I have not posted in quite a while but have been reading others posts and trying to keep up. I am now 6 months post treatment ( 4 chemo drugs and 37 radiation, no surgery) for stage 3a squamous type/mixed NSCLC. My 2 month post treatment scan showed marked improvement with nothing showing in the lymph nodes anymore and the lesion in the lung reduced. I was told even that was most likely radiation damage. My CT this time(11/3) was followed by a PET (11/7) since something showed up. The report says quite a lot, but the final impression is "Marked progression of disease since prior study, with a new infiltrative FDG avid left hilar mass and enlargement of tracer avid spiculated left upper lobe mass and prevascular /AP window nodal mass." The hilar mass is larger than the largest mass I had at the beginning. I had a core needle biopsy Thurs and will get the results and recommendations Tues. All prayers are welcome and any encouragement or suggestions are also welcome. I am not afraid of dying, but I am afraid of being sick. I am more symptomatic than I was when I started treatment. O2 level is good but still short of breath, tachycardic and no energy.
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Progression of disease....need support
- By janiegirl
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:11 am · 22 replies
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- By summeron2001
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 11:59 am
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Sending you hugs, prayers and positive vibes for a good report on Tuesday. Let us know how you make out.
Take care.
Sylvia
- By karilynn
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 3:45 pm
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I am sending good thoughts your way. I will keep my fingers crossed for your appt on Tuesday.... You will be in my prayers.
Kari
- By SusanL1
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 3:47 pm
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Janiegirl:
You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Susan
- By Marie400
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 6:28 pm
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Janie - I don't have any advice or suggestions. I just want to say I'll be thinking of you and praying for you. I encourage you to remain positive as a good attitude is at least half the battle. Judging by your photo you are a happy, positive person.
- By MarionW
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:28 pm
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Do they at all say they might do surgery? I am told that 3a is usually treated by chemo and radiation to get the masses or nodes down and then they can do surgery.
I don't know if you have been told you can't have surgery but that would be worht a try if possible. also what about gamma or cyberknife?
I really think you will be able to find a treatment for this.
My thoughts will be with you on Tuesday.
- By janiegirl
- Posted November 15, 2008 at 10:34 pm
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I was told at the beginning it was inoperable becasuse it was in the mediastinal area. Now the new tumor seems to be wrappped around the aorta and the thoracic and pulmonary arteries. They did mention surgery the other day as as option we would talk about but it really doesn't sound pheasible or reasonable at this point. I think more chemo or radiation is what they will do.
- By Jolene
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 3:14 am
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May God give you renewed strength to face each day and may he give wisdom to those who you have entrusted your care to. I am sorry that the news was not what we always hope for. It is scary, this thing
called lung cancer. I will pray for you. BE strong!
Hugs from Iowa Jolene
- By Shar815
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 7:41 am
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Hi Janiegirl,
Sending you hugs and prayers. Hang in there. God Bless, Sharon
- By GAC
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:24 am
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Janie I am sorry to hear of the new cancer. It seems to be in many cases exactly what happens. It happened to us in the same way., remission then spreading . Somehow I doubt there was any remission. My prayers go to you, you have to be very scared but Prayers will help you handle whatever is ahead and you have many of them coming your way. God Bless you and keep you in his arms. GAC
- By chessie-too
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:29 am
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Janie,
Please know that you are in my prayers and that God will give you the strength he gave you in the past to fight and win over this too.
God Bless
- By bixbabe44
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 8:29 am
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Hi Janie,
Sorry to hear the bad news. Hope and prayers go with you on Tuesday. God Bless!!
Eileen
- By MarionW
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 1:50 pm
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Try to hold on to good thoughts until you see the doctor. there have been many times when I thought it was the end and it turned out fine.
God bless and my prayers go with !
- By pattyp1
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 2:20 pm
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hey, Janie,
positive thoughts, prayers, and many hugs coming your way!
Pat
- By Ramona
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 5:29 pm
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I started out with it wrapped around the phrenic nerve that controls the diaphram at the AP window. Not fully clear on the anatomy, just horrified. I did chemo. Then the surgeon scraped it off during surgery and took 2 batches of lymph nodes. One node was cancer in each batch. They did not remove any lung parts because of the lymph nodes in the mediastinum and because the surgeon said he would have had to take the entire lung to get clean margins.
I've since done 33 radiation sessions ull and mediastinum with chemo. The point is I am still here. Scans will happen the end of Dec. Onc says a cure is very possible. I feel pretty good now that sessions are over.
- By nonni
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 6:06 pm
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Hi Janie....
I am so sorry you had to hear this distrubing new's...please stay positive and hope for the best on Tuesday....my prayers are with you and all of us...
God Speed...
hugs...nonni
- By pjmac
- Posted November 16, 2008 at 6:38 pm
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Janie
Hang in there. You will be in my prayers
Pam
- By stephanie410
- Posted November 17, 2008 at 1:22 am
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Remember my motto...it's a setback, not a sentence. Stay strong.
You are absolutely in my prayers. I hope you'll continue to keep us posted.
--Stephanie
- By MarciaGreer
- Posted November 17, 2008 at 8:12 am
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I have no suggestions, only encouragement. There is always hope, and even with awful news potentially hanging over our heads every day we have the power to not let it control our days and the quality of our lives. Distract yourself; do something fun, be around friends or loved ones.
Keep us updated.
Marcia
- By Heinke
- Posted November 17, 2008 at 10:14 am
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You are in my prayers. Think of it as a bump along the path to recovery.
- By lisalulu
- Posted November 17, 2008 at 11:27 am
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Sending you lots of prayers and hugs..
lisa
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