursued it then. Again, my prayers and good thoughts are sent your way. Need ANYTHING e-mail me. Lori

I am so sorry to hear about your step father. My mother was diagonosed with small cell lung cancer last summer. It took 8 months to diagnose and by then it was huge. I am a firm believer in the integrative approach. I suggest you get the book Beating Cancer with Nutrition by Patrick Quillin and follow it. No sugar and no carbs! My mother also took the immuno power supplements it recommends. I would also add graviola and RM10.

My mother had 30 radiation treatments and 6 chemo treatments as well. She is doing pretty well and goes in for a check up every other month. We are optimistic. She is still following her nutrition and modified supplement regime. Please don't hesitate to e-mail me if you want more info. I would highly recommend Cancer Treatment Centers of America. My mother went to the one in Tulsa.

L.W.

Had a mediastinopy and thorocotomy to diagnose type and location of cancer.

I was in hospital 5 days only. The total operation took 3 hours.

Not painful --- recovery is pretty much bearable. Trouble sitting up in bed but can walk around the hospital after surgery. Had a pleasant recovery.

Hi Lori, I just found your message, from May, stating you were having more tests in July. I certainly hope things are going well for you. My son was diagnosed with lung cancer the last of November, about a month later than you stated yours was found. His also went to his brain. He had one brain tumor surgically removed and radiation on another one that was inoperable. He had 9 full head radiations and one 'pinpoint' to the remaining tumor. The results were good, so far. He has only had 4 chemo treatments and they decline to do radiation to his lung tumor. I am wondering if the radiation you had was to your lung and how you tolerated it. I have read some stories about the radiation damaging the esophagus, etc. so that folks could not eat. My son goes back Aug. 4th and I have no idea what they may have planned for him. Thanks for any information you can share. PB

Hi Peggy
Just wondering how your Son is doing. You said he would be seeing his Oncologist August 4th. Hope you all had good news. Wishing you and yours the best always.

Anna

My wife was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer and we are presently considering our options. I strongly recomend you get a pet scan not a CT cat scan. The pet scan will reveal the type of cancer you have and will identefy all of its locations.

How is it done. They inject Glucose with radiation and cancer loves suger and thus the glucose sticks to the cancer and the scan reveals its locations and cancer type type.

If you live in Canada there are some private PET scan clinics. If you live in the US the PET scan is readly avelible.