BridgetO

Hey all, just wanted to follow up. Had surgery Monday. As diagnosed it was adenocarcinoma. Dr removed a wedge of my lobe and said cleared margins. He also removed lymph nodes. Feeling lucky for the incidental find and choosing the surgical biopsy . Waiting on lymph node results. I have a Follow up may 9th. Thanks for the support. 

I love this news, Scruboak!

Yay for $$!

I love this news, Scruboak!

Yay for $$!

I love this news, Scruboak!

Tom,
I agree with Rikke.  Don't panic as all critical tests are coming out well.  On the other hand you should still seek answers as to why it's happening and how to reduce it.  Please keep us updated on this.
Lou

I came across a column a few days ago from a self-proscribed hypochondriac. Turns out it was someone with a history of hodgkin’s. I was thinking that it really is a side-effects of cancer recovery. Even if all goes to plan, you will always be extra wary of any physical symptoms. I get a bit worried if I have the tiniest cough. Just spoke to someone who is convinced her dodgy hip is bone metastasis, rather than the logical conclusion that carrying around her toddler grandkids might be to blame. But better safe than sorry - so good to get it checked. And when that is done, celebrate your clear scan again!

Yay again, Rikke!

Yay again, Rikke!

Yay, Tom! I understand the issue of  now thinking you'll live longer than you thought you would. Before I was diagnosed with lung cancer (stage 1a garden variety adenocarcinoma), I had a Stage 3 rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer with a "dire prognosis" (that's in my medical record!) I had aggressive treatment, which led to a lot of late occurring and long term side effects. I felt like I wasn't going to have a long life. I resolved to live as well as possible in whatever time I had left, but I refused to make plans for anything more than about a year out. For several years at every CT scan I was sure this would be "the one" and they would find mets. But after about 3 years some optimism about my life span began to creep in. About 5 years out, "something" appeared in my lung on the CT scan and It turned out to be the adenocarcinoma. I was actually relieved that it was a new primary cancer rather than a met from the cervical cancer! I'm now 13 years out  and still NED on the cervical and almost 8 on the lung cancer (as well as 16 on a breast cancer). I no longer expect bad news, although I know recurrence is still possible. At times I'm amazed that I'm still up and moving around and I have a pretty good quality of life, even, at 78.  I hope you will do at least as well!  You too, Rikki, and don't spend all of your retirement savings!

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 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 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 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.

Yay, Tom! I understand the issue of  now thinking you'll live longer than you thought you would. Before I was diagnosed with lung cancer (stage 1a garden variety adenocarcinoma), I had a Stage 3 rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer with a "dire prognosis" (that's in my medical record!) I had aggressive treatment, which led to a lot of late occurring and long term side effects. I felt like I wasn't going to have a long life. I resolved to live as well as possible in whatever time I had left, but I refused to make plans for anything more than about a year out. For several years at every CT scan I was sure this would be "the one" and they would find mets. But after about 3 years some optimism about my life span began to creep in. About 5 years out, "something" appeared in my lung on the CT scan and It turned out to be the adenocarcinoma. I was actually relieved that it was a new primary cancer rather than a met from the cervical cancer! I'm now 13 years out  and still NED on the cervical and almost 8 on the lung cancer (as well as 16 on a breast cancer). I no longer expect bad news, although I know recurrence is still possible. At times I'm amazed that I'm still up and moving around and I have a pretty good quality of life, even, at 78.  I hope you will do at least as well!  You too, Rikki, and don't spend all of your retirement savings!

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

Thanks so much for sharing some of your story and for the welcome, Lou!  Yes, to cancer all over the family.  I didn't mention my mom died (at 85) in 2011 of a primary brain tumor and my brother died of kidney cancer at age 53 in 2005.  My mom lived a week after diagnosis and my brother 3 or 4 months.  I actually have one sister left who is 70.  I am almost 62.  Yes to various cancers in the extended family too. 
Thanks for the resources.  I have been doing a lot of reading the last handful of months though due to other health issues I generally stick to medical articles, etc.  I have seen the timelines for life expectancy are way off so thank you for that reminder.  Because I am likely to have adenocarcinoma if diagnosed I am not too worried b/c of all I've read, including from survivors on some other sites.  I think back to my dad who was diagnosed in 1975 when there were few treatments.  They said he likely had lung cancer five years before diagnosed.  With surgery and Cobalt treatments back then he lived 2 years.  Blows my mind when I think about that so when I see all that is available today and how so many are doing I don't question that.  Though... I do see some who do not fare well or for long....  
I will check out the Lung Cancer 101 and blog before long.  Haven't been awake long and have to get ready for work here soon : )    Thanks again, Lou!

Welcome to our forums.  I'm sorry you need to be here but glad you found us.  We're a community made up of LC (Lung Cancer) survivors and some caregivers.  The stages, types, and treatments we've experienced are "all over the map" so you'll be able to ask most any question and find people with firsthand experience.  Like you most everyone in my family died of cancer.  My dad, mom, most of my uncles and aunts on my mother's side, and a step-sister, so like you I understand the situations reasonably well..  What I can tell you is that when my mom died from LC we didn't have many of the treatments and trials available today.  So you have the experiential knowledge but I think it's also good to learn all you can in an updated manner so I'm going to share some different information with you.
We have a section called "Lung Cancer 101".  It covers causes, diagnosis, treatments and all aspects of Lung Cancer it can be found here. An important blog written by one of our senior member is titled "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; from a Survivor" it is on this page.  This member was originally diagnosed at Stage 3 then Stage 4 and after 20 years of treatment has been declared "cured". A tip for you; stay away from Dr. Google.  Outcome statistics found there are normally over a 5-year period and don't accurately reflect new treatments available.  Neither do they consider the individuality of our situations.  You're always better sticking with your treatment team for that information. Please stick around, update us as events unfold and ask any questions you may have.  We'll be here to support you.
Lou

@NYC GUY, you may want to re-post this as its own topic-- it will likely generate more responses. 
I'm always envious of people who have the option for surgery. With surgery, you get rid of the nasty thing and you get a biopsy. My tumor and lymph node locations sent me down the road of chemo and radiation, and now, a targeted therapy.  
If you are concerned, it's best to find a second opinion, ideally, from a major cancer center. You're lucky to be near several with the federal NCI designation. You can learn more about why the NCI designation can be helpful here. 
Please consider re-posting this in order to get more feedback. And, keep us posted.

Woo hoo, good for you!

Woo hoo, good for you!

Woo hoo, good for you!

Woo hoo, good for you!

Yay, Tom! I understand the issue of  now thinking you'll live longer than you thought you would. Before I was diagnosed with lung cancer (stage 1a garden variety adenocarcinoma), I had a Stage 3 rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer with a "dire prognosis" (that's in my medical record!) I had aggressive treatment, which led to a lot of late occurring and long term side effects. I felt like I wasn't going to have a long life. I resolved to live as well as possible in whatever time I had left, but I refused to make plans for anything more than about a year out. For several years at every CT scan I was sure this would be "the one" and they would find mets. But after about 3 years some optimism about my life span began to creep in. About 5 years out, "something" appeared in my lung on the CT scan and It turned out to be the adenocarcinoma. I was actually relieved that it was a new primary cancer rather than a met from the cervical cancer! I'm now 13 years out  and still NED on the cervical and almost 8 on the lung cancer (as well as 16 on a breast cancer). I no longer expect bad news, although I know recurrence is still possible. At times I'm amazed that I'm still up and moving around and I have a pretty good quality of life, even, at 78.  I hope you will do at least as well!  You too, Rikki, and don't spend all of your retirement savings!