Mom had a PET Scan last Friday. We went to get the results today, and it's not good. As all of you know, she had surgery and a biopsy on some lumps in her right lung in November and the pathology report showed there was not cancer, so the surgeon did not take out the lumps. He said that they would NOT grow and that they would not be a problem. As it turns out, that is not the case. This PET Scan shows the following:
The big mass that was in her right lung that was 2.7 cm is now 3.7 cm. If y'all remember, she had several subcentimeter nodules in BOTH lungs that were really small, and now ALL of those are over 2 cm! So much for not growing! According to Dr. K, they are growing rapidly.
All of these places are showing up as cancerous.
I asked Dr. K if he thought the pathology test was wrong and he said no. All I can think is that the cardiothoracic surgeon biopsied the wrong tissue or there was a mix-up. Either way, Dr. K told us that he was sorry, but that he strongly believes that this "is not good." He said that this is either lung cancer or that her head and neck cancer metastasized to her lungs.
On March 17, I am taking her to have a biopsy done. This time it will be an outpatient procedure at Fayette Community Hospital. It will be done by a diagnostic radiologist using a CT Scan. It will take pretty much all day between sedating my mom, having the procedure done, and then her time in recovery. We go to get the results of the biopsy on March 22, but before we left Dr. K's office today, I was given prescriptions for pre-chemo steroids for my mom and for nasuea medication. I already know the kind of chemo he is planning on using, too, as they told me that before I left.
Dr. K and I both agree that whatever happens, Mom will not go back to the same cardiothoracic surgeon we saw in November. I think he is not a good doctor--obviously--and Mom received terrible care from him, and Dr. K agrees. That's it for now. I'll keep you all posted.
The big mass that was in her right lung that was 2.7 cm is now 3.7 cm. If y'all remember, she had several subcentimeter nodules in BOTH lungs that were really small, and now ALL of those are over 2 cm! So much for not growing! According to Dr. K, they are growing rapidly.
All of these places are showing up as cancerous.
I asked Dr. K if he thought the pathology test was wrong and he said no. All I can think is that the cardiothoracic surgeon biopsied the wrong tissue or there was a mix-up. Either way, Dr. K told us that he was sorry, but that he strongly believes that this "is not good." He said that this is either lung cancer or that her head and neck cancer metastasized to her lungs.
On March 17, I am taking her to have a biopsy done. This time it will be an outpatient procedure at Fayette Community Hospital. It will be done by a diagnostic radiologist using a CT Scan. It will take pretty much all day between sedating my mom, having the procedure done, and then her time in recovery. We go to get the results of the biopsy on March 22, but before we left Dr. K's office today, I was given prescriptions for pre-chemo steroids for my mom and for nasuea medication. I already know the kind of chemo he is planning on using, too, as they told me that before I left.
Dr. K and I both agree that whatever happens, Mom will not go back to the same cardiothoracic surgeon we saw in November. I think he is not a good doctor--obviously--and Mom received terrible care from him, and Dr. K agrees. That's it for now. I'll keep you all posted.
Please keep us posted, we'll keep you in our prayers!
