In the hospital again, but some good news too
 

I've been in the hospital from July 2-11 for coughing up blood again, and had a wedge resection via a thoracotomy on Tuesday, July 7, to remove the part of the lung that was bleeding.

I was admitted through the ER and put on NPO for about 48 hours over July 3-4 in the event emergency surgery would have to be performed if the bleeding didn't stop. But it finallly stopped.

But there is some good news. The bleeding appears related to the RFA last summer rather than to cancer. And to add to the good news, a brain MRI from about three weeks ago showed all is well in the head.

As some of you know the bleeding seemed to be the result of the lung RFA I had last August after which I developed a suspected fungal infection in the lung (aspergillous) that was noted on a January PET/CT. In February and after starting to cough up blood I was treated with voriconazole (VFend), an antifungal agent, and then most recently in mid May with an ambulatory pulmonary catheterzation embolization (with stainless steel coils) to stop the bleeding after it started up mildly.

The current PET/CT, the results of which I received the day before going to the ER, showed that the majority of the area of inflammation in the January scan was gone (and there was a lot of it), and the only hot spot left was the site of the RFA (or original area of the recurrence after the wedge resection in 2007 that prompted the RFA). And there were no other hot spots.

I had just seen the pulmonologist earlier in the week about whether to continue VFend, and he was waiting for PET/CT results to help him make that decision. A lung CT showed I still have bronchiectasis, or damage to the airways.

A thoracotomy is no picnic, but the surgeon needed to painstakingly determine which area of the lung to remove. Thankfully, he decided on a wedge, which is smaller than a segmentectomy, which is smaller than a lobectomy. He was aiming for a segmentectomy.

He said he could see the fungal ball that had grown in the cavity caused by the RFA, and a culture grew aspergillous so I'll be on VFend for another month just as a precaution,

I'm still waiting for the path report on cancer, but according to the surgeon, there were no visible nodules, and he doesn't think there's any unless it turns up microscopically.

A note about lung RFA: Please don't let my experience deter you from this procedure if you think it's right for you. Even the surgeon said that it could have gone the other way, or turned out perfectly. But I got the lousy fungal infection which was basically eroding my blood vessals in that area of the lung and causing them to bleed. Also, I already had a wedge resection in that area of the lung, so there was scar tissue and damage, just the environments that bacteria and fungi like to colonize. And I also researched RFA of the lung and never read that infection is a major issue. Then I had a craniotomy two months after the RFA and was given four weeks of Decadron, and the steroid could have added to my susceptabilty. But the take away message would be to ask the interventional radiologist about possible infection if you're thinking about such a procedure.

I'm not sorry I did the RFA. I would rather have tried the less invasive treatment first and to avoid chemo too since I had only one nodule.

I'm fading ... my back hurts ...

Love you all,

Joan

Hi Joan....So nice to hear from you. Although you have been through MAJOR obstacles (Yikes) - it sounds as if things are really well. Your brain MRI and Pet/Ct are real reasons to jump and shout (and Praise our Lord)

I ask God to allow complete and quick recovery and for your strength to be renewed.

Hugs and much love I send to you Joan,

Mary Jo

Joan,
So good to hear from you and glad about the "good news" part of your post. I will pray for your complete recovery and that your strength will return quickly. May God grant you rest and comfort as you heal from this latest surgery.

And lots of love right back to ya Joan! May your days become lighter and more joyful! ma

Joan,
Thanks for letting us know how you are. i was just thinking about you yesterday. I'm sorry you were in the hospital but so happy that things look better.
Sending you my love,
Vickie

Wonderful to hear the good news on the Pet/CT and MRI! May God bless you full recovery soon!

hugs,
shobha

Joan
Hoping you will be out of their soon, and all the tests turn out clean....you have been through so much and deserve a huge break....sending love and lots of prayers that you will be in the swing of things soon!

Wow Joan,

Too much adventure, I'd say! You've been dealing with these complications for a long time and you are certainly overdue for a break. The least you deserve is to be cancer-free, so it's good to hear that the reports are pointing in that direction, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for good path reports.

Hang in there,
Chris

Joan Thinking of you and hoping for a complete recovery. Having had a thoracotomy for a non cancer issue, I know how tough that recovery can be. Take it easy, xo Ceesun

glad to hear from you! i will send prayers your way that things get better.

Sorry for what you have been through but the
good news wins out. Take care, rest and pamper
yourself.
patb

Joan, thanks for the update. Glad you are doing well, now relax and recuperate.


all the best
caya

Boy, Joan, aspergillous just stinks. Seriously, that is a tough bugger to battle. Good for you to be standing in the ring and getting some great bunches! I hope this is the exit of that nasty foe. I will be praying for a complete knock out. A K.O. of aspergillous!!!! Wonderful news that there were no hot spots! Praise God!

Joan, glad to hear your good news - sounds like you are doing well (given the circumstances). Love your positivity!

Rebecca

Hi Joan. Wow! You went through another very difficult episode. You are courageous. I am happy it's almost over now. I hope your back is better.
Michka

Dear Joan,
Geeh! You've been through enough! I'm sending you lots of hugs and flying kisses from all of us here in this heavenly site. I'm sending flying kisses to everyone here. Catch them!
Always praying for you.

Love,
Gemma

Hang in there Joan. You have this fuzzball diaster behind you now and you're getting ready to fly again.

Love and a hug to you!

aspergillous is good with salmon..not in the lung.

In the hospital again, but some good news too
 

Have a good recovery from your hospital stay, so you can enjoyand celebrate the good news.