OT: Personal News

I’m 57 years old and over the last 4 months I’ve been having tests on a growth in one of my lungs. In February, a PET scan diagnosed it as cancerous. On March 5th, they went down my throat with a scope and collected secretions around the area but could not get a sample from the growth itself because they were afraid the lung would collapse.

The pathology test on the secretions says the growth is not cancerous which was also the opinion of the pulmonary specialist who did the scope test. That’s naturally a great relief. Up next is a needle biopsy to get a sample of the growth to confirm it’s not cancerous and do other tests to see what it might be. The needle test has an even higher risk of collapsing my lung than the bronchoscopy which it why the scope was done first. But, it must be done because the PET scan wouldn’t have shown it as positive if it wasn’t cancerous, an infection of some type or an autoimmune problem. By the way, aside from an irregular cough, I have no symptoms of anything and feel generally okay.

All of this is unnerving enough as it is. But, then you throw in that I’m living and working in the midst of a respiratory virus pandemic, and it is even more so. I’m not sure my chances are good for fighting it off if I should contract it. I can’t just tell my employer that I’m just going to stay home and protect myself. I need the job to pay my bills and, as important, I need the health insurance I have from my job to treat whatever it is that I have. These are just scary days.

(moved this to its own thread as it's significant and Ken deserves our support)

Thank you, Ian.

Ken, stay strong and take whatever precautions you deem necessary. If there IS a decent person in a position of authority that you trust, perhaps a heart to heart could open possibilities you haven’t yet considered. It’s worth a shot if that avenue exists.

Take care, friend.

My condolences to you, my friend, for your situation. It's hard enough to deal with the stress of such a diagnosis, but having to worry about the environment you (and all of us) are now in, can often be overwhelming.

I can only add this, that the biopsy they will do is painless. I had one on my right kidney. I felt a half-second little pinch when the doc injected a numbing agent. After that, no pain at all.

Know that you'll have our prayers and well-wishes, and remember you have this tremendous extended family here. You need anything, just holler.

Dont worry.

Youll get better and play the piano again.

My prayers are with you friend. You will make it through this

Condolences, prayers and blessings to you and your family Kenneth. Stay strong!

Let me know if you need anything.....I will bring it to you

I'm rooting for you! Beat this thing!

Ken-

I went through essentially the same thing in November 2017. I had 2 cm "mass" in the lower right lobe of my lungs. It lit up real good on the PET scan. A biopsy of lymph nodes came back negative. They removed the mass and the surgeon said it was essentially an "organized pneumonia". Given how vascular the lungs are I think it is unlikely that a cancerous mass wouldn't result in signs of cancer elsewhere nearby. Here's hoping that your outcome is the same. I will pray for that!

I am with you all the way!

Stay Strong

Adding you to my prayers, @Kenneth Sims . Hoping for a speedy recovery

Hey Ken,

Looking forward

The Brandon Five said:

Ken-

I went through essentially the same thing in November 2017. I had 2 cm "mass" in the lower right lobe of my lungs. It lit up real good on the PET scan. A biopsy of lymph nodes came back negative. They removed the mass and the surgeon said it was essentially an "organized pneumonia". Given how vascular the lungs are I think it is unlikely that a cancerous mass wouldn't result in signs of cancer elsewhere nearby. Here's hoping that your outcome is the same. I will pray for that!

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Thank you for sharing your experience. A lymph node in my abdomen also lit up on the PET scan. It can’t be easily biopsied, so the doctors want to clarify what’s going on with my lung before proceeding to see what’s up with the lymph node. Those are the only two places as of mid February. I’m praying the lymph node isn’t cancerous as it appears the lung mass isn’t.

Pet scan false positives for lung tumors are quite rare. Per a university study I saw, the diagnosis is correct 93.5% if the time. The test also came back negative for it being a bacterial infection like pneumonia. The study found the most likely final diagnosis for the lung mass is dormant TB. That’s tuberculosis and not Tom Brady lol!

Thank you all for your concern. Especially you Ian. I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me over the years. I’ve decided to just keep on keeping on. I don’t have much public interaction at work, and I’m pretty secluded in my cubicle, so I’m going to keep working even though my employer has told me they would understand if I stayed home. Again, thank you all.

Please keep us updated as we are riding this roller coaster with you hoping for a smooth landing. Stay well my friend.

Best of luck.

Thinking of you Ken. Please stay well.

Sorry you are going through this Ken. Have you tried asking your employer to make an accommodation for you to work from home given your current health issues? Many employers are allowing folks to work from home during this crazy crisis, without jeopardizing their jobs, if it's feasible.

Praying that you get good results on your next tests. Hugs.

Please check in periodically, Ken, and let us know how you are doing.