After the visit, it began to sink in that now there was an unexpected second surgery. Each step seems to open up more issues and concerns.
While surfing the net, I came across a report by a woman who had had a lobectomy to remove a cancerous tumor. Numerous things went wrong. Despite being told her heart was in good shape, she had a heart attach on the operating table. In performing the lobectomy the doctors found that it had spread to the lymph nodes and was more extensive than had been shown on the CT scan. Her supposedly stage 1 cancer had turned out to be stage 3, and she was having chemotherapy.
At first, the story was frightening. But then I realized why a PET scan, stress test and pulmonary function test were all necessary and was very thankful for the excellent medical care and that I was receiving. If this woman had had a PET scan, the extent of the cancer might have been determined before the surgery, and the course of treatment would have been adjusted. Had she had a stress test, perhaps a weakness in the heart might have been revealed. Yes, I was fortunate to be at NMH and have the best care available.
