surgery stents are working properly which is a good thing

Bad news...the doctor said he found a nodule in my husband's lung on cat scan pictures. This doctor said he knew it was there the last time a cat scan was done(one month after surgery). I was like...WTF, why didn't you say something!!!!!!!!

His reply was, "why would it matter, it's only grown 1 mm in 6 months and I wanted to watch it.

I WAS LIVID

Now he doesn't want to see my husband for a year because he is doing so well since surgery and this "nodule" "seems" to be growing very slowly.

He says it won't concern him until it gets to about 7 mm's.


I wanted to just slap him in the face.

Yes, we WILL be getting another opinion.

it was terrible...

his last words to my husband were..."I don't want to see you for a year, go and live a normal life. This may not even be cancer, I want to see how fast it is growing (if it grows anymore).

my last words to him were...

HOW CAN YOU LIVE WHAT YOU CALLED A "NORMAL LIFE" FOR A YEAR WORRYING IF YOU HAVE CANCER OR NOT!!!!!!!"

I'm sorry, I'm just so upset right now. Thanks for letting me vent here.

 

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Edit: misread... So how big is the nodule now?

Time to find another doctor.

 

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I know...what if it was in his freakin lung...right?

 

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4 mm

he said like the size of a pea

 

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Sounds like he is not worried... so that is probably a good sign. Since you are worried, rightfully so, I would get another opinion.

He should of at least done a better job explaining why he was not worried about it... maybe it is something that is really common in people or something... saying I want to see it grow is a little messed up.

 

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I'm sorry to hear this. Definitely see a specialist soon.

Silver

 

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Watchful waiting is a valid medical opinion. However 3 mo / 6 mo would be better than a year for re-checking.

 

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yeah this doc is a cardiovascular surgeon

we will get a referral to a cancer doc

 

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Definitely go and get a second opinion but fwiw there are plenty of things that are left to monitor in medicine.

In cardiac care we often leave vegetations alone and/or treat with antibiotics. A vegetation is a loose or abnormal growth in the heart. If it comes loose, it can cause a stroke and kill someone. You would think it's a OMG WE HAVE TO RUSH THIS PERSON TO SURGERY AND GET IT NOW THEY COULD DIE AT ANYTIME situation but in reality it's not. We watch the growths, measure them, and often try to shrink it with antibiotics but surgery is a last resort because there are more risks associated with it than just leaving it be. Your doc should have informed you right away but don't freak out about the growth itself just yet. It's already there. Just make sure whatever doctor you go with keeps a close eye on it and you're getting other opinions (maybe from respiratory therapists or oncologists).