I have Cancer :/ -- now not so great, new nodule 3/18/25

[Thornton Melon 603]

12 hours ago, jerryskids said:

For instance, I occasionally aspirate (fancy for leak) food and drink from my esophagus into my trachea (and thus my lungs).  If a particulate settled somewhere, my body might build a nodule around it.  Given it's growth over the past year, unlikely, but maybe. Three, it's in my right lung, whereas my past tumors (lung and throat) were all on my left side.  The lungs are interconnected via the trachea so the doc doesn't put much credibility in it, but the engineer in me finds it odd that there would be a single dormant nodule on the other side. 

Best of luck, Jerry. Hope everything goes well.

Did the doctors think it might be aspiration pneumonia? I was diagnosed with that 5 years ago when it was found accidentally on a CT scan for my kidneys. I had no idea anything was wrong....no symptoms other than a hacking cough that had gone away about a month before the scan. Mine was bigger, though, like 3cm x 2cm. Antibiotics cleared it up in a couple of weeks. I figure with your situation, that would be something the docs would be looking out for.

[Sean Mooney 1,931]

All the best to you jerry on your continued battle. 

[Mark Davis 338]

Sorry to see this update.  Hopefully the tests come back favorable.  Best wishes Jerry.

[posty 2,608]

You still got this…. Kick its ass again…

[Mike Honcho 5,080]

Best wishes Jerry-fock cancer.  

[Hawkeye21 2,379]

Good luck.  Stay positive.

[Twinsdad 53]

15 hours ago, jerryskids said:

 Ending on a positive note, there are a few things in my favor.  One, it is reassuring to have a plan.  Two, in addition to the above adenocarcinoma, it could be benign.  For instance, I occasionally aspirate (fancy for leak) food and drink from my esophagus into my trachea (and thus my lungs).  If a particulate settled somewhere, my body might build a nodule around it.  Given it's growth over the past year, unlikely, but maybe.

Maybe it's just a snack your body was saving for later? 

Seriously though, best of luck to you!! Sounds like you have a great plan in place.

[jerryskids 6,546]

11 hours ago, shorepatrol said:

You are still trached correct? Aspiration is not good my man. Have they done a swallow test? 

I don't have a trach, I had a laryngectomy.  I permanently breathe through a stoma in my trachea, unless they come up with a way to regrow my larynx.  Which is actually being worked on at the Mayo here.  I'm not sure if they would have needed to do something prior to my surgery to make such a procedure work, and I'm usually disqualified from such things because of the metastasis, but who knows, maybe someday.

I've done swallow tests. My problem is a combo of (1) the reconstruction of my throat left some ridges that pool food and liquid, and (2) I speak through a prosthetic device between my trachea and esophagus (TEP, or trans-esophageal prosthetic).  The TEP is basically a tube with a valve -- when I push air through it, the valve opens, my esophagus vibrates, and walla!  sounds kinda like speech.  Works quite well actually.  Unfortunately, it is not a permanent device, as crud and fungus collects on the valve and affects the seal of the valve and the TEP cylinder itself.

So some amount of aspiration eventually occurs.  The trick is to determine when it is consistent enough to get it changed, which happens every few months.  The change involves pliers to yank it out of my throat, then a device to jam the new one into my throat.  It's not a pleasant experience.

ETA:  Regarding the swallow test:  with a lary, my esophagus is completely isolated from my trachea, so that isn't the issue.with my aspiration.

2 hours ago, Thornton Melon said:

Best of luck, Jerry. Hope everything goes well.

Did the doctors think it might be aspiration pneumonia? I was diagnosed with that 5 years ago when it was found accidentally on a CT scan for my kidneys. I had no idea anything was wrong....no symptoms other than a hacking cough that had gone away about a month before the scan. Mine was bigger, though, like 3cm x 2cm. Antibiotics cleared it up in a couple of weeks. I figure with your situation, that would be something the docs would be looking out for.

I mentioned above that I brought up the possibility of aspiration-related nodule, and the doc said it was possible.  She didn't use the word pneumonia though.  Googling around, it looks like usually this presents with infection-related issues (fever, etc.) which I don't have, nor do I have a cough. But it can cause a "lung abscess." It sounds like you had limited symptoms as well.  I'm not inclined to delay the surgery any more, but thanks for the info.  I really hope this is the cause.   

[The Real timschochet 6,388]

Keep fighting. 

[Ron_Artest 1,021]

16 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

I don't have a trach, I had a laryngectomy.  I permanently breathe through a stoma in my trachea, unless they come up with a way to regrow my larynx.  Which is actually being worked on at the Mayo here.  I'm not sure if they would have needed to do something prior to my surgery to make such a procedure work, and I'm usually disqualified from such things because of the metastasis, but who knows, maybe someday.

I didn't know any of this.  Sorry to hear.

You've probably heard of him but Dr Death?  Fascinating podcast I listened to years ago, they've made a few series I think as well, but the original podcast on Wondery season 3was fascinating.   Paolo Macchiarini claimed to develop an artificial layrnx procedure but it was all a scam.

Anyway thought you might find this interesting with the personal connection.

Continued best wishes for recovery.

 

[jerryskids 6,546]

15 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

I didn't know any of this.  Sorry to hear.

You've probably heard of him but Dr Death?  Fascinating podcast I listened to years ago, they've made a few series I think as well, but the original podcast on Wondery season 3was fascinating.   Paolo Macchiarini claimed to develop an artificial layrnx procedure but it was all a scam.

Anyway thought you might find this interesting with the personal connection.

Continued best wishes for recovery.

 

Thanks for the info.  Mayo is doing it for real; they also did their first transplant 6 months ago.  Unfortunately, between my metastasis and the mess my throat is due to my reconstruction (including a pec flap where they sliced my chest off and sewed it to my throat), I'm pretty sure I'd never qualify.

[Fnord 2,049]

3 hours ago, jerryskids said:

Thanks for the info.  Mayo is doing it for real; they also did their first transplant 6 months ago.  Unfortunately, between my metastasis and the mess my throat is due to my reconstruction (including a pec flap where they sliced my chest off and sewed it to my throat), I'm pretty sure I'd never qualify.

(adjusted) can size?

[jerryskids 6,546]

57 minutes ago, Fnord said:

(adjusted) can size?

On that side?  40 - 000.  I literally have no major pec on my left side.

[Grace Under Pressure 69]

20 hours ago, jerryskids said:

In the giant scheme of things, 1.5 weeks won't matter for this procedure.

Hoping for the best outcomes on the procedure and afterwards. 

[artista928 10]

20 hours ago, Strike said:

Damn, I thought you like Jerry.

Haaahaaaa! Well said!

[artista928 10]

Certainly not a doctor but I know from my experience that most lung nodules are benign. Thinking of you. Best wishes.

[jerryskids 6,546]

21 hours ago, SUXBNME said:

My couch is always open for you, my frined 

 

20 hours ago, Strike said:

Damn, I thought you like Jerry.

 

17 minutes ago, artista928 said:

Haaahaaaa! Well said!

I would say that sleeping on Sux's couch was one of my most memorable Geek meats, but we drank so much crap beer, it's a bit fuzzy.   I do remember that his garage and tools were so neat, clean, and organized that Dexter Morgan would have orgasmed at the sight.

That being said, he was a very gracious host. 

 

[cmh6476 1,009]

fock you cancer, go jerry

[wiffleball 4,788]

Every morning, in facing what seems like pikes peak Is just beyond my grasp, I pray For a handful of people. And you're one of them mister.

[wiffleball 4,788]

 

[jerryskids 6,546]

4 minutes ago, wiffleball said:

 

I love Pitch Perfect! 

I mean  

[SUXBNME 1,454]

On 3/19/2025 at 3:50 PM, jerryskids said:

 

 

I would say that sleeping on Sux's couch was one of my most memorable Geek meats, but we drank so much crap beer, it's a bit fuzzy.   I do remember that his garage and tools were so neat, clean, and organized that Dexter Morgan would have orgasmed at the sight.

That being said, he was a very gracious host. 

 

Kinda suprised my couch didn't give you AIDS. 

Either way, if you ever want to talk, you know my #.  I'd enjoy it very much 

[jerryskids 6,546]

1 hour ago, SUXBNME said:

Kinda suprised my couch didn't give you AIDS. 

Either way, if you ever want to talk, you know my #.  I'd enjoy it very much 

I appreciate it, but it's difficult for me to talk in general, moreso on the phone.  I talk to my daughter in NY on the phone and... that's about it.   

ETA:  and my brother in Florida.

[Cloaca du jour 2,147]

15 hours ago, cmh6476 said:

fock you cancer, go jerry

This!! × 10000

[Flipper 60]

:kicksrock:

[jerryskids 6,546]

Surgery is tomorrow, report time 5:30am, surgery 7:30 (west coast time).  Good news is I'm the first surgery so I don't have to wait for some indeterminate delay.  Bad news is I need to drive 45 minutes for that report time. 

My wife is wigging out more about this than I am.  Probably because her uncle had this procedure -- albeit in his 70s and a heavy smoker all his life, whereas I'm in my 50s and never smoked, but... um, he died during it.   I presume his lung wouldn't re-inflate? 

Anyway, I don't expect to die, but wish me luck anyway, especially about the nodule being benign.  Also the not dying part.   

[Beaker15 233]

Best of luck Jerry!

[Strike 5,182]

25 minutes ago, jerryskids said:

Surgery is tomorrow, report time 5:30am, surgery 7:30 (west coast time).  Good news is I'm the first surgery so I don't have to wait for some indeterminate delay.  Bad news is I need to drive 45 minutes for that report time. 

My wife is wigging out more about this than I am.  Probably because her uncle had this procedure -- albeit in his 70s and a heavy smoker all his life, whereas I'm in my 50s and never smoked, but... um, he died during it.   I presume his lung wouldn't re-inflate? 

Anyway, I don't expect to die, but wish me luck anyway, especially about the nodule being benign.  Also the not dying part.   

Good luck Jerry.  Enjoy the fun gas.  I did when I had my surgery.  Apparently the Asian in me came out and I was telling my GF to take more pictures of me.

[5-Points 3,385]

Good luck Jerry! Looking forward to hearing about it.   

 

[The Real timschochet 6,388]

Best of luck Jerry. You’re a good dude. 

[seafoam1 2,797]

4 minutes ago, The Real timschochet said:

Best of luck Jerry. You’re a good dude. 

Sucks you aren't. 

[kilroy69 1,215]

(1) How Nuclear Waste Became a Miracle Cancer Drug - YouTube maybe look into this.  I have a history of cancer in my family and I am always looking at the newest treatments. 

[jerryskids 6,546]

11 minutes ago, seafoam1 said:

Sucks you aren't. 

Please keep this idiocy out of my cancer thread.  TIA.   

[Big Guy 1,410]

1 hour ago, jerryskids said:

Surgery is tomorrow, report time 5:30am, surgery 7:30 (west coast time).  Good news is I'm the first surgery so I don't have to wait for some indeterminate delay.  Bad news is I need to drive 45 minutes for that report time. 

My wife is wigging out more about this than I am.  Probably because her uncle had this procedure -- albeit in his 70s and a heavy smoker all his life, whereas I'm in my 50s and never smoked, but... um, he died during it.   I presume his lung wouldn't re-inflate? 

Anyway, I don't expect to die, but wish me luck anyway, especially about the nodule being benign.  Also the not dying part.   

Will be praying for you Jerry!

[Nomad99 698]

Godspeed

[Grace Under Pressure 69]

Best of luck and godspeed 

[TheNewGirl 1,339]

Thinking of you jerry!!!! 

[Mufaletta 70]

Praying for the best for you.

[Fnord 2,049]

We're with ya, Jerry! Good vibes being sent your way today.

[MikeMatt 46]

I have checked in on board a few times recently- saw this thread and had to respond. Go ‘Skids.You got this.