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Hey all,

Haven't been on in ages. So mom's last CT was concerning as new lung nodules have grown (she is a lung cancer survivor). They have been monitoring this new one and the radiation oncologist sounded pretty concerned after this last CT. Biopsy was recommended but mom is now 81, terribly anxious, severe past medical trauma and prone to complications. Like a collapsed lung when she got her port put in, another pneumothorax later on etc. She does not want a biopsy.

She has elected to do SBRT radiation, or short course (5 days). She has her positioning appointment next week.

Has anyone here or their loved ones "treated" a suspect growth in this way? And how did it work out? She tolerated her last course of radiation very well four years ago. But a lot has changed since then.

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This is between you mom's decision and her doctor
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Reply to MACinCT
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I am sorry you are going through this. My 94 year old father recently had a very similar situation. A nodule they were watching grew and he did do the PET and biopsy—approximately two years ago. Thought to not be cancer. They continued to monitor it, and last year it grew substantially. Oncologist and radiation oncologist both agreed almost certainly cancer and recommended five radiation treatments to at least arrest its growth. Dad did the treatments, and recent subsequent scans show the nodule was actually eradicated! Now, the treatment was definitely hard on him—he had to rest a lot. Just prior to it he had to have seven days of IV antibiotics for a UTI. Between the two treatments (IV antibiotics and then immediately radiation treatments), his body was stressed to the point that he suffered a cdiff recurrence two weeks later. Hard to say if this would have happened due to the antibiotics, regardless of radiation therapy. But, bottom line is that it does seem to be a course of treatment offered to those who are not in a health position to withstand biopsy, etc.
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casole 13 hours ago
Wow that is very encouraging to hear. I'm sure having the radiation right on top of a 7 day antibiotic course was extremely difficult. Thank you so much for sharing.
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I sent you a PM with info about radiation a friend had, successfully, at 81.

Immunotherapy is truly a beast, and chemo is not far behind. Radiation for a short period is the lesser of the evils, certainly, but weakens the body too. With moms history of lung cancer however, it seems prudent to do SOMETHING here.

Doctors refuse to give too much advice, God forbid, they might be sued.

Best of luck.
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casole 17 hours ago
Thank you I got the PM! And yeah....that's her thinking too as well as the family.
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I haven't, but I'm sure someone will chime in soon if they've gone through it. Have you asked her doctor what they would recommend for themselves or their own mom in this situation? They may not tell you, but most of the doctors I've dealt with were pretty upfront with me about their answers. It helped me decide on and against a few things. I'd also ask what will happen if you don't treat it at all. Is it time for hospice?
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casole Apr 10, 2026
Hi there. Her oncologist is very much of the mindset of letting mom make her own decision which is fine but at our last appointment about this I did say "mom is looking to you for guidance here". She said she was trying to get a feel for what direction mom was leaning toward, and said she wasn't opposed to the radiation plan. Usually it's let's do another scan in three months but the radiation oncologist stressed at her last appt he can't guarantee it won't stay the same...


So we know a biopsy is out, surgery is definitely out, chemo or immunotherapy infusions are out (too long sitting outside of the house and too tiring). She has stated she'd like to get a few more years to see her great granddaughter start school (she's 2 and a half). I think if she weren't here mom just might let whatever happens take its course, but if she can get some more time in the least invasive way this seems to be the best route. So we will see how it goes. Hospice is not in play, she's still mobile with a walker, showers on her own with a shower seat, we go to lectures and book club at the senior center a couple times a month. We go visit the little one a few towns over every other week. She reads. The anxiety is a beast, some days worse than others. But anyway thanks for the suggestions and comments.
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