shadow of lung

[macca123]

hello i am writing on behalf of my father, he has a tumour in his right bronchus, this has only been discovered as the doctors have been investigating something else and found a small mass .he is not showing any symptoms at all he has no wheezing, chest tightning, coughing etc we are not sure if it is cancerous or not as he is awaiting results from a bronchoscopy. would suggest that chemo would be the answer to shrink it. if it is cancerous or not. he is 54 and still does a manual job, doesn't smoke and is in good general health

can you give me some advise
would be much appreciated if you would respond

[HeinrikMD]

Hi.
The radiation is also a treatment option for cancer. If the mass is not cancerous it would be left alone unless there was any specific reason to intervene.
If the mass is causing pressure and an injury making blood coughed up perenially, some treatment such as surgery may be done to remove it. Radiation may also be tried to control the bleeding.
Stay positive.

[macca123]

thanks for getting back to me really appreciate it

when you say if the mass is not cancerous, chemo will not work,

would you suggest that radiation would work or would they leave it if it wasn't cancerous

[riley180]

You’ll need to find out the results of the bronchoscopy to get definite answers. But if it is a tumor and your father is otherwise healthy – giving chemotherapy may shrink the tumor, but the question is whether or not a subsequent operation will be performed. In general, lung cancer patients who are candidates for surgery should explore this option, as it could translate to cure. If no operation is contemplated, other options include radiation to the tumor itself or a combination or radiation and chemotherapy, but ultimately you’ll have to discuss what goals are realistic after all the results from the work-up are on hand

If the mass is not cancerous, chemo will not work.