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Showing results for tags 'adenocarcinoma'.
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Hi Everyone, I have adenocarcinoma in my LLL. I was originally diagnosed in 2009. It was an incidental finding. I went in for a breast MRI due to family history. Dr. called and said breast were fine but my lung needed further testing. I had a wedge resection by VATS. Surgeon has been following nodule since 2014. PET in May had SUV of 4.8. New surgeon (last one retired) didn't want to operate. Tumor board agreed SBRT would be best option. I had 5 treatments in June. Just had a CT, no change. I am currently waiting for an appt. with the ONC who is a lung tumor specialist where I have been going for the last 3 years. I am wanting to share with others who will understand my anxiety on this journey.
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Hi. My dad - a long-time endurance athlete and outdoorsman, non smoker, vegetarian, age 72, still working full time as a general dentist - was on a long bike ride two weeks ago when he had chest pain that sent him to the hospital. Long story short, an angiogram found 6 major blockages and he had a quadruple bypass the next morning. We were all flabbergasted as he's so healthy, but heart disease runs in his family and his sister had the same procedure about 15 yrs ago. Anyway, while the cardiothoracic surgeon was performing the surgery, he found and fully removed a 1 cm nodule on my dad's lung, and the pathology came back as a stage 1a adenocarcinoma (with clean margins). Can you imagine laying there recovering from major open heart surgery after a heart attack and then getting that news?? He had an MRI of his brain at the hospital which came back clear, but he can't have a PET scan for a few weeks as his chest has to heal. I am not positive but I don't believe the cancer can be fully staged until he's had the scan to check for any other potential incidents? We're all looking at this as a lucky(ish) accident as the cancer never would have been detected at this point had he not had a surgeon literally looking at his lungs, and we're hopeful that the scans come back clean, but it's just a lot to take in. He's recovering at my house and eating an organic, plant based diet, getting lots of love and support from friends and family, but we're all scared (although optimistic and upbeat). We have cardiac rehab starting soon and then have to get started with the oncologist...I know this is a marathon not a sprint and we've barely begun...just looking for a community to hear our story and a safe place for me to unload. Any and all advice and/or words of encouragement are welcome. Thanks for reading!! -
Good morning. I just wanted to say thank you to all who participate in this forum, whether it's a post, a response, or silent prayers and good thoughts from your home. I sign on every day to read how others are doing, and to see if I might share experiences to help others. This sight became my lifeline last spring and it's through this site that I discovered that a recurrence is not the end of the world, but merely a bump in the road. I think of you all every day, send prayers, and cross fingers and toes for good results. Thank you!
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Hi All, I am new here. Hoping to take a break from googling and actually get some advice and hear stories from those who have actually been through this before:) My mom was diagnosed with stage IIIa adenocarcinoma yesterday at Johns Hopkins. She was originally told about 1.5 months ago that the mass she had(less then 1 cm) was operable and stage 1. Had PET scan to confirm no additional metastasis. She went to thoracic surgeon to schedule surgery and was told he had to do a bronchoscopy and medianoscopy to "confirm" there was no cancer spread in lymph nodes. Well, results came back and there were microscopic cancer cells in one out of 6 lymph nodes in her mediastinum. This is considered single station lymph node involvement from what I understand. So her dx went from 1A to 3A which has been really hard. But we are moving forward and she had her second opinion appt yesterday at Hopkins and that is where we will stay. They are recommending chemo (carboplatin and Alimta) once every 3 weeks for four rounds. After that she will have scans to confirm the cancer has responded appropriately and then they will move forward with a lobectomy. If the samples they send off after surgery contain cancer cells, they will then do radiation. The reason they are unwilling to start w radiation right off the bat in conjunction with chemo is because she has a history of autoimmune disease and radiation can be really rough on people with preexisting AI disease. They did say afterwards if there is cancer remaining, at that point the benefits of doing radiation would outweigh the cons. Wow, that was long winded! I apologize. I was wondering a few things. First, if any of you had a similar diagnosis (stage 3A with microscopic single stage locally advanced spread). Second, if you did, what was your treatment plan. Third, even if you didn't have same diagnosis, has anyone done things in the same order? I would appreciate any and all comments:) This has been tough on all of us but we are grabbing the bull by the horns and moving forward!
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Just a post to vent......I'm mentally and physically exhausted. I have finally hit the wall with this round of treatment. I endured chemo (cisplatin/pemetrexed) last year, but that cycle was a little more forgiving; one long day every three weeks. This round, I've had daily radiation for almost 6 weeks and weekly chemo (carboplatin/taxol). The chemo side effects aren't as bad, but I guess the daily grind of radiation, with the weekly chemo, and the fatigue have finally knocked me down. I'm also starting to lose my hair and Super Doc told me I'll have two more rounds of chemo in June and those two treatments WILL take the rest of my hair. I thought I was mentally prepared to lose my hair, but I wasn't. It's starting slow but at some point, I'll take matters into my own hands and just shave my head. But then I remind myself that I told Super Doc I'll do whatever it takes to beat this, and losing hair is just a casualty of this war. Thanks for letting me vent. Sometimes just putting it in writing helps me, especially because I know you've all endured this and so much more.
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I was diagnosed with lung cancer in August of 2011 out of the blue, totally unexpected. I went for a regular checkup after experiencing some gastric reflux and abdominal pain. The doctor suggested an abdominal CT scan. He called me back into his office and told me that, although the scan was of my abdomen, a part of my lung had been included. A little shadow had shown up there that concerned him. He asked me to undergo a second CT scan, this time of my lungs. That scan revealed a prominent area of masslike consolidation in my left lower lobe. The next day I saw my pulmonologist, who scheduled me for a needle biopsy. At the time, he didn’t think that the scan findings really indicated a lung cancer. I was not concerned either, as I had never smoked and had little history of cancer in my family. I was traveling home from a visit with some friends when I got the call from the hospital. The emotional voice on the other end was cracking. I didn’t even realize that it was my pulmonologist. He said, “We got the results from your biopsy. You have a very large tumor taking up most of the left lower lobe of your lung. We have to get this right away. We’ll get through this honey.” It was surreal. I thought it was a mistake. I was diagnosed with non-small cell adenocarcinoma. They scheduled surgery right away to remove a lobe of my left lung. That was followed by chemotherapy. It was a very tough time. After I recovered from that surgery and the chemo, I just wanted to go back to my life. I’d been very happy with my life. I was a volunteer chaplain. I didn’t know any other survivors and I didn’t want to think about lung cancer anymore. They said I only had 15% chance of the cancer coming back so I wasn’t going to worry about it. A year later, the cancer came back. Looking at the scan, I felt like I was in a nightmare. The second surgery to remove the rest of my left lung was easier, because I knew what to expect. But after that surgery and treatment, I knew I needed to get plugged in and started searching online for an organization that could help. I liked that LUNGevity Foundation was constantly posting helpful information and seemed focused on survivors. Before I was diagnosed with cancer, I had enjoyed the experience of mentoring, so I applied to be a LifeLine support partner. Nikole from LUNGevity reached out and invited me to attend the HOPE Summit survivorship conference. One of my friends went with me and we had such a wonderful time. HOPE Summit changed my life. Before that time, I had been pretty isolated as a survivor. When I walked in and saw that many survivors, I was amazed and overwhelmed. Hearing others share their experiences changed my whole attitude. The main thing I came away with after HOPE Summit is “be your own advocate.” My amazing friends that I met through LUNGevity connected me with my current doctors at UT Southwest. Any time that you need support from LUNGevity, it is available. I am a LifeLine mentor to other survivors, but I also have LifeLine mentors who have helped me through two recurrences of cancer. They’ve really inspired me and kept me looking forward. Mentoring is a two-way relationship. If they’re feeling down, I can help them and if I’m feeling down, they can help me. It is so rewarding. I’m also a LUNGevity Social Media Ambassador. I’m a big believer in the power of connection. If we isolate ourselves, we focus more on the negatives and everything that’s wrong. But if you’re out there connecting with other survivors, you’re sharing the ups and the downs, you’re not alone. It really helps. The advice I like to share with other people who have lung cancer is if you don’t like what one doctor says, it’s very important to be your own advocate. It’s your life!
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Greetings Friends! Last Thurs I had a biopsy of the mystery meat in my left lung and the results have came back as adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, not melanoma. So the plan is to have surgery to remove the lung lobe with the tumor "Larry" in it and some lymph nodes If the cancer has not spread to my lymph nodes, then surgery should be all that I need. If it has spread, then I'll need more treatment, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Just trying to stay in today but this is all I know. The hospital is organizing all that is needed for surgery, but it's not an emergency. Any words of wisdom in getting through a VATS Lobectomy? Thanks! Shalom, Julie
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My spouse was diagnosed almost exactly a month ago. Went in for ER visit believing it was a kidney stone causing pain in pelvic area. Through extensive tests and second opinions, it came back as stage 4 non small cell lung cancer (2.6 cm mass) with bone mets to the right pelvic bone (2.7 cm mass). shes currently finishing round 1 of chemo- alimta and carboplatin. The next round will add avastin. Four rounds total followed by radiation. As hopeful as I try to be, she is very doom and gloom. The dr talked at the last visit of when she is remission, and I take that as a sign that the team of Drs wouldn't talk of remission if they didn't believe it was possible. Biopsy of pelvic bone done at ER visit came back as not being The mutation suitable for tarceva, and confirming adenocarcinoma. He talked that if after remission she would relapse the next step would be opdivo. At the initial appointment, she was told that without treatment she would have six months to live. I guess what I am seeking is advice from other spouses/caregivers on how to keep it all together everyday. And if anybody has any survivor stories that they are willing to share- to possibly help her keep hope that there are tomorrows.
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Hello, my name is Christine. My, 71 yr old, Mother was diagnosed in Nov 2016 w/ Stage IV metastatic adenocarcinoma NSCLC (primary: right lung, spread to both adrenal glands, brain & right proximal tibia). At diagnosis she was given an estimate of 6-12 months to live, which was quickly adjusted to 6 months after they discovered 13 brain mets opposed to the 3 they originally saw. She had surgery to remove the tumor in her right tibia, which they filled with bone cement to stabilize the bone. She has completed whole brain radiation, radiation to the right tibia & 2 rounds of chemo: Paraplatin (Carboplatin), Alimta (Pemetrexed) & Avastin (Bevacizumab). The chemo was unsuccessful. The cancer spread to multiple bones in her left leg, her pelvis & spine. They stopped chemo & started Opdivo last week. It is too soon after completing whole brain radiation to do another brain scan to know if it helped. I'm sorry for the information overload....I'm just trying to give as much info as possible to see if anyone here has a similar situation & could offer some words of wisdom, offer a glimpse of hope or suggest ways I can help her. Thank you in advance for your help.
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I had a pet scan yesterday as a follow-up to my CT in February. As suspected, a lymph node near the aortic arch lit up. But nothing else lit up so that's reason enough to do a happy dance. I'll have a surgical biopsy to confirm it is adeno (same as primary tumor removed last year) and I will have a port put in. I have 6-7 weeks of concurrent chemo (carboplatin and taxol) and radiation and I am not about to endure that without a port. Doc will also send me for an MRI just to confirm the brain is still clear. Doc knows I have a trip planned for Hawaii at the end of May so he's trying to get this started so I can finish in time to take my trip. I will probably feel pretty crappy by then, but I'd rather feel crappy sitting on a beach. I was a little sad on Saturday - I presumed the misbehaving lymph node was cancer. I was a little sad today and then mad, but now? Let's get this fight started. I've already had 13 months since my initial diagnosis and that's pretty damn good. I'm ready.
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We met with my oncologist yesterday to discuss the recurrence of NSCLC in my right supraclavicular lymph node. The thoracic surgeon who performed my lobectomy agreed to perform this surgery, and I'm scheduled to consult with him on March 9th. The results are back on the tumor testing. It tested positive for ALK. The oncologist talked a bit about the drug crizotinib as a possible future treatment.
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Hi - I'm joining this forum to find out more about Adenocarcinoma and Women that never smoked. My mom was diagnosed on 11/29/2016. That day changed our lives. My mother fell and broke her femur and once we rushed her to ER the doctor reviewed her x-ray and said her femur should never break that way. From there he ordered a CAT scan which showed lesions on the femur. The next response from the doctor was it didn't start there, so he ordered an upper body scan which found it in her lung (source) however it was also in her spine, and ribs. Mom has had surgery since to repair the femur but recovery is not the only obstacle. The emotions of knowing you have cancer in so many places are overwhelming. In early December they determined she had it in her brain as well. They did WBRT for 10 sessions and she didn't have any side effects until a week after, where she lost her hair in one night and her scalp became very tender. Doctors recommended Aloe Vera and Aquaphor to soothe the skin. We just applied it yesterday so we're hoping it helps. Mom was informed that she does have the EGFR mutation which allows her to have the chemo pill rather than standard chemo. We're hoping the side effects won't be as extreme as traditional chemo. Has anyone taken Gilotrif and had positive (or not so extreme effects)? Can you give me some background or suggestions? Background on Mom: Mom is only 72. Thankfully, mom is a very strong woman she has pain but tries not to complain. She was semi-active before the fall and only noticed what she thought was arthritis pain or osteo pain from aging. She hasn't lost a pound she still has an appetite and after WBRT some of the cognitive thinking and some memory patterns returned, but depression keeps creeping in from time to time. I'm confused about a few things. I read a lot on this version of cancer and it's astonishing to me that one article stated it is now the #1 cancer for women. Why hadn't I heard of this before? Why aren't women warned? We're warned not to smoke but this cancer affects those that don't smoke. What kind of warning could people that don't smoke have received? I'm devastated that my mom is going through this. We have to keep our faith in God and sometimes we won't understand until later. Any suggestions about anything helps. Thanks for reading!! -
I am now on disability, fighting my cancer is a full-time job. In my past life I was the Business Development Manager for a technology company in Rohnert Park, CA. When not doing advocacy work you can usually find me in a spin class or out in Mother Nature hiking or biking with my friends. I was dx with Stage 4 Lung Cancer in June of 2009. Since then I have done radiation, six cycles of chemotherapy Taxol, Carbo and Avastin for the lung cancer. That was followed by six cycles of Genzar for metastases to my liver. In March of 2010 because I was non-small cell adenocarcinoma I was given a targeted therapy (Tarceva) to try. At that time it was less expensive to try the medication and see if it worked than sending the tissue out for testing, Tarceva kept me stable for over six years. During those years I was given x-rays and CT scans that showed no change in the tumors in my lungs, so it was thought that since the Tarceva was working so well I had the EGFR mutation. As I became more aware of genomic sequencing and knew my tissue had been saved I requested that it be tested for the basic mutations EGFR, ALK, after checking I was told there was not enough tissue for testing. That was also about the time I realized Tarceva wasn’t going to work forever and I probably needed a plan B. Having more knowledge about genomic sequencing I knew high on that list should be a new biopsy to have my tumor tested. In November of 2015 I was working on my friend Tim’s ranch and after a long day of shoveling decomposed granite I notice when Tim and I retired for the night my left leg was swollen. I post everything on social media, so when I posted a picture of my leg I received more than one suggestion it might be a blood clot and I should have it scanned. That scan triggered my Oncologist to order a CT scan the following week and that scan revealed a 1.2 CM tumor in my left lung. This is when my plan B kicked in. Before requesting a needle biopsy of the tumor I wanted conformation the cancer hadn’t metastasized to any other location. So first I requested a PET scan, followed by a bone scan and a brain MRI. It was an all-clear, so now I knew it was only the new ½ inch tumor in my left lung I had to confront. In December of 2015 I had a needle biopsy performed. I asked to speak to the surgeon performing the procedure. He came in as I was being hooked up with an IV. I stated to him that when he was in there snapping away to please don’t be polite, take as much as you like. He shared with me he was just given the request for the biopsy and didn’t know my story. I explained the tissue was going to be for genomic sequencing and I needed as much tissue as possible. After the procedure he came into recovery room with a big smile and shared that I would be proud of him. I knew from my research genomic sequencing takes a larger sample so didn’t want to go back for a second procedure. I post my entire cancer journey on social media and have connected with doctors, scientist, nurses and bloggers, also concerned friends and family that all care about my wellbeing. So I know if I post my treatment plans I will hear from someone if I am off track. I posted about my tissue biopsy and I received a private message from my friend Bonnie J. Addario the founder of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, she asked if I was sending the tissue to Foundation Medicine? I said I didn’t think my healthcare provider would cover the cost. She gave me a person to contact and within a couple of days my tumor was on the way for testing. Foundation Medicine said they would bill my insurance and if there was an issue I could apply for financial assistance, but my wellbeing was there first priority. I had the results within two weeks of Foundation Medicine receiving my tissue sample. I was very impressed with the report, over 24 pages. It discussed my alterations and statics about my alterations, and even ones that I had expression for that did not yet have treatment protocols. The report also listed FDA approved treatments for my alterations and all the clinical trials that were available. Since my girlfriend Penny Blume passed in 2014 from small cell lung cancer I have dedicated myself to advocating for lung cancer research and awareness. I became a Consumer Reviewer for the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program in 2013 and advocate for Lung Cancer groups like the Lungevity Foundation, Team Draft and involved with Lungevity Foundation Lifeline support program which is one on one support for newly diagnosed patients. My connections with these groups have put me in touch with some of the top doctors, researchers and advocates in the lung cancer community. With my Foundation One report in hand I set out to look for a second opinion. I was shocked to find out after being stable on Tarceva for six years I had none of the common mutations, including EGFR. What showed up on the Foundation One report was NTRK1 without fusion and PIK3CA. I was able to connect with Dr. Jeffery Engelman at Mass General Hospital for a second opinion. Dr. Engelman reviewed my reports and agreed with my decision that Opdivo (Nivolumab) was my next best option; I am now on my eighteenth infusion and feeling great and again have stable disease. When I was diagnosed in 2009 with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer I was given 8-12 months to live. It is because of precision medicine that I am still writing my story almost eight years later, and still mountain biking and enjoying life to the fullest. Penny never had the opportunity to benefit from precision medicine or treatments like immunotherapy. Penny passed on 1-21-2014 at my home in California surrounded by her family. My last promise to Penny was I would continue to advocate for lung cancer research and awareness. This opportunity to share our story helps me keep that promise to her, so I thank you. Be well, Don Stranathan Stage 4 Lung Cancer Survivor
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I don't know about the rest of you, but my costume for this year is LUNG CANCER SURVIVOR! I'm planning to wear this same costume (which consists of a big smile, an appreciation for my medical team, and a great attitude) for years to come. Enjoy your day!
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I finished my chemo last Friday and got to ring the bell! But now the hardest part starts for me - waiting for the first post-treatment CT scheduled for July 1st. I'm an anxious person on a good day, so I would love to hear how any of you survive the period between scans. My wonderful oncologist said that if the CT is clear, I won't have to have another one for 6 months.
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I am going to be setting up a booth to bring awareness and raise funds for Lung Cancer at local fairs and festivals. My booth will provide information, bandies and a donation bucket. I have acquired a small list of venues to set up my booth but would like to hear from everyone on any ideas they may have on any other settings to get our message out. I live in Mobile, AL. Thank you for any suggestions.
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Hi! I'm new to cancer and to this wonderful web site. Here's my story: I have had asthma and allergy issues for years, so when asthma got worse 18 months ago, no cause for alarm. When I developed bronchitis last fall, no cause for alarm. I coughed up blood in December 2015 and an x-ray revealed a large mass in my upper left lung. Pulmonologist performed a bronchoscopy and a biopsy indicated no cancer so the mass was further evaluated for bacteria and fungus. No luck, so on February 22nd I had a lobectomy on my left lung and was diagnosed with cancer. 7 of 10 lymph nodes were affected but the surgeon did get clear margins. On March 19th, I had my first of four chemo treatments (cisplatin and alimta). In hindsight, I should have requested an xray when my asthma took a turn, so that is now my advice to others. Be your own advocate. I've had too many people, including health care providers, ask me if I smoke. Lung cancer doesn't just affect smokers, and it doesn't just affect older patients. I'm a 46 year old non-smoker diagnosed with the most common form of lung cancer. I'd love to see providers take a new look at the face of lung cancer, and see it become as visible to the public as breast or prostate cancer. After all, it is the number one cancer killer. If you can't tell, once I beat this, I'm planning to become a voice for this cause!
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Good morning Members, For some of you that have followed my last post or not, here is the background info. My mom was diagnosed Stage 3A NSCLC. Her tumor is 6cm, 4.1x 3.8 x 5.8, located in the central upper left lobe and beginning to invade left main pulmonary artery. I was told that resection is possible following neoadjuvant therapy. I was given a choice of standard chemotherapy for three months OR 2 infusions of nivolumab as a trial for 4 weeks. I contemplated which first line therapy choice I would use for the last five days. However, I received a call and now was told that upon further review of the case, the team wants to move forward straight to surgery and do adjuvant chemotherapy afterwards due to fear of disease progression leaving my mom unresectable. I was not informed of what kind of resection is planned just yet. I’d like to know the risks/recovery expected with a resection of this size and location. How quickly must chemotherapy be initiated after a surgery? Is there a strong chance of hidden disease spreading as a result of surgery without having systemic chemo first? If members can weigh in with their thoughts and experiences, that would be great!
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A person close to my immediate family is a Chemotherapy Nurse and works with some of the leading oncologists in the area where my mother is receiving treatments for Stage VI NSCLC (Adenocarcinoma). She has been a proponent of having my mom undergo Foundation One genetic testing to see if it will provide any insights to her cancer and help determine better treatment protocols. This test is expensive (around $5000) and rarely covered by health insurance, including my mom's plan, without petitioning. The doctors have said that this test should wait until they determine the success of the chemo and see whether more exploration is necessary, but by no means require it. Has anyone here had experience with Foundation One testing? I am trying to weigh its merits and learn more about the information it provides and whether it is worth the cost in helping my mom's cancer at this stage.
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Hi all, I've been to 2 DC Hope Summits and 2 regional Summits so I've met many of you. So I'm joining in here to share my story and, I hope, to help others find answers and HOPE. In 10/10, I was diagnosed with stage 4, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. After treatment with concurrent chemo (cisplatin/etopicide) and radiation I am stable and now NED. I've had no maintenance therapy and have no clue what my driving mutation is (not enough genetic material taken to test). I'm considered a complete responder- they got it all. 4 yrs, 9mos with no progression. It can happen!
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Hello All, Nov. 2011 Follicular Lymphoma, Feb. 2013 Remission. Dec.2014 NSCLC ,Adenocarcinoma . Was 10 days before we were moving from NC to northern NY. Had to leave behind my oncologist in NC , whom was amazing, and to find one to treat the LC. Wow what a fog I was in. Pet scan showed no cancer other then the 1 1/2 cementer on the upper right lobe, Had a MRI of the brain , nothing , had another cat scan and nothing new showed. This week I will be starting chemo which will be Carboplation and Alimta. Once every 3 weeks for 12 weeks.I just finished the maintance chemo for the lymphoma . I know that all chemo is different and everyone reacts to it different. So I don't know what to expect, I don't know what questions to ask. I found this group and really enjoyed reading a lot of the post . I read some great and positive ones. So if any one can get me some information on any of this , I would sure appreciate any input. Thank you and god bless
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Hello, I am Liz and I've recently been approved to participate in Lungevity forums. I am 28 years old and my mom was recently diagnosed with stage 4 NSCLC. She is currently in chemotherapy and has also had radiation and another non-surgical procedure to help with some of her mets. I come from a large family and have several younger siblings, including two teenagers who live at home with my parents. This has been a rough few months for all of us. I am a part-time caretaker and full time cheerleader for my mom. I travel from where I live to stay with her 1-2 weeks each month. I am very much in need of people to talk to and share experiences with. I want to learn as much as I can about treatments and palliative care that can help my mom have the best quality of life possible, and I also need some help myself. I find it difficult to talk to my siblings or dad openly about my feelings and fears and hope that I can make some friends and find support here. I also want to learn how to be a better caretaker and an ally for my mom. I'm happy to become part your community and look forward to learning and growing with you all, and becoming a better advocate for lung cancer patients and a friend. Liz
