I had my right lung removed in June,2004. I wasstaged
111A. My latest CT scans were clear. My oncologist said he is very pleased with my progress but he hesitates
to declare me cured. How long does it take with no cancer showing on scans to be considered cured. Or
is a chronic condition the best one can hope for?
Both are true. Consider yourself cured. Stay vigilant. The beast is unpredictable.
I would venture to say we are never really cured since LC can come back after 25 years and get ya -however - that said - you can say your are in Remission and cancer free TODAY.....that's what I say - I am not bold enough to use the "cure" word - neither are any of my doctors.....
Karen
I'm 9 1/2 years out. I say I'm a lung cancer survivor, and I say I've had a complete recovery. And I keep getting my annual check ups, to be sure it's staying that way.
Odds of recurrence drop dramatically after 2 years, I think, so the odds of our being cured are good.
Congratulations!
Kathy
In that vein, anyone apply for life insurance?
stage4survivor
Good question. I was an insurance agent for ten years but awhile back. The rule then was 5 years out and you were a normal risk.
I had a client who was 20 years out from a carcinoma on his chest. The insurance company (one of the top 10) stalled on issuing the policy for many months. I mucho complained. They finally issued the policy. The client died 10 days later of a brain tumor. The claim was paid but that too took many months with me mucho complaining.
Afterwards, I complained to the agent advisory council. The company admited they were in the wrong.
Was it related to the original dx? I have no idea.
The statistics indicate that there is a continuing risk of 1% to 2% per year for people staged 1a. Not sure what it is for IIIa. The risk is cumulative, so chances are in 50 years, the beast will return! Not sure what treatment the doctors will suggest for a man 102.
Courage
Chum
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