Lyme Diseases, infectious process, pneumothorax, lung cancer Posted: 08-06-07 16:21pm
My wife, who is a 32 year old smoker, was
ill with a month long fever (102+ degrees)
and cough. Other that that is is a
healthy person. Through blood tests she
was shown to have Lyme Diseases. After a
chest CT it was discovered that she had a
1.5 cm nodule in the lower right lobe. It
was round in appearance and was described
in the first reading as a possible
infectious process. During a second read
it was described as being very dense
suggesting possible other etiology. An
unsuccessful biopsy was performed
resulting in nothing other then a
pneumothorax.
Since then she has had a PETCT one month
after the originalCT which showed minimal
uptake in the primary RLL nodule, but
identified 2 or 3 other smaller nodules
and granuloma's in the right upper lobe.
The thoracic surgeon has recommended a
VATS to excise the nodule for biopsy. She
has already diagnosis herself with cancer
and is scared to death about having the
VATS.
I am looking for some information about
what she might be going through and if the
primary nodule could be related to the
respiratory process she was going through
prior to having these studies
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MandMs
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2300 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
My wife, who is a 32 year
old smoker, was ill with a month long
fever (102+ degrees) and cough. Other
that that is is a healthy person. Through
blood tests she was shown to have Lyme
Diseases. After a chest CT it was
discovered that she had a 1.5 cm nodule in
the lower right lobe. It was round in
appearance and was described in the first
reading as a possible infectious process.
During a second read it was described as
being very dense suggesting possible other
etiology. An unsuccessful biopsy was
performed resulting in nothing other then
a pneumothorax.
Since then she has had a PETCT one month
after the originalCT which showed minimal
uptake in the primary RLL nodule, but
identified 2 or 3 other smaller nodules
and granuloma's in the right upper lobe.
The thoracic surgeon has recommended a
VATS to excise the nodule for biopsy. She
has already diagnosis herself with cancer
and is scared to death about having the
VATS.
I am looking for some information about
what she might be going through and if the
primary nodule could be related to the
respiratory process she was going through
prior to having these studies
I don't think that the primary nodule is
related to Lyme Disease she was having
previously. This disease is manifest with
acute symptoms(flu-like symptoms) and
chronic once(arthritis, myocarditis,
meningoencepalitis)
Lung cancer also can give some flu-like
symptoms:fatigue, loss of appetite, loss
of weight.
Your wife got confirmed diagnosis with
biopsy. Her treatment and prognosis depend
upon the histological type of cancer, the
stage (degree of spread), and her health
status. Possible treatments include
surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
VATS is used for biopsy as they already
excise the nodule and also as a cancer
operation(lobectomy-excising the whole
lung lobe where the cancer is located)
This treatment is less invasive with less
pain, less morbidity and shorter hospital
stay.
