Hi Everyone,
My mum has recently had a PET scan and CT guided biopsy for suspected lung cancer. The PET showed highly active cells but the biopsy was inconclusive - the mass is 'hiding' behind her heart and is difficult to get to. She has now been referred for a surgical biopsy and we met the surgeon yesterday who is lovely. She thinks she can remove the whole mass in one go.
The bit we are stuck on is this:
They will do some tests on what they remove whilst she is in theatre. They will be able to 100% confirm if it is or isn't cancer. However there is a possibility this is not lung cancer but a secondary breast cancer and they can't tell us that until 10 days or so later. We need to decide if they confirm whilst she is in theatre that it is definitely cancer do we allow them to go ahead and remove a third of her lung or do we tell them to close her up, await the more detailed path report and then decide what to do risking a potential second operation.
I know there are some types of lung cancer that might not require the partial removal of the lung so if we allow them to go ahead straight away she could have part of it removed for no reason but equally if it does turn out to require further surgery then she has to go through two operations very close together.
She is in general good health but is only 7 months post breast reconstruction after her last cancer and is also really struggling with side effects from Tamoxofen. The surgeon doesn't believe the lung mass is the actual cause of her breathlessness so there is a concern that this is actually being caused by the drug and if she then loses part of her lung on top her quality of life is going to be very difficult.
If it does turn out to be a secondary breast cancer (and isn't the root cause of her breathlessness) then my understanding is that the partial lung removal wouldn't be recommended/first course of action.
Has anyone been through anything similar? Or if not what would you choose? Can anyone share what life is like post having a third of your lung removed to give an honest view of teh impact?
Thanks so much in advance!
