Not sure if its cancer, but very worried

Tirras · New User Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Hi guys. This is my first time visiting the forums, and was hoping for some opinions if theres is something to be worried about.
I was just in the hospital, again. It would be the 4th time this year. They usually tell they see "spots" on my lungs, and call it pneumonia, and send me home with antibiotics. But this last time, I asked them to check for a blood clot or cancer. And they found a tumor the size of a large baseball in my lung.
The doctor told me it was advanced lung cancer, but the biopsy came back negative. Also my left lymph node has been swollen for a few months and have unexplained upper back and lower leg pain.
I guess my question is, has anyone heard of a biopsy being wrong? Or are they 100% failproof?
The doctor also said while he was doing the biopsy, he saw the inflammed tissue, and cant understand why the biopsy came back negative.
Hopefully, Im not being a worry wort, but would rather have piece of mind.
Thanks for any help or advice you could give.

Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 279

Tirras, go to www.cancergrace.org and post your question to Dr. West. He is very good at helping people on his site and you may find some information to help you in things that have already been posted. That website has helped many, many people. Lung cancer is Dr. West's specialty.

Keep your chin up. Sometimes the hardest thing is the not knowing. Knowing exactly what you are dealing with can help you make decisions. Make sure your doctor follows through on things for you so you get some concrete answers. My prayers are with you.

lapsaria · Regular Joined: 21 Sep 2009 Posts: 11

Hi Tirras,

From my understanding, biopsies are accurate if the tissue sample gotten is accurate (this is more difficult though). Lots of things can affect getting the right sample, degree of needle, location, etc.

In my dad's experience, his first biopsy came back negative for cancer, but they saw lots of little infections. I'm not quite sure how that happened--but in the end it was lung cancer after all.

If they say it's not lung cancer, I'd push to figure out what it must be then--better safe than sorry was our family's motto and you're right, piece of mind is important, better to know than not.

Tirras · New User Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Thanks Lapsaria. And I agree, something just doesnt feel right. They have scheduled me for a pet scan for other symptoms I forgot to mention.
My white blood count has been very high, usually averaging around 16,000. And I am running constant unexplained fevers all day every day, ughh. And theyve checked for any and all kinds of infections, std's or anything that could cause the white blood count to go so high, but theres nothing. And they treated me for 6 days in the hospital with antibiotics, but the white blood count still wouldnt budge.
But hopefully the petscan will rule everything out, and I can come home alittle more mentally peaceful, lol.
Tomorrow is the day I meet with the lung surgeon to see what they can do about the tumor, so I'll also get his opinion too. So wish me luck Smile

and tks again with the advice!

Tirras · New User Joined: 31 Oct 2009 Posts: 3

Tera, going to check out the website right now, ty so much Smile

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