Hello everyone, I'm brand new, just had my right middle lobe removed last week. Stage 1 a, thank God. As I was packing up to leave the hospital, the oncologist came in and had a whole regimen of chemo planned out for me. Now I'm reading here and there that chemo isn't appropriate for stage 1. Is this controversial? Anyone know where I can get more information? Thanks, MB
I had stage 1B nsclc last April and had my lower rt. lobe removed. I had 4 rounds of chemo after the surgery. The oncologist said there was conflicting information about it's use in stage 1, but he recommended it (so did my surgeon and regular md) because if even one cell is left you can have problems. Chemo isn't a certainty, but I wasn't taking any chances. I'm glad I did it because I've heard of too many people who chose not to and later had it come back. It may anyway, but I wanted to be sure I had done everything I could while it was at it's earliest stages when I had the best possibility of getting rid of it. Good luck on your decision. God Bless!
Unfortunately I'm IIIB so can't relate personally but I'd check it out with Dr West at onctalk.com. He answers every question if you word it generally--like would you recommend follow-up chemo for Stage Ia after surgery.
Judy in Key Wes
Hi MB
I had my URL removed in Sept. 2005 and was diagnosed with 1B squamous cell mass was 4.2 and primary, no lymph nodes involved. My surgeon and pulmonary doctor agree that I needed no other treatment. They told me that chemo might increase my life span by 5%, but also 5% get sick from the chemo and die from complications. They also told me that an oncologist would advise me to have chemo. I did not consult a oncologist.
I do believe that there is debate about whether chemo should be part of a treatment plan with type 1B especially patients with 1A. The type of cancer and where it is located has a lot to do with treatment. I know that I wondered if I was making the right decision not to have chemo. So far it has been 2 1/2 years with no return of the cancer. Remember each person is different and this is my results.
I thank GOD for everyday. I pray that whatever you do decide that it will cure you.
Mary Ann
Hello,I was reading your post and it hit home I am a 1yr,nsclc stage1B survivor. I also had an upper right lobectomy.I did not have an onc at that time.The surgeon told me I did not need chemo.About a month later I had complications and was taken to a different hospital.I am glad to have gone there because I met and still see a wonderful onc who told me I should of had chemo because my tumor was a milimeter away from the pleuri,not sure about pleuri however it was to late and now I am being monitered extremely carefully and will always have to be.If I had, had the chance I would have done it.My fear is never ending and I would of felt I stood a better chance of not getting a recurrence.I certainly am not telling you what to do only you and your doc should do that but if it were me,which its not I would really do some research and think it through I dont base alot on what some say to do or not because this is your life.I do wish you all the best and keep you in prayer. Bless You, Janet
Dear MB,
This is a very personal decision based on the chemo regimen recommended and reasons your oncologist has given you. I'm coming to the belief that no two cases are the same nor are the recommendations made for treatment by doctors. I'm sure you have more information about the recommendation than you've been able to discuss here.
It might be a good idea to schedule a consultation with the doctor away from the hospital setting to go over things again. I'm not sure if I had been approached in the hospital when leaving I would have absorbed that kind of discussion. Still uncertain of what you want to do, second opinions and further research. They usually like to start chemo within four or five weeks of surgery so you have some time.
I was a 1-B left lung surgically removed patient; chemo consisting of four round of Carbo/Taxol, one every three weeks was recommended. I found it best for me. Even with that precaution I have just been diagnose with a MET to the brain after 20 months. For reasons to numerous to discuss here they are calling it a run away cell that got there between the surgery & chemo?
Is that correct, I don't know? I do believe one thing for sure, that because I was under the care of my Oncologist rather than my surgeon I was watched closer and this was found earlier. My husband also an LC patient was 1B squameous cell and had his upper left lobe removed, no chemo recommended because it was so small (1 1/2 cm) is hardly followed at all by the surgeon. After a year he is going to ask our PCP for more through follow ups.
Prayers and all the very best to you,
Toddy
I was staged 1a and I vigorously sought the same information you did. EVERYONE that I talked to at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, at my own teaching hosppital, and elsewhere indicated that more Stage Ia people are hurt by adjuvant chemotherapy than are helped. People staged 1b or worse - they should get chemo. Even 1b's get a five percent increase in survival and the increased benefit goes way up as the stage increases.
So I didn't get adjuvant chemo after my lobectomy, but I continued to think about it. Even if nothing new has happened in the past three years (I'm 40 months "old"), I believe there are situations that would have prompted me to get chemo. My primary concern then was the almost arbitrary break between 1a and 1b. My tumor was 1.6 cm. If it had been 3 cm, then I would have had the chemo. But what would I have done if I had a 2.9 cm tumor? Or a 2.8 cm? And what would I have done if the margins hadn't been clear? What would have been my decision if the chemotherapy drugs became less severe, or if the dosage levels went down, based on clinical studies?
It has been 3+ years and they have rethought the staging, created new drugs, completed new clinical studies, etc. So what would I do now? I would go to the very same people I went to before and ask these questions. I urge you to do the same - including getting a second opinion at a comprehensive cancer center.
Courage
Chum
Hi ,
I am new here also. My name is Joni. This is my story. 2 years ago i had 2 lobes removed from my rt. lung. the docs called it a surgical cure and althouh the stage was 1b they told me no after treatment was needed... WELL, I just had a lung resection on my left lung. Although the surgery was much easier this time around I have not been able to bounce back as quickly as I feel I should have . if I had been given an option the 1st. time I would have done the chemo. At this point I don,t know if they will even offer as it was stage 1A. All I know for sure is that the day I felt that this disease was gone out of my life was probably the day it came back. I wish you all the best and my prayers go out to all of us ....JONI
MB,
I am Stage 1B and am currently having Cisplatin/Vinorelbine chemo. Because my surgery (which got all of the cancer) was done in Boston, and I live in W. Pa, I have 2 sets of doctors. ALL of them, (Pulmonologist(s), Thoracic Surgeon(s), and Oncologist(s)), recommended chemo for me. They said it could improve my chances by anywhere from 5% to 12%. The way I looked at it was what will it hurt to have the chemo? Possibly the only thing that will be hurt is the little cancer cell hiding in my body and just waiting to jump out and grow!
Knowing that every case is different, I can tell you that I have virtually no side effects from the chemo. If you were to have horrible side effects, you can just stop the chemo.
Again, every case is different. I agree with the previous posts - talk to your doctor again, and keep talking to him until you understand what s/he is recommending and why. What are the positives of the treatment, and what are the negatives. You can then make an informed decision if chemo is right for you.
Take care and God Bless you!
Erin
I was diagnosed with stage 1A in june and had 2/3 of my rright lung removed. My thoracic surgeon and pulmonologist both told me this was the "cure" and there is no evidence that chemo improves the longevity of life with the stage. I saw a wonderful dr at sloan kettering and he suggested chemo as a preventive measure.. I would have gotten it but since i also have otosclereosis..(hardening of the stapes) he determined the the risks (of me going completely deaf) ou tweighed the benefits of the chemo..He told me to live a healthy life because i was now a healthy person. Do I wonder if I should of had to chemo,, sure but I just am thankful for every day and try to keep a healthy lifestyle.
I do have SOB that has very really gone away after my surgery.. My 6 month ct scan was NED and I'm sceduled for my next in May..
Everyone is different.. My aunt (who is now 84) had a lobectomy probably 30 yrs ago..stage one and is still going strong!!
Take care & keep in touch.. Wishing you the best!!
I have always been informed that if you have any lymphnode involvement you will probably have to have some kind of chemo. If you were clean and no signs of it then as far as I know you won't have it. Also it depends on the protochol of the hospital or oncologist that you go to.
Good luck
May God bless
Linda
Keep me informed
Thank you all for being so giving and helpful. I am reviewing all the evidence I can find and will go from there. This site is wonderful. So glad I happened upon it! MB
Eight years ago, the clinical studies relating to adjuvent Chemo had not been completed. My NSCLC Stage 1A adenocarcinoma tumor had tripled in size in three months, to 2.5 CM when I had my lobectomy (URL).
I was offered adjuvent chemo, but refused it at the time. I have had no lung cancer reoccurance to date, nor of the other two primary cancers I had at the time.
The clinical tests seem to indicate no value in adjuvent chemo for Stage 1A, but who knows.
Hello. I was dxed in 2006 as stage 1A and had a RUL. I too went through the hospitalization with all my doctors coming in leaving me with the impression that Chemo was not necessary. That was until the last doc, the Oncologist came in. He recommended Carbo/Taxol as adjunct. I think it just goes to show it's very controversial, on whether to have chemo for this stage, based on the comments alone in this post. I personally felt that I wanted to be sure that I had done everything possible from preventing a reoccurrence. My Oncologist, and the board who reviewed my case, all felt the same. Best of luck to you!
MB,
I was operatedon for stage 1b adnoc. and had my rt upper lobe removed on Feb19,08. The onc offered chemo,the surgeon and my family MD advised against it. I am in good health otherwise. I found on the internet search that there are two proteins which if they are in your tumor will negate the effect of chemo. I asked to be tested and the results were positive.
, meaning that chemo would have not had any positve effect. ERCC1 and RMM1.
April 26, 2005 had my RLL removed, stage 1A, no lymphs, no other spots, but did undergo 16 weeks of chemo. Figured if there was little cancer cell hangin out in my pinky, I wanted it GONE!! Oncologist said that the 5-15% increase in longevety was probably worth it, and I agreed, after all I still have alot to experience, and every extra day is definitely extra special.
I also visit www.cancergrace.org
Dr. West has been fabulous in answering my concerns. However, I would also discuss this with the oncologist that is treating you.
Don't go "webbing", so to speak, and try to get your answers from there.
Best of luck to you.
I think it prudent, as do many thoracic oncologists, to presume microscopic disease, which could have been disseminated (seeding) during the biopsy. It is easy to say do the chemo--it can be tortuous, at its worse, and a minor inconvenience at best--but I do believe in the studies that say that there is increased longevity associated with lobectomy and chemo. Additionally, the sub-type, adenocarcinoma, is particularly fast-growing and because of the quick turnover of that particular pathology's (adenocarcinoma's) DNA, especially its rogue cells, adenocarcinoma is especially vulnerable to chemo.
WIth chemo, I believe, you will take a great prognosis and make it greater. Good luck and health with whatever you decide.
Also, you may want to make a long-distance inquiry of the folks (Dr. Pister) at MD Anderson.
Thanks everyone for advice and listening. I tried to post here a couple of weeks ago but it didn't stick so I ended up writing under new discussion heading. My ERCC1 levels came back as high so the consensus of 4 oncologists (2 as friends, 2 as professionals) is that chemo is not for me and I'm comfortable with that decision.
Is anyone part of a Wellness Group? I'm curious as to what you think about it, how it's helpful, etc.
Thanks and eat your veggies,
Maribeth
Hi
I had my surgery July of last year. I was stage 1A and my surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Hospital in New York did not recommend chemo or radiation as he felt my upper right lobe was removed and I was cancer free. I respected his opinion but he sent me to see an oncologist for a second opinion. I was told by my oncologist that I did not need further treatment.. He said chemo would not benefit me and there was no need for it. I am comfortable with my decision not to go any further.
Sharon
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