biopsy and scans next steps

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    • May 16, 2013 at 2:42 am
    flvermonter
    Participant
      My husbands biopsy of the spot on his right lung was cancerous. Dr Zager called today to say the thorastic surgeon would call to meet and set the surgery date to remove. Dr Zager WL remove the rest of the lymph nodes on that side.

      What should we expect after the surgery? Wl it be radiation and/or immunology? What is the recovery like for him. I will be calling Dr Zager tomorrow with follow up questions, but if you could share your thoughts/ experience??? Thanks mary

      My husbands biopsy of the spot on his right lung was cancerous. Dr Zager called today to say the thorastic surgeon would call to meet and set the surgery date to remove. Dr Zager WL remove the rest of the lymph nodes on that side.

      What should we expect after the surgery? Wl it be radiation and/or immunology? What is the recovery like for him. I will be calling Dr Zager tomorrow with follow up questions, but if you could share your thoughts/ experience??? Thanks mary

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    • Replies
        • May 16, 2013 at 3:54 pm
        Phil S
        Participant
          Mary, I thought your husband also had a spot in his liver?? Usually, they won’t do lung surgery, unless it’s the only spot and it gives him a chance to be NED. Otherwise, it’s best to do Yervoy, AntiPD1 trial, high dose IL2, or Braf drug if he has mutation! You want something that attacks the melanoma cells in his whole body. My husband had lung surgery and did okay, it really depends on your overall health, his recovery was uneventful. However, the surgery made him NED, so we took the chance! Unfortunately, less than three months later he had a bleeding brain tumor. You never know with melanoma! So go with your gut, and plan ahead. The good news is my husband is currently doing well! I guess I would question the doctors about how long after surgery, you could start a systematic treatment, and if he is NED, if any trials are available. Sometimes, it’s better to leave a small tumor and start a treatment. Many decisions, but you and your husband guide the ship!! Good luck, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
          • May 16, 2013 at 3:54 pm
          Phil S
          Participant
            Mary, I thought your husband also had a spot in his liver?? Usually, they won’t do lung surgery, unless it’s the only spot and it gives him a chance to be NED. Otherwise, it’s best to do Yervoy, AntiPD1 trial, high dose IL2, or Braf drug if he has mutation! You want something that attacks the melanoma cells in his whole body. My husband had lung surgery and did okay, it really depends on your overall health, his recovery was uneventful. However, the surgery made him NED, so we took the chance! Unfortunately, less than three months later he had a bleeding brain tumor. You never know with melanoma! So go with your gut, and plan ahead. The good news is my husband is currently doing well! I guess I would question the doctors about how long after surgery, you could start a systematic treatment, and if he is NED, if any trials are available. Sometimes, it’s better to leave a small tumor and start a treatment. Many decisions, but you and your husband guide the ship!! Good luck, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
            • May 16, 2013 at 3:54 pm
            Phil S
            Participant
              Mary, I thought your husband also had a spot in his liver?? Usually, they won’t do lung surgery, unless it’s the only spot and it gives him a chance to be NED. Otherwise, it’s best to do Yervoy, AntiPD1 trial, high dose IL2, or Braf drug if he has mutation! You want something that attacks the melanoma cells in his whole body. My husband had lung surgery and did okay, it really depends on your overall health, his recovery was uneventful. However, the surgery made him NED, so we took the chance! Unfortunately, less than three months later he had a bleeding brain tumor. You never know with melanoma! So go with your gut, and plan ahead. The good news is my husband is currently doing well! I guess I would question the doctors about how long after surgery, you could start a systematic treatment, and if he is NED, if any trials are available. Sometimes, it’s better to leave a small tumor and start a treatment. Many decisions, but you and your husband guide the ship!! Good luck, Valerie (Phil’s wife)
                • May 17, 2013 at 2:20 am
                flvermonter
                Participant

                  HI Valerie,

                   

                  Thanks for the repsonse and he did show a spot on his liver, but it is so small they can't biopsy it, so not sure what it is.  Once the surgery for the lung and the lymph nodes, he will begin systemic treatment and radiation.  His brain scan was negative, and no other spots, so Dr Zager said this is the best approach to get him well.   I think we are going to go with the surgery as it seems the best bet at this time.  The one on his right lung is 1 to 1.5 mm, so small thankfully. 

                  We got an appointment to meet the thorasic surgeon at Moffit tomorrow and will hopefully schedule the surgery soon.  He takes 325 aspirin, so will have to be off that for 7 days first.  Dr Zager said he would normally release him after the rest of the nodes are removed, but with the lung, he will be in the hospital a couple of days.  As for my husband's health and surgery, i am worried.  He has a bovine aortic valve that ended up with an infection, resulting in him having a pic line for 6 weeks.  He is type ii diabetic, and not in good physical active shape.  Today he started limping with hip pain, that he has never had before.  Not sure what that is, but have an appointment with his medical doctor early am before heading to Tampa.

                  I am curious to see what the thorasic surgeon says and the options he suggests for alternative treatments.  WIll keep you posted, and thank you so much for your information sharing.  It is much appreciated.  Regards, Mary

                  • May 17, 2013 at 2:20 am
                  flvermonter
                  Participant

                    HI Valerie,

                     

                    Thanks for the repsonse and he did show a spot on his liver, but it is so small they can't biopsy it, so not sure what it is.  Once the surgery for the lung and the lymph nodes, he will begin systemic treatment and radiation.  His brain scan was negative, and no other spots, so Dr Zager said this is the best approach to get him well.   I think we are going to go with the surgery as it seems the best bet at this time.  The one on his right lung is 1 to 1.5 mm, so small thankfully. 

                    We got an appointment to meet the thorasic surgeon at Moffit tomorrow and will hopefully schedule the surgery soon.  He takes 325 aspirin, so will have to be off that for 7 days first.  Dr Zager said he would normally release him after the rest of the nodes are removed, but with the lung, he will be in the hospital a couple of days.  As for my husband's health and surgery, i am worried.  He has a bovine aortic valve that ended up with an infection, resulting in him having a pic line for 6 weeks.  He is type ii diabetic, and not in good physical active shape.  Today he started limping with hip pain, that he has never had before.  Not sure what that is, but have an appointment with his medical doctor early am before heading to Tampa.

                    I am curious to see what the thorasic surgeon says and the options he suggests for alternative treatments.  WIll keep you posted, and thank you so much for your information sharing.  It is much appreciated.  Regards, Mary

                    • May 17, 2013 at 2:20 am
                    flvermonter
                    Participant

                      HI Valerie,

                       

                      Thanks for the repsonse and he did show a spot on his liver, but it is so small they can't biopsy it, so not sure what it is.  Once the surgery for the lung and the lymph nodes, he will begin systemic treatment and radiation.  His brain scan was negative, and no other spots, so Dr Zager said this is the best approach to get him well.   I think we are going to go with the surgery as it seems the best bet at this time.  The one on his right lung is 1 to 1.5 mm, so small thankfully. 

                      We got an appointment to meet the thorasic surgeon at Moffit tomorrow and will hopefully schedule the surgery soon.  He takes 325 aspirin, so will have to be off that for 7 days first.  Dr Zager said he would normally release him after the rest of the nodes are removed, but with the lung, he will be in the hospital a couple of days.  As for my husband's health and surgery, i am worried.  He has a bovine aortic valve that ended up with an infection, resulting in him having a pic line for 6 weeks.  He is type ii diabetic, and not in good physical active shape.  Today he started limping with hip pain, that he has never had before.  Not sure what that is, but have an appointment with his medical doctor early am before heading to Tampa.

                      I am curious to see what the thorasic surgeon says and the options he suggests for alternative treatments.  WIll keep you posted, and thank you so much for your information sharing.  It is much appreciated.  Regards, Mary

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