Hi -
My mom developed a pleural effusion late last year, and surgery revealed a tumor on her right lung. She is on the West Coast of the U.S., and I live in Germany, so I haven't been able to talk to her doctors or anything, but the information I get from her is a little confusing. Here's what I've been able to gather over a few months of weekly phone calls.So I'm a bit baffled. Is this cancer? Is this "pseudo-mesothelioma" a known term, or did her doctors just make it up to refer to her particular case? Years ago she had a brain tumor the docs didn't quite understand, and they labeled it an "atypical meningioma". She had some radiation therapy and she never had any problems with it after that, unless this is related to it.
- -a biopsy turned up no malignant cells, but the tumor spreads
-the doctor said she has cancer; my understanding was that malignant tumors are cancer, but benign ones are not. is that wrong?
-they're calling it a "pseudo-mesothelioma" and saying it has never been treated - that is, they have found it in autopsies of already-dead people, but not in live ones, as I understand it. I have found a few accounts of mesothelioma victims online, but nothing at all about this pseudo- business.
I've never been close to anyone who's had cancer before, so I am woefully ignorant of even the most basic facts. Now that I am faced with it in my mother, I'm not sure where to go for more information. There's so much on the internet, I don't know how to filter it all. The mesothelioma sites I checked didn't quite fit with the information I have about her. I'm thinking it's the "pseudo" that's causing the confusion.
Has anybody here ever heard of this? I'd appreciate any information or clarification.
Many thanks,
alala
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