Has anyone had laser or stint done to open lung airway?
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Has anyone had laser or stint done to open lung airway?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Has anyone had laser or stint done to open lung airway?

  • Post
    • January 29, 2012 at 11:23 pm
    Laurie from maine
    Participant

    Hi,

    I am a Zelboraf/Braf dropout due to scans showing growth,  and now moving to Ippi.  I am waiting for insurance to approve ippi and I will hopefully start next week. 

    Hi,

    I am a Zelboraf/Braf dropout due to scans showing growth,  and now moving to Ippi.  I am waiting for insurance to approve ippi and I will hopefully start next week. 

    One of the areas of growth for me is the lower part of my left lung which is starting to close up.  My oncologist mentioned while I waited for ippi to work (fingers crossed  it does work)  I could have laser or stint done to open airway making it easier to breath.    I wondered if anyone had either laser or stint done and if so did they have any problems with it? 

    Thank you

    laurie from maine

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Replies
      • January 31, 2012 at 11:46 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi Laurie,

      I haven't heard of anyone having that done, but I'm glad that your oncologist is willing to do it. 

      Let us know what you decide, and I hope the IPI starts doing it's magic.

      Maria

      • January 31, 2012 at 11:46 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi Laurie,

      I haven't heard of anyone having that done, but I'm glad that your oncologist is willing to do it. 

      Let us know what you decide, and I hope the IPI starts doing it's magic.

      Maria

      • January 31, 2012 at 11:46 am
      MeNDave
      Participant

      Hi Laurie,

      I haven't heard of anyone having that done, but I'm glad that your oncologist is willing to do it. 

      Let us know what you decide, and I hope the IPI starts doing it's magic.

      Maria

      • February 1, 2012 at 10:05 pm
      cltml
      Participant

      My two tumors are in the lung area, one in the subcarina and one in the hylum.  The one in the hylum was outside the lung until recently.  A bronchoscopy revealed that the bronchus to my RLL lobe had been invaded with melanoma and is up to 95% blocked causing some gunk to build up in that lung.  Dr. Soubani at Karmanos CC considered using a procedure called APG (argon plasma something) but in the end decided against it because of the amount of cancer.  He referred me to a neighboring hospital (that isn't a cancer center) that specializes in lung lasering. 

      Dr. Cynthia Ray performed the lasering using a rigid bronchoscope and lasering tool.  She indicated that the procedure was very successful and burned away the visible cancer.  She didn't feel that a stent was necessary as the bronchus is strong at the location where my cancer grew.

      I had a pretty raw throat for a day but other than that, nothing.  I still have some gunk in the lower lobe, and my breathing has not improved much.  They feel this is due to the size of the tumor in the hylum which is 6cm x 7cm.

      I hope that this helps.  Please feel free to ask any followup questions you might have.

      cltml

      • February 1, 2012 at 10:05 pm
      cltml
      Participant

      My two tumors are in the lung area, one in the subcarina and one in the hylum.  The one in the hylum was outside the lung until recently.  A bronchoscopy revealed that the bronchus to my RLL lobe had been invaded with melanoma and is up to 95% blocked causing some gunk to build up in that lung.  Dr. Soubani at Karmanos CC considered using a procedure called APG (argon plasma something) but in the end decided against it because of the amount of cancer.  He referred me to a neighboring hospital (that isn't a cancer center) that specializes in lung lasering. 

      Dr. Cynthia Ray performed the lasering using a rigid bronchoscope and lasering tool.  She indicated that the procedure was very successful and burned away the visible cancer.  She didn't feel that a stent was necessary as the bronchus is strong at the location where my cancer grew.

      I had a pretty raw throat for a day but other than that, nothing.  I still have some gunk in the lower lobe, and my breathing has not improved much.  They feel this is due to the size of the tumor in the hylum which is 6cm x 7cm.

      I hope that this helps.  Please feel free to ask any followup questions you might have.

      cltml

      • February 1, 2012 at 10:05 pm
      cltml
      Participant

      My two tumors are in the lung area, one in the subcarina and one in the hylum.  The one in the hylum was outside the lung until recently.  A bronchoscopy revealed that the bronchus to my RLL lobe had been invaded with melanoma and is up to 95% blocked causing some gunk to build up in that lung.  Dr. Soubani at Karmanos CC considered using a procedure called APG (argon plasma something) but in the end decided against it because of the amount of cancer.  He referred me to a neighboring hospital (that isn't a cancer center) that specializes in lung lasering. 

      Dr. Cynthia Ray performed the lasering using a rigid bronchoscope and lasering tool.  She indicated that the procedure was very successful and burned away the visible cancer.  She didn't feel that a stent was necessary as the bronchus is strong at the location where my cancer grew.

      I had a pretty raw throat for a day but other than that, nothing.  I still have some gunk in the lower lobe, and my breathing has not improved much.  They feel this is due to the size of the tumor in the hylum which is 6cm x 7cm.

      I hope that this helps.  Please feel free to ask any followup questions you might have.

      cltml

Viewing 5 reply threads
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