Question: Hi Dr.Rynne,
My mother recently died & I was told her death was as a result of Stage 4 lung cancer. My mother was at the doctors every 6 months over the last few years & her lungs were always clear.
The result of the Cytopathogy Report state:
Right pleural fluid, THINPREP & CELL BLOCK
No malignant cells identified
Reactive mesothelial & inflammatory cells noted

Are we saying cancer ?

I was never told my mother had lung cancer until her last day in the hospital. She had no symptoms of lung cancer that I knew of & I saw her daily. That is why I am so confused. They even sent her to a rehab facility for PT from her bowel surgery. I wasn't told anything concerning her lungs except she has some fluid at the bottom of her lung; but they were not concerned about it.
In answer to your question, my mother had to have a CT scan when she first entered the hospital before this past Christmas, 2016 (Dec 20th). (She died on XXXXXXX 22, 2017.)
Upon entering the hospital, They discovered she had a mass in her bowel & was operated on a day later. Mass was Stage 2 cancer & surgery was successful. When they did the CT scan on her bowel, they noted :
Lung/ Right basilar small infiltrate present. Small right basilar effusion present.
Liver///Biliary Tree: pneumoblia present. Could be related to prior sphincterolomy. Thoracic procedure. Gall bladder (surgically absent); spleen, pancreas, adrenal glands & kidneys were all Normal. GI tract showed mass.
Later chest x-ray advised no pneumothorax. Moderate degenerative changes in the thoracic spine.
I'm sorry I have no medical knowledge: I hope I am sending the right information you need. Thank you for your help.

Dr. Blavsar,
The only pathology report I was given on the bowel advised they were requiring a test: BRAF. According to the report,
Reason for Referral: Malignant Neoplasm of Colon
Test : BRAF Mutation
Results: Detected (c 1799T>A (p V600F)

The surgeon told me after the surgery that the mass was Stage 2 cancer. The lymph nodes around the mass were clear of cancer cells. He thought the prognosis was good for my mom. He would have suggested kemo as a precaution, but did not recommend it due to her age.
I'm not clear on what you mean when you say no Stage 4 cancer in the lung, but she had cancer in the lung. Is there a difference ?
You are helping me more than you'll ever know. I thank you.

Dr. Bhavsar,
I thank you for clearing up my confusion on the difference. I understand now that the cancer had spread from the bowel & had settled in other areas of her body; including her lungs.
You have answered my question & my concerns for which I am grateful. Thank you so much for your help.