In December 2022, during a bout with Covid, they found a mass in my Anterior Mediastinal chest .The area in the front part of the chest between the lungs. Also called prevascular space.
Right away I started researching about what to expect. I found your basic info about what it could be, how they might remove it, and youtube videos of the actual surgery. But, NO WHERE could I find find someone who blogged about it. What is was like to have it, before, during recovery and afterward. I was so frustrated with the limited amount of information, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper..." write about your journey and help others" ( by nature I'm a private person and dont like to put myself out there). But, in hopes of helping others ( I am also a helper,caregiver and problem solver by nature) here we go.....Our journeys will be different, but alot of the basics will be the same.
In December 2022, I was having trouble breathing, congestion, and my asthma was awful, I thought I was just having a severe allergy attack and possible sinus infection starting. I called my Doctor and she had me go in for a Covid-Sars test. It came back positive. ugh. With my history of Sepsis in 2014 and history of my immune system going crazy when i get sick,she scheduled a chest x-ray. The results were a chest mass (unknown) and ground glass opaciities(from Covid)in my lungs.
Next my Doctor scheduled a CT scan, It came back inconclusive as to what the mass was, but with concerns of cancer. So next step was the PET Scan, I thought for sure, now we would have answers... but no! Again, inconclusive as to what type of tissue it is,
Up Next is a visit to the Thoracic Surgeon. I'm told It needs to come out whatever "it" is. Due to the fact it is concerning for cancer they will not do a biopsy, because of the chance of "seeding". Tumor seeding or needle seeding refers to rare occurrences when the needle inserted into a tumor during a biopsy dislodges and spreads cancer cells. It is sometimes called needle track or tract seeding because the cancer cells grow along the needle's track. The biopsy will be performed after it is removed.
The Surgeon explained the types of procedures, what if's, and set up a Pre-op appt and Surgery date.
Love and prayers, until Next we meet to discuss how and what to expect at the Pre-op appt.
Kim
Disclaimer: I am NOT a Doctor, just a patient going through this process and sharing it with you!!
Comments