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Stage IV with recent PET scan uptake
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Stage IV with recent PET scan uptake

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Stage IV with recent PET scan uptake

  • Post
    • October 2, 2010 at 6:43 pm
    Bugandi
    Participant

      Hi,

      I had a recent PET scan that showed an 8 mm spot or uptake in my left lung, and am quite frankly, scared!!!!!.. I have had a couple of surgeries, but have been told that chest surgery is no walk in the park.  My oncologist discussed radiation as an option, anyone ever had radiation to the lung?s?  I go back in 2 weeks for a high resolution CT scan and then will have to make deisions as to how we are going to attack this.  I don't know what to expect, so any feedback would be appreciated.

      Thanks

      Bryan

      Hi,

      I had a recent PET scan that showed an 8 mm spot or uptake in my left lung, and am quite frankly, scared!!!!!.. I have had a couple of surgeries, but have been told that chest surgery is no walk in the park.  My oncologist discussed radiation as an option, anyone ever had radiation to the lung?s?  I go back in 2 weeks for a high resolution CT scan and then will have to make deisions as to how we are going to attack this.  I don't know what to expect, so any feedback would be appreciated.

      Thanks

      Bryan

    Viewing 1 reply thread
    • Replies
        • October 2, 2010 at 11:49 pm
        paul
        Participant

          Hi Bryan,

          Sorry that you are facing this.

          I had an 8mm nodule removed from my lung by VATs. No surgery is fun, but the procedure is not necessarily complicated, and the recovery not necessarily rough, depending on where the tumor is. (For me, the neck dissection was much worse, and has had much more long term effect). My doctors recommended VATs based on a belief that it was only one nodule. The statistics that I've read suggest that one gets the best "result" from just having it out.

          Paul

           

            • October 3, 2010 at 9:01 pm
            Bugandi
            Participant

              Thanks for your reply Paul,

              I'm sorry, I don't know what VATs is.  I guess I am just a little freaked out right now, as I have been told that no open chest surgery is easy.  I have had 4 surgeries so far, and I guess I would say no surgery at all is easy.  At any rate, I will know more in 2 weeks as to what we are going to do.  I will try to figure out what VATs is too, maybe discuss it with the doctor.

              thanks

              Bryan

              • October 4, 2010 at 4:16 am
              Cynthia C
              Participant

                VATS is Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery. They usually go in through an incision in the neck area and slide a scope down inside the chest cavity (outside of the lung) to where the lesion is and remove it if possible without an open chest procedure. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

                Cynthia C

                • October 4, 2010 at 4:16 am
                Cynthia C
                Participant

                  VATS is Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery. They usually go in through an incision in the neck area and slide a scope down inside the chest cavity (outside of the lung) to where the lesion is and remove it if possible without an open chest procedure. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

                  Cynthia C

                  • October 3, 2010 at 9:01 pm
                  Bugandi
                  Participant

                    Thanks for your reply Paul,

                    I'm sorry, I don't know what VATs is.  I guess I am just a little freaked out right now, as I have been told that no open chest surgery is easy.  I have had 4 surgeries so far, and I guess I would say no surgery at all is easy.  At any rate, I will know more in 2 weeks as to what we are going to do.  I will try to figure out what VATs is too, maybe discuss it with the doctor.

                    thanks

                    Bryan

                  • October 2, 2010 at 11:49 pm
                  paul
                  Participant

                    Hi Bryan,

                    Sorry that you are facing this.

                    I had an 8mm nodule removed from my lung by VATs. No surgery is fun, but the procedure is not necessarily complicated, and the recovery not necessarily rough, depending on where the tumor is. (For me, the neck dissection was much worse, and has had much more long term effect). My doctors recommended VATs based on a belief that it was only one nodule. The statistics that I've read suggest that one gets the best "result" from just having it out.

                    Paul

                     

                Viewing 1 reply thread
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