hi everyone,
My vats surgery is compleate and i have been told i am stage 1 a and will not need chemo, but xray in 4 weeks then 3 months.Myself and my whole family feel blessed with this news. Can anyone give me any information after reading differant discusssions it seems many with the same diagnosis have had the lung cancer return ( in fact more than not) any incouragemrent would be appreciated
thank you
vlh
That's probably because those whose cancer does not return don't hang around this board. Stay positive and enjoy each beautiful day! Your cancer experience will never go away, but it can become "background music."
Good luck and God bless,
Gretchen
I'm four years (almost to the day) from being diagnosed 1a. I had a lobectomy about a month after diagnosis and looked through the literature as best I could to answer the same question... what are the chances the beast will come back? My surgeon said that in his experience, the first two years were the crucial ones. He had seen recurrence then most often. Of course, he was only talking about the 100 or so cases of his that met my same diagnosis (and yours). He (and the literature) did not say I was home free after two years, but he did indicate that I had "only" a 1-2% chance of a recurrence each year - though it is cumulative. So in 50 years, I have somewhere between a 50% and 100% chance of another bout with the beast. of course I will be 115 years old, so I'll probably have to have VATS again.
I go every year now for a scan. My surgeon gives me the scoop about 45 minutes after the scan itself. I still worry, but the roller coaster emotional ride is less severe. I still know, logically, that the beast can come back, but I don't dread the visits to NYC - I use them as a small vacation.
Courage
Chum
my dad was diagnosed with a stage 1 cancer and he had a lobectomy to have it removed. His doctor said no chemo and that he had a 25 percent chance it would come back. UNFORTUNATELY for my dad only two months later his cancer was back and in several places in his chest. I am NOT saying that will happen to you! Just get your scans, keep an eye on anything new, and hope and pray for the best. I also believe those that no longer have cancer dont hang around so much. Its not that there aren't any that dont have recurrence. Best of luck to you!!!
Hi,
I had a lobectomy almost a year ago staged 1a
and I'm told I have > 70 % survival rate.
In addition to staging some of the other factors are:
How well differentiated the tumor was
If the margins were clear
Type and subtype of lung cancer.
All in all I would expect you have very good odds in not having reoccurance
Jim
Hi
I had my lobectomy July 2007 and i was stage 1a. I had the old fashion way, as they could not do VATS due to scar tissue all over my lungs, Why no one knows . I feel wonderful, I feel great. I did not require chemo or radiation. My surgeon felt I was cured but sent me to an oncologist for a 2nd opinion and they felt the same way.
I just had my cat scan 2 weeks ago and thank goodness everything was good. I was off the wall worrying about it. I was supposed to have the scan in Nov, which would have been 6 months, but I could not wait, I needed to do it in Oct. I did and now I can relax for another 6 months if I wait 6 months.
I don't know if it will ever get easier to do the scans and I do worry .Surgery was only 1 year 4 months ago and I am hoping in time I will be able to relax with it, but I don't know. My dad died 4 years ago from lung cancer so I think this will always be on my mind. We did not have the same kind of cancer and he had other lung problems as well. I try to tell myself this all the time and hopefully one day it will sink into my brain.
I wish you the best of luck.
Sharon
Hi,
I had a lobectomy 1 yr, 9 mos ago and was stage 1a. Since then I've had regular 3 mo & 6 mo CT scans and x-rays & have been cancer free! I feel I was very lucky to have been diagnosed so early. I went in for shoulder pain (which they said was probably not related at all) & my wonderful doctor saw a spot in the xray that was questionable.
I was 48 then, non-smoker so I was in shock for about 6 mos afterwards. It does get better with each checkup & as time goes by. It makes me appreciate my life & not take things for granted.
All of my doctors seem to think the key is to go 2 yrs cancer free and the chances are lowered greatly of it returning, but I know how you feel. Its scary and confusing, but to read others' stories seems to help.
Hang in there.......best of luck.
I had my left lower lobe removed Dec 07 for 1b. Oncologist said no chemo but this week I found out for sure it is back and I have thought so for several months so wasn't surprised. I wish I had found this site sooner. Just be sure you really research everything and decide for or against chemo. My Oncologist told me they hadn't proven that chemo helps survival in early lung cancer or not, but my answer is they haven't proven it doesn't help either. I will be going through chemo now but don't know where it has spread. It just seems like a few little cancer cells that got away would be easier to kill with chemo right away instead of having to try to stop it all over. Good luck to you. Read discussion "Stood up to Doctor Today" Do you have a pit bull? Wish I had had one after surgery when I was in shell shock and ill to push for me. Whatever decision you make, hang in there. You've made it through the first hurdle.
Carolyn
Hi again. I left something out. Look at peyz33's comments about chemo. She is absolutely amazing.
Carolyn
it seems to me that you have been so blessed to be a stage 1. God grant that it never come back.
Hi Vh
I had a lobectomy 6.5 years ago and was dx. with stage 1a. My doctor said he got all of it. I had to go to the surgeon every 3 months for the chest x-ray and then 6 months I would have a ct scan with contrast.
In February I had the scan and they found something in my chest wall. My surgeon went in an found cancer in my chest wall. That is when I started chemo and radiation and became very sick since I was doing both together. Once he gave me a certain anti-nausea drug Emend I was fine. I did develope some long lasting side effects. Vh I don't mean to scare you but this does't mean it's going to happen to you. Everyone is different. I read so many stories here and my side effects are so different with some of the chemo drugs. That's why I am on here so often to see about the side effects.
I personally think your going to be fine. You will have a journey ahead of you but if you keep the lord Jesus Christ in you heart thru this journey it will make it easier for you. Keep him there and there will be a big difference. I don't mean to preach but that is how I got thru all of this and I have been thru so much in my journey. You are more than welcome to read my profile.
GOD BLESS YOU
LINDA
HERE IS MY EMAIL ADDRESS Meadowbreeze1355@aol.com so if you need to talk I am here for you.
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