Saddened to hear this Ross, I hope things work out for the better for you.   

Now don't you get sick too. I've been hearing a couple of you guys and girls have had health problems lately and when I see this kind of thread I don't want to look. I know I'm a bit younger then most of you at 52, but I've known you guys a long time and it saddens me to hear this. So do what the Doctors tell you and get better.

Bummer Ross, going through very similar crap but with the throat. Keep us informed and bestest thoughts to you. 

Very sorry to hear this news Ross. Didn't sound like you had a Biopsy but maybe you did. Doc would sure know better then me as I only know what I know from 12 years ago with my wife. To know 100% and also the stage they had to take a bit of a Lymph Node(s) from her neck. 

As Doc also said fight it. you can beat this whatever it is.  

God bless ya Ross....just keep all positive thoughts my friend.... 8 years ago they found a tumor on my lung they told me it was stage 3 lung cancer and gave me 30 months to live im like fuck that crap im not dying of this shit screw that, so here i am still renewing all my stardock subscriptions and having a blast downloading all my blinds and things...lol....  into my music big time im still playing my drums in a band so ya see its all positive thinking nothing but positive thoughts thats was does it! and just had my yearly ct scan and its all clear!! didnt mean to bore you with my crap but i believe this saved me and wanted to share...god bless...

Ed.. (jaroepz)

After 50 years plus of smoking I have some breathing issues and may have COPD.  I quit the smokes almost 12 years ago but my breathing isn't as good as I'd like.  I keep coughing up muck and suffer shortness of breath on occasion.  At last check in with my doctor I was cleared of any growths on my lungs or emphysema, so I'm not too worried about cancer, etc.  However, I should go and get checked again to find out why I have all this muck on my chest and what to do about it.

I know that doing more exercise would help, and I'm looking into that with my doctor and a physiotherapist.  I need to be able to do low impact exercises that are kind to my poor old arthritic bones, but exercises that help to improve my cardio-vascular and lung capacity.

Anyhow, Ross, I know how you feel and hope you are on the mend.  Get well soon my friend.

Oh, and quitting the smokes was the best thing I ever did for my health... and wallet.  Before I quit I had to stop several times when mowing the lawns, and my breathing was quite laboured most of the time.  Now I can mow the lawns in one go and my breathing has improved considerably.  So yeah, I mightn't be 100% just yet, but I'm definitely much better off for quitting.

Quoting Uvah,

reply 12

Filled all my scripts today. Was a nice walk to the pharmacy and worth it too because the cost of some of these meds is way up there. Doc put me wise to a new pharmacy that just opened up and I paid next to nothing with my insurance. Now I gots to find what kind of trouble I can get into. Maybe go downstairs and eye all the lady lawyers leaving the courthouse at lunchtime. Or maybe just go out for a walk. I dunno...  

Just try a nice walk Ross.   

If the cost of Rxs matters (and it does to everyone...just type in names of meds and check), I recommend this site:

https://www.goodrx.com/

Many thanks Doc. I'll check it out.

Update: Almost anyway. My medicare kicked in and the cost of the RXs was way less than I expected, $25.00 for everything. Ya can't beat that kind of savings. 

There more treatment options these days.  If the docs don't mention it ask about immuno-therapy.  There may also be clinical trials in your area.  Best wishes.

Not yet. I'm still trying to get transportation issues resolved. There is an organization called CVIM, community volunteers in medicine. I'm to be treated by them as an outpatient. Neither the doctor I'm to see for the biopsy results nor CVIM are within walking distance so transport becomes an issue. No one I know has a car so I'm limited to public transport. Thing is they accept medicare but you have to be a 'senior citizen', 65 or older, I'm 63. 64 next month on Christmas Eve and still a year short. I submitted an application to an agency called Rover and have yet to hear back from them. I plan on calling today to see what's up. Once I get all this squared away I can get back to doing stuff. I miss playing in PS. LOL

FWIW......the bill for my ambulance ride came today (they must pay their medics some big bucks) $1,250.00. Not that I'm bitching......hell...yes I am.   

Not really. This is just an average for this area. (PA. NJ. Del) per year.

EMS $32,000

EMT $37,000

Paramedic $42,000

So some may need longer attention time, drugs, and other things. Some may only need transportation. So I guess when you average out time, insurance, gas, general maintenance, salaries, drugs, etc. it does come up to a decent amount per call. NOW: Here is the kicker. They are just like doctors, hospitals, and other places. I'm not sticking up for any of them. But most if not all will accept what the insurance pays. At least for the most part. Insurance never pays full price but a percentage. Bet if insurance paid it all the prices could actually come down. However nothing will ever change.