Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/11/2009

Question
My husband have 2 tumors in his chest one is next to the vena cava and the other next to his esophagus one is about 2 cm the other is 6 cm. A biopsy was done they first said it was non Hodgkin then after the flow chart they said it was lymph node tissue but they did not take enough sample to be sure if it's malignant. We lost our health ins. so now we are at a county hospital the Dr did a CT scan they call it a tubercular structure that show enhancement. We gave the doctor the biopsy report it been a year and a half 4 CT scan later and a pet the Dr. now say he think it's a big vein. The pet shows low to intermediate uptake I ask the Dr what that meant he said no big deal it not much he don't think we need to be concern about it we don't need to see him anymore This Dr is a theoretic surgeon. my question is should we do as the Dr say and not worry about it? I called and asked for the biopsy report back they cant find it, the office said it was sent to lab and they don't know what happened to it, now am not even sure the Dr even looked at it. I not sure what to do.
And what does low to intermediate uptake means?

THIS WAS MY QUESTION BACK IN MARCH, NOW THIS IS WHATS GOING ON.
All of my husband drs seem to be ignore the tumors so I hope am not to paranoid. About six months ago my husband had H.pylori it was treated. He was still having stomach problem Three months ago he had blood in his stool all three samples they did a colonoscopy a polup was removed the third in less then two years.  He has a bad acne and skin darkening on his face in patches never had skin problem before he's 53. He have major joint pains and lack  energy to do anything, lastly he have pea size hard lumps on the instep of his feet and one on his pinky when they came they were painful in the begging now only discomfort. wbc and rbc are in the low 3. three years ago he had prostate cancer treated with surgery. He is negative in all sexually transmitted illness. I am not convince he is cancer free. your opinion will tell me if am being reasonable in my feeling that he's still dealing with cancer.  one more thing he looks bloated, with somewhat of puffy face Please help me.


Answer
It is quite difficult to evaluate a case like this from afar. However nothing in what you have written is pushing any alarm button in my head. While I can not guarantee that we are not dealing with a malignancy here I find no reason to suspect that we indeed are dealing with one. That is what I can say at present.
You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128