Detecting Lung Cancer Blog

Hi, 
I am 36 years old and 2 years ago I had 2 lobes of my right lung removed…I NEVER smoked and really wasn’t affected by 2nd hand smoke, no one in my family had issues like this although cancer runs on both my mom and dads side NO LUNG CANCER. 
When the dr told me I had a tumor blocking my airway and if I coughed hard enough it would kill me, I just started crying my eyes out and thinking what’s gonna happen to my 2 kids. 
From Dec 07 to Feb 08 I was constantly coughing and at times coughing up blood, my family dr sent me to 2 diffrent specialist and finally aftr 2 CT’s they found the tumor, with in a week of finding the tumor I was doing breathing tests blood tests had an ultra sound on my heart, and on Feb 15th, 2008 I was admited to UVA Medical center where my cancer dr took out the tumor…after 3 months of recovering I was finally able to kinda get back to my life, I still to this day have pains from where they had to break my ribs to get the tumor and bad parts of my lung out, I still see my lung dr and pain dr on a regular and have. my cancer check up every 6 month for my lung! 
I still go through a lot but I am here to be able to talk about and see my kids grow up!!!! 

Dear Marsha..i also had 2/3 of my right lung removed..it has been 10 yrs. !! however,your story is identical to mine. 3 months recovery..continued pain ..but I was never sent to a lung doctor afterwards. why ?? who knows !! I still suffer from shortness of breath in litle things as talking, doing dishes. or laying on my stomach. I have severe sleep apnea and have to sleep with a mask or i wake with purple lips from lack of oxygen. 
 
On the other hand..I was a smoker..but a very light smoker..my mother suffered from lung cancer 4 times in her life b/f passing in '97 ..2 of her sisters have since died from lung cancer and 1 brother is living with it ..lung cancer has devastated my family ..I am very happy with every day that I have with my family and feel blessed..I do a lot of volunteer work in the fight against cancer. It makes me feel as if Im giving back for having my life spared .. gentle hugs to you <3

Last fall a "node" was found in my lung, I have not smoked, but was an X ray tech, I was careful, and never allowed myself to be exposed with med range amounts that techs can be exposed to. 
 
 
 
I am now 46, and just found out that the node has been increasing in size fairly rapidly. My primary care dr said I didn't have anything in my lung in Jan, however she hadn't been paying attention to the fact that I was becoming drug toxic either from pharmaceutical meds. 
 
 
 
I just had another CT yesterday, and the tumor is larger than it was in January. They want to do a biopsy, but I am very hesitate of that, because the tumor is deep in the lung, and I don't want the lung to collapse. As well from research, and patients I spent time talking with, it wasn't until they had the tumor cut, that it spread. 
 
 
 
I'm at a loss, and don't know what to think, and now know the deep extreme pain I feel from time to time has to be tissue in the lung tearing as this THING grows. 
 
 
 
I won't go through chemo, or radiation, so I am hoping there's something else that can be done. My body is just to weak to go through anything more. 
 
 
 
I had told my Dr in January I have been coughing up blood, and finding it harder and harder to breath. I am not sure what to do when the dr is incompetent, and I'm told it is better to stay with her, since I have so many problems going on. 
 
 
 
Maybe somebody can give me some insight on what more I can do, I feel that having this test may be a good start, so I know if this tumor is cancer with out having it cut on. 
 
 
 
Thank you, Kate

Marsha, Diana & Kate, 
Thank you for your insightful comments. I have sent each of you an individual message which might prove to be useful. We appreciate your support and interest inwww.HelloHaveYouHeard.com. We hope you will return to view additional postings and to use some of our other informational sources.  
Greg Stanley

I am a 6 years 3 months survivor of non-small cell lung cancer. Cancer runs in my family, sister with breast cancer and 2 brothers and father with lung cancer, all deceased. I did smoke for 48 years, worked in a plastics factory for 18 years, that used a material known to cause cancer. Dr's removed 1/3 of the top of my right lung. I really had no symptoms at all. I do have emphysema [no symptoms] and had bronchitis a couple of years before they found the cancer. I felt a little heaviness in the middle of my chest and told my primary dr. about this. She sent me for a chest x-ray and found a nodule in my right lung.The nodule was on the back wall of the lung, as was my father's. I had the lobectomy and went through 4 rounds of chemo and have been cancer free ever since. It took me about a year to fully recover but I am doing very well now, thanks to all my dr's and the grace of God. I would suggest to any one , if you feel any thing that is out of the ordinary, let your dr's know. it could save your life. Thank you, Billie

I had a CTA done of head and neck last week for sever migraine. The CTA showed a small nodule on the upper left lobe of my lung. I also have 2 nodules on my L/thyroid. I did smoke for 20 years but quit 22 1/2 years ago. My dad died of lung cancer and lymphoma in 1982 he was 72. He was a heavy smooker. from My grandfather died of So there is history. They want to take a wait and see approach. I just want it gone before it turns into cancer if it isn't already. Any suggestions on what I should do to be proactive on this would be greatly appreciated. Marilyn