tomorrow i see my consultant

Hi

Hope you are keeping well. 

I went to see my consultant today for the results of my biopsy following my surgery 4 weeks ago to remove my lung nodule. My results were very much the same as yours. ie, early stage adenocarcinoma with no spread to the lymph nodes  so no need for adjuvant chemo (which I was quite relieved about). I was told that I would be monitored by CT scans for the next five years, the first one to be 3 months after surgery. My understanding was that they would be arranging the follow up scans and that the monitoring would be done by them. He did say that I would be receiving an appointment from my surgeon in a few weeks time (surgeon is at a different hospital) as in the consultant's words 'they like to keep an eye on their handiwork'.  I got the impression that the surgeon's appointment was a one off following my recent surgery. Did you have your first monitoring scan at 3 months and is it by a CT scan or chest xray? I ask because you said the surgeon did an xray not a CT scan which is what my monitoring will be done by.  I know the consultant and surgeon both attend the MDT meetings where individual cases and treatment plans are discussed and agreed. Maybe you need to ask at your consultant's appointment why you need to see both - I would be interested to know the answer. Take care. 

Trish xx

I had one follow up with my surgeon and, as Pepper12 suggests, it was a one off and because all was OK with recovery from surgery I didn't see them again. I saw my consultant for all follow ups after scans etc. until I was eventually discharged.

Hi Trish sorry i have not got back to you sooner ,I ended up having to cancel my appointment with my consultant ,as i got an upper respritory infection ,let me explain a little clearer ,i had a follow up  from my surgeon ,about 3 weeks after my operation ,and my surgeon just gave me the outcome about my nodules ,and she told me she would see me in february which she did and i had an x.ray the same day and she was happy .i saw my consultant about 2 months after my operation which was just a talk to see how i was doing any worrys etc .so my 6 month follow up was last week which i could not attend ,and i have an appointment booked for august with my surgeon again ,but she did say if she and my consultant were happy then she would sign me off in august ,though they told me at the time that everything was clear nothing in my lymph nodes and the nodule was only 20 per cent cancerous .so now i have to wait till may ,to see my consultant ,,and i was never booked in for a scan ,which i found starnge surely they cant tell with just an x,ray 

Hi Christie

Sorry to hear you had a respiratory infection and hope you are feeling better now. Your follow up monitoring appointments do sound a bit messy with you having to see both the surgeon and your consultant and neither of them doing a CT scan. As I said my ongoing monitoring will be through my consultant who will be arranging the necessary CT scans. Were you given contact details of one of the consultant's nurses, as in my case she will be the one who will diarise and arrange the CT scan appointments and is the person I have always contacted with any queries I have. It seems to me that you need to query why you have not had a monitoring CT scan and whether it is the consultant or surgeon who is responsible for arranging the scans. My  understanding is that the monitoring is done through CT scans and not chest xrays which don't always pick everything up. I have to say my contact nurse has been excellent in addressing any concerns I might have.  It might be worthwhile asking the question on this forum whether ongoing monitoring following surgery without any further required treatment is done via chest xray or CT scans to try and establish what is the 'norm' through the replies you get. From his reply it looks as though 'excavator's' was the same as mine. I hope you get some clarity about your monitoring - let me know how you get on.

Trish xxx