Am i jumping the gun ?
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96 posts since
27 Jun 2019
Obviously like everyone else who visits this forum for the first time, i am seriously worried but i have no one to talk to and my head is spinning right now.
About 10 weeks ago, i started to lose my voice and had a sore ear or jaw ( i couldn’t tell where it was coming from) so after about 3 weeks of it i visited my GP (my doctor wasn’t there and i saw a different doctor) who told me it would come back on it’s own so i just left and felt that i didn’t want to bother anyone again despite the fact that my voice completey went, all i had was a squeek.
Anyway, i was attending the hospital to be assessed for pulmonary rehabilitation due to COPD and the nurse asked me about my voice and she urged to go back to my doctors about it so i went straight there afterwards to make an appointment and the receptionist told me to sit down and even though the doctor was on his lunch break, he said he would see me there and then.
He said he would get a refferal off to ENT for me but as part of the referral, i had to have a chest xray so i went on the Monday and since then, it’s been a whirlwind. By the time i got home from having the chest xray done, my GP telephoned to say that they had seen a shadow on my lung and he had me booked in for CT scan the following Monday, i had already received 2 more hospital appointment letters, one for the ENT and one for a respitory/lung specialist, the latter one was the day after my CT scan and i never dreamt what it was for, i just assumed that it was to do with my COPD but when i got there, i was informed that it was the oncology clinic and i don’t know how i held it together. I saw the Doctor and she asked if i knew why i was there and i said no, not really so she explained that it was to do with my CT scan and she informed me that there was a mass on my right lung and the next step was a Pet scan and then a CT guided biopsy. Today i received another letter from the same doctor saying that after speaking to the consultant radiologist that they can’t do the biopsy due to the position of the mass and that she would make an appointment with me for after the Pet scan to discuss treatment options.
Because i have no voice, i can’t call anyone to ask anything and now i am sitting here thinking that the mass is either too large or too far advanced for them to do anything about.
I’m all sixes and sevens right now and don’t know where to turn. I know i haven’t even had a confirmed diagnosis yet but to say i’m bricking it, is an understatement because all of this has happened in less than 2 weeks since i visited my GP.
I suppose my questions are, is a CT guided biopsy the only option or are there other things that could be done ? How can they discuss treatment options without doing a biopsy to determine if i even have cancer ?
I’m sorry that my introduction may seem a bit jumbled up but that’s what’s it like inside my head right now 
1168 posts since
26 Jun 2017
Hi there, this has obviously been a very fast treadmill you’ve found yourself on and yes it’s scary. My husband had exactly the same shadow on lung, all the follow up procedures and a bronchoscooy to take a sample, this determines what type of cancer he had, his tumour was also large but he went on to have chemo and radiotherapy. So it looks like they will have a case management meeting to discuss the way forward for you. Although our GP told us it was cancer no one else said it until the biopsy was completed. Obviously we’re not medical people on here so no one but your team can advise you of what is happening. You will have to take some one with you when you go and write down the questions you want answered, be prepared and everything will be easier. Let us know what happens. Best wishes, Carol
96 posts since
27 Jun 2019
Many thanks Carol for your reply, I guess i don’t feel quite so alone now.
How is your husband doing ?
Like your situation, no one has actuallly said the Cancer word to me either but i shouldn’t be surprised i guess because other than the scan and bloods etc, no one knows for sure. I think that’s one of the reasons why i feel at a loss, i assumed that because they can’t do the needle biopsy then there is no way forward but you sharing your husbands situation with me has helped ever so slightly to allay the fear of not being able to find out what type of cancer it is.
Unfortuantely, i don’t have anyone who can go along with me and to be honest, my head is so mushed up at the moment that i don’t know what questions i should be asking.
I will certainly let you know how things go as i go along and again, Thank You.
1168 posts since
26 Jun 2017
I’m pleased I could help a little bit. McMillan nurses may be able to give you some information on volunteers who could go with you and listen to what is said. My husband couldn’t remember half of what he was told, so truly try and find a friend or a volunteer to help you. My husband is two years on from his treatment and we have good days and bad days, we go with the flow, he’s 73 so really has exceded his original diagnosis. Once you know what is going on, trust me you will cope, this is a very helpful forum and one of us will help you every time you post. Good luck, Carol
96 posts since
27 Jun 2019
Sorry for my late reply @Dor06 (Carol)
I am so happy that your husband has passed through the other side of his treatment and that statement alone has given me some hope. I really thought to myself last week that “this is the end” but i have been lurking on and off of the forum and read so many positive threads. I am obviously basing my fears on my grandmothers (she brought me up) experience of lung cancer and treatment but that was 33 years ago and from what i have read so far, things have moved on tremendously from then.
Today was the ENT visit and i had the camera up my nose and down my throat, jeez i can still feel it now, lol, but he can’t see anything untoward although he did say that things could be further down. I also have my PET scan on Thursday which will show more and then i will no doubt see the Doctor i saw last week to discuss those results.
I keep thinking that “the mass” will turn out to be something else, anything else, a hernia, a build of mucus or just anything that is NOT cancer but deep down, i know i am kidding myself with those thoughts.
I do have people who would probably go with me but at this stage, i haven’t told anyone as i don’t want to be the person responsible for causing them so much hurt, worry or pain as i have seen first hand how hard that news is to deal with, maybe as time goes on i will change that and tell them.
I only have 1 brother and 1 sister but they don’t get on and refuse to be in each others company so i know if i tell them then i have to go through the process twice with them and i also have my partner but i haven’t told him yet either.
I have a dictaphone type thing that i will take with me to my next appointment and providing i am allowed to use it then at least anything my brain doesn’t process at that time then i can listen to it again at home and try to take it in slowly.
P.S.- I started reading your “stay strong” thread at the weekend but must admit that i am only a short way through it but because your husbands journey seems similar to mine (at the moment) then i am going to read my way through it when i can. Thank You 
1168 posts since
26 Jun 2017
Well you at least have a plan now! People are stronger than we give them credit for and most just want to be able to help, the kindness I have received from family and friends has been a blessing so don’t do this on your own. I understand you want results before you discuss it but some support would go a long way. Siblings!! My brother has been of little help, out of everyone he’s done the least, but I know he would help if I asked him. The ignonomies you have to go through are not nice but once again you come through, you also sound like you have a sense of humour, use it, don’t lose it, we laugh at the funniest things even the darkest thoughts can trun to laughter. Thank you for reading my post, I’ve picked up some good friends over the past two years, mostly wives like me, most have lost their husband’s along the way but love and support help them. So keep us updated or check in on my site you can talk to me on there if you have time. Big hugs, Carol
4071 posts since
18 Aug 2017
Hi @puddlejumper…
Just sent you a friend request .. if you would like a chat … at least you can write things down, while your voice is playing up … Chrissie x
96 posts since
27 Jun 2019
Thank you @Chriss .
Oddly enough, my voice has come back quite a bit, sods law that it came back 2 days before my ENT visit.
I know some people who would say it was fantastic that i couldn’t speak 
No voice means no shouting or complaining at anyone, lol.
1504 posts since
4 Jan 2019
Hi pj now your voice is fine i hope your not go to be bossy again 
us men will have to keep out your way good luck,.
Billy
96 posts since
27 Jun 2019
Nah @billy goat , i’m a pussy cat really 
1504 posts since
4 Jan 2019
You forget cats have teeth and claws, and now how and when to use them, :-),.
Billy
P.s you can call me Bill if you want to, save your fingers a little bit,. 
6 posts since
9 Jul 2019
I don’t think you should be worried one little bit a good 8 years I haven’t been able to pee properly PSA19.45 NHS will say nothing to worry about that either so I think your worrying to much
1504 posts since
4 Jan 2019
Hi pj did you notice i put a note on how to see if you have reply, sorry can’t remember which string it was your on quite a few did you notice friend req,..
Billy
Am i jumping the gun ?
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