BridgetO

I had a small, slow-growing nodule in my lower right lobe that didn't show any uptake on the PET. Because of its location, it couldn't be biopsied without surgery. I had a lobectomy and the noduleturned out to be an adenocarcinoma. My decision to go with the surgery was influenced by my having had two prior non-lung cancers and this thing could have been a metastasis, although the docs all agreed that it was most likely a primary lung cancer due to its appearance on the CTs.

I'm glad to hear this good update! Your chylothorax was quite the adventure!

Hi Stephanie and welcome here. Edive buddy is right that expecting blood levels to stay the same isn't realistic. Neutrophils- white blood cells that fight infections- especially take a beating, My lung cancer was stage 1a and I didn't need chemo., but 12 years ago I had a different cancer that was stage 3 and aggressive. Chemo caused my neutrophil count to dip and the second time it went to zero, an emergency situation. I was given antibiotics to stop possible bacterial infections . After subsequent infusions I had neupogen, given by injection, and it kept my neutrophils from crashing again. I also had an infusion of packed red blood cells when anemia reached a dangerous level. My treatment was 12 years ago and I have been NED (no evidence of disease) since. My point is that if blood levels of anything reach a dangerous level, there's usually some action that can be taken to remedy the situation- medication, biologicals, supplements, postponing your infusion until the level rises, etc. It usually isn't a reason to discontinue a regimen that's working. Advanced cancer of any kind is life-threatening and treatment often needs to be aggressive to control it. So hang in there, talk to your oncologist about the significance of each level that's low, and what if anything needs to be done about it. Hang in there and I wish you a long and meaningful life. Bridget O

Hi Dina. Your recliner should be helpful during your recovery. And Lou's Tips and Tricks are great.

Hi Dina and welcome here! I had a lower right lobectomy by VATS about 8 years ago and it was pretty easy, as surgeries go. I was released from the hospital the next day. One suggestion I have is to get a firm foam wedge pillow to use during your recovery. This will help your breathing and make you more comfortable. Your whole upper body needs to be on the slope, not just your head. I tried to accomplish this position with a range of other pillows I had and succeeded only in getting a crick in my neck. The wedge helped me rest and sleep more comfortably. Hang in there! Bridget O

Hi TJM, Lou's suggestion of a dermatologist is a good one. If you already have a dermatologist, I'd suggest calling direct to that office. (If I recall correctly, you have Kariser, right?- I know it's hard to get a specialist appointment). With Kaiser, you can also send a photo along with an email on their site- If you don't already have a derm, you could send it to your PCP. edivebudy, that is one ugly lesion! Did the keyruda work?

Hi Minh, Im sorry you've had so many challenges! You're really hanging in there. Good for you! I have a suggestion for the swallowing issue. Have you seen a speech pathologist? Many people don't know that speech paths deal with swallowing issues as well as speech. It makes sense since the muscles involved in speech and swallowing and coordinating those with breathing are the same. I've worked with a number of people with disabilities that caused swallowing problem with choking risks and helped them get set up with a speech pathologist for help with this. You could ask your doctor for a referral. keep hanging in there.

If you can tolerate a lot of dairy, I suggest premium ice creams (high in fat!). And add butter and cream to anything you can. Potatoes mashed with butter and cream! If my doctor told me to gain weight, I'd eat a lot of See's chocolates. Also caramel sauce and fudge sauce straight from the jar. Of course I understand that a lot of this stuff might not sound good to you right now. And it may not be "healthy" but it has a lot of calories. You might also ask for a referral to a dietician/nutritionist for recommendations on food for weight gain. Hang in there, Minh, you've been through a lot!

Yep, I' in the Northwest, too, and this weather is BAD! And this past Sunday, on one of the coldest days of the year, out furnace went out! Fortunately, we have a wood stove and a furnace repair guy who is next to being a saint in my book. He came out right away and got our dinosaur of an oil furnace running in a couple of hours. We actually feel fortunate. So many people in the area have been without power for days. I hope you and everybody else can stay warm!

I'm so sorry for your loss. This is an awful disease!

Good news for sure! I sure hope you don't get any more exotic side effects, or,for that matter, any garden variety ones. Just stick with plain NED!

Scanxiety is normal, Ken, even though it's not pleasant. My fingers are crossed, along with those of the rest of the gang.

Devastated daughter, I'm sorry for the loss of your mom. It sounds like she lived her life as she chose. And you supported her as her caregiver, even though you disagreed with some of her choices. Good for you both. I wish you peace and comfort.

I agree with those who advise against waiting. 2.6 centimeters is not huge, but it's not a tiny nodule either. I had a 3 month "wait and see" but my nodule was under 1 cm at that time. I think asking for an opinion from a pulmonologist is a good idea.

A low-fat cheeseburger?