› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Melanoma lumps Stage IV
- This topic has 14 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 1 month ago by
Nebr78.
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- March 9, 2011 at 6:05 am
I have just finished strong radiation on the side of my face and on chest. Both lumps were about the size of a golf ball. They are now aboujt the size of a big marble. Lots of side effects, sore throat, very weak, congestion in chest but getting over all of it.
I also know I have a lump inside my lung and possibly one on spleen.
Can anyone tell me what it may feel like when the lump in the lung gets so large that it disturbs things?? Please.
I have just finished strong radiation on the side of my face and on chest. Both lumps were about the size of a golf ball. They are now aboujt the size of a big marble. Lots of side effects, sore throat, very weak, congestion in chest but getting over all of it.
I also know I have a lump inside my lung and possibly one on spleen.
Can anyone tell me what it may feel like when the lump in the lung gets so large that it disturbs things?? Please.
I am the one that has had heart disease for over 40 yrs so know I won't last too long.
I have been to several doctors and all they will tell me is it might do this, or do that, or do nothing. I am so disturbed about the answers I get from Cancer Doctors. Which is bacisically nothing. I am a 79 yr. old male. I give no hope whatsoever about any kind of a cure. Big business.
It gets harder to deal with each day. People at cancer centers just try to make you feel good about dying. I can't accept.that.
Anyone who thinks they may know some kind of answer about my question, I will appreciate a reply. Thanks
Retired in Nebraska
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- March 9, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Hi,
I recall reading and responding to some of your past posts, so I hope you do not mind if I chime in again.
As I do not have melanoma in the lung, I can't speak from experience, but only based on what I have discussed with others and read online. What I am posting here is only general information as it is difficult to say what exactly may occur in your specific case.
It is my understanding that in about 25% of cases , there are no symptoms until the tumor grows to a certain size.
In some cases the growth of the tumor and invasion of lung tissues and surroundings may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, for example, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast's Syndrome) or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area. Something called Pleural effusion may also occur, which is the buildup of fluid between the outer lining of the lungs (visceral pleura) and the inner lining (parietal pleura) of the chest cavity or chest wall. There may also be infections as well.
If you have not done so already, or when you feel the need, you may wish to get hospice involved to help you with this difficult transition. If you have family, please keep them close by and aware of what is transpiring.
Wishing you the best in this journey, and hoping it is as comfortable and pain free for you as possible.
Michael
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- March 9, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Hi,
I recall reading and responding to some of your past posts, so I hope you do not mind if I chime in again.
As I do not have melanoma in the lung, I can't speak from experience, but only based on what I have discussed with others and read online. What I am posting here is only general information as it is difficult to say what exactly may occur in your specific case.
It is my understanding that in about 25% of cases , there are no symptoms until the tumor grows to a certain size.
In some cases the growth of the tumor and invasion of lung tissues and surroundings may interfere with breathing, leading to symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, and coughing up blood (hemoptysis). If the cancer has invaded nerves, for example, it may cause shoulder pain that travels down the outside of the arm (called Pancoast's Syndrome) or paralysis of the vocal cords leading to hoarseness. Invasion of the esophagus may lead to difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). If a large airway is obstructed, collapse of a portion of the lung may occur and cause infections (abscesses, pneumonia) in the obstructed area. Something called Pleural effusion may also occur, which is the buildup of fluid between the outer lining of the lungs (visceral pleura) and the inner lining (parietal pleura) of the chest cavity or chest wall. There may also be infections as well.
If you have not done so already, or when you feel the need, you may wish to get hospice involved to help you with this difficult transition. If you have family, please keep them close by and aware of what is transpiring.
Wishing you the best in this journey, and hoping it is as comfortable and pain free for you as possible.
Michael
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- March 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Mine was located in the media steinum…I had a odd little dry cough, mostly at night and some trouble breathing and I tired easily.
My friend tired easy and had a cough and hers was a grapefruit size in her lung…it was the other ones, that pressed against other organs that caused her the noticable symptoms…
I am not planning on dying either although my initial oncologists, radiation and medical…and their nurses all tried to convince to accept it…of course I didn't and I am stage 4 melanoma NED ( no evidence of disease…the 26th of March it will be one year….
I was diagnosed in late May/first week of June 2009 with Stage 4 and given 6-9 months…
Hang tight and keep questioning, researching and even change doctors if need be…fight fight fight!!
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- March 10, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Hi,
I know what you are going through as I am stage 4 melanoma also. I am the one that my friend Lynn wrote about that has it in her lung as well as in him stomach area and now in my intestines.
As for symtoms from my lung, it was only shortness of breath, dry cough as well as noticing that I could not hold my breath for more than 5 seconds.
I thought I was doing well and was for the tumors they knew about but when they opened up my intestines a little over a month ago because of what I had hoped to be inflamation, it turned out to be mass melanoma throughout. They took out 90% of the cancer and left 10% for my next clinical trial to kill. That's at least the plan.
Hang in there. We really don't have much of a choice but to hope and pray for a miracle. Keep fighting. It helps all of us. If I didn't have Lynn as a support, I'm not sure I could handle the ups and downs of this cancer.
I am willing to be your friend
el
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- March 10, 2011 at 5:53 pm
Hi,
I know what you are going through as I am stage 4 melanoma also. I am the one that my friend Lynn wrote about that has it in her lung as well as in him stomach area and now in my intestines.
As for symtoms from my lung, it was only shortness of breath, dry cough as well as noticing that I could not hold my breath for more than 5 seconds.
I thought I was doing well and was for the tumors they knew about but when they opened up my intestines a little over a month ago because of what I had hoped to be inflamation, it turned out to be mass melanoma throughout. They took out 90% of the cancer and left 10% for my next clinical trial to kill. That's at least the plan.
Hang in there. We really don't have much of a choice but to hope and pray for a miracle. Keep fighting. It helps all of us. If I didn't have Lynn as a support, I'm not sure I could handle the ups and downs of this cancer.
I am willing to be your friend
el
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- March 10, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Hi,
I know what you are going through as I am stage 4 melanoma also. I am the one that my friend Lynn wrote about that has it in her lung as well as in him stomach area and now in my intestines.
As for symtoms from my lung, it was only shortness of breath, dry cough as well as noticing that I could not hold my breath for more than 5 seconds.
I thought I was doing well and was for the tumors they knew about but when they opened up my intestines a little over a month ago because of what I had hoped to be inflamation, it turned out to be mass melanoma throughout. They took out 90% of the cancer and left 10% for my next clinical trial to kill. That's at least the plan.
Hang in there. We really don't have much of a choice but to hope and pray for a miracle. Keep fighting. It helps all of us. If I didn't have Lynn as a support, I'm not sure I could handle the ups and downs of this cancer.
I am willing to be your friend
el
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- March 23, 2011 at 8:44 am
I had some lumps radiated off my face and chest but now am relly weak and out of breath. I do cough up some stuff occasionally. I fear now there is a very big lump inside me somewhere. Probably the lung. I think I will just let it take its course. I want no more surgery. Had it a dozen times for heart. I wonder if they can use radiation if there is a big lump in my lung??
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- March 23, 2011 at 8:44 am
I had some lumps radiated off my face and chest but now am relly weak and out of breath. I do cough up some stuff occasionally. I fear now there is a very big lump inside me somewhere. Probably the lung. I think I will just let it take its course. I want no more surgery. Had it a dozen times for heart. I wonder if they can use radiation if there is a big lump in my lung??
-
- March 10, 2011 at 5:54 pm
Hi,
I know what you are going through as I am stage 4 melanoma also. I am the one that my friend Lynn wrote about that has it in her lung as well as in him stomach area and now in my intestines.
As for symtoms from my lung, it was only shortness of breath, dry cough as well as noticing that I could not hold my breath for more than 5 seconds.
I thought I was doing well and was for the tumors they knew about but when they opened up my intestines a little over a month ago because of what I had hoped to be inflamation, it turned out to be mass melanoma throughout. They took out 90% of the cancer and left 10% for my next clinical trial to kill. That's at least the plan.
Hang in there. We really don't have much of a choice but to hope and pray for a miracle. Keep fighting. It helps all of us. If I didn't have Lynn as a support, I'm not sure I could handle the ups and downs of this cancer.
I am willing to be your friend
el
-
- March 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm
Mine was located in the media steinum…I had a odd little dry cough, mostly at night and some trouble breathing and I tired easily.
My friend tired easy and had a cough and hers was a grapefruit size in her lung…it was the other ones, that pressed against other organs that caused her the noticable symptoms…
I am not planning on dying either although my initial oncologists, radiation and medical…and their nurses all tried to convince to accept it…of course I didn't and I am stage 4 melanoma NED ( no evidence of disease…the 26th of March it will be one year….
I was diagnosed in late May/first week of June 2009 with Stage 4 and given 6-9 months…
Hang tight and keep questioning, researching and even change doctors if need be…fight fight fight!!
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