I've been told l have an ill defined mass in my right lung and just waiting for a biopsy. What will the biopsy determine if they already know I have cancer and why can't they start treatment now? I am so emotionally drained with waiting. I've also today had an MRI scan on the head is that usual for this disease?
Hi Lizziepaul,
My name is Gail and I’m one of the cancer information nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.
I’m glad you’ve reached out as I can hear how worried you are. These are natural emotions when waiting for tests and investigations. Many people find the uncertainty to be the most difficult part.
Sometimes having a better understanding of why these tests are important, can help us feel more in control of our health.
It’s not clear if your hospital team have diagnosed cancer or are suspicious of cancer but it’s important to have clarity.
The biopsy is extremely important as this allows the doctors to then look at the cells under the microscope. Sometimes we can identify certain proteins or mutations that can then be matched with the most effective medicines and treatment plan. This is why the biopsy is so important.
The doctors may discuss radiotherapy or chemotherapy initially as this can have a huge impact on cancer cells, but it can also impact our good cells.
I’m not sure if your team have already mentioned immunotherapy or targeted therapies, but after a biopsy, some cancers can be matched with a more personalised medicine.
Typically, these don’t affect the body as much as chemotherapy and so it’s possible to take these medicines for as long as they’re working.
This has allowed some people to remain on a treatment if needed, it has also increased cancer survival rates and allowed many to have a better quality of life whilst on a cancer treatment.
It’s understandable why you feel the need to start treatment faster but without the biopsy, it’s not clear what treatment plan is most effective for you if cancer diagnosed.
I hope this information helps offer clarity but it’s important to look after your emotional wellbeing too, so please don’t hesitate to call the support line on 0808 808 0000 if you think you’ll benefit from some emotional support or would like to discuss the information given today.
I’m glad to see you’ve joined the online lung cancer forum as sometimes chatting to others who have faced similar experiences can help.
Some people prefer to chat, and others prefer to talk things through. Hopefully the online community will help you during this difficult time, but I wonder if speaking with us directly may be helpful too.
We can offer emotional support, answer clinical questions, offer guidance and explain the process. The aim is to empower you to feel more in control of your health. We can also discuss questions to ask your hospital team which may offer further clarity.
Our webchat service is also available if you’d prefer to have a live chat with one of our nurses. You mentioned your emotional wellbeing has been impacted and so if these services can help you feel more supported, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
It’s a lot of information to take in and so we’d be happy to chat it through in more detail or answer any follow up questions you may have.
Continue to reach out for support Lizziepaul during this difficult time. It’s important you feel supported.
Take care
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