3aSherie

Hi, Susan. Nothing beats clear scans so ... YAY!!!!!! But I've got a couple of questions. My cancer was discovered by CT > PET scans. Based on the results, I saw a Thoracic Surgeon who showed me the areas of concern and recommended a Mediastinoscopy ... a biopsy of the lymph nodes in the mediastinum. One lymph node tested positive for cancer and because it was on the same side as my affected lung (lower left), I was diagnosed with late stage inoperable lung cancer ... Stage 3A. It was deemed inoperable because it had metastasized to the mediastinum. I'm wondering why your Pulmonologist recommended the removal of your upper left lobe when the bronchoscopy indicated that the mass was non-cancerous, and why the lymph nodes weren't detected/biopsied prior to the lobe removal?? And then to have to deal with your thyroid. Man oh man oh man. You've been through the wringer but meantime ... it sounds like you're doing great and THAT'S what matters most!! You're inspirational!!! - Sherie

Hi, Scotti. I was diagnosed with Stage 3A NSCLC on August 31, 2015. After concurrent chemoradiation, I'm still here and doing great. Would love to answer any questions I can for you! - Sherie

Hi, all ... and particularly, Barb! I'm still here and doing great. Hope you are, too. So sorry it's taken me so long to get back to everyone but time definitely slips away before/during/after treatment. Not to mention the rest of LIFE that's happening at the same time!!! So ... concurrent chemoradiation went incredibly well. Had Carboplatin and Alimta w/IMRT radiation. My last chemo infusion was December 2, 2015 and final radiation was November 6, 2015. Remarkably, I had almost no side effects from either. I did not lose my hair but experienced "thinning" ... though no one except me noticed it. Polite? I think so! I saw a dermatologist who recommended a multivitamin and 5000 mcg of Biotin daily plus switching to Head & Shoulders shampoo!? I'm holding steady and have never had to wear the wig I went out and bought when my cancer team GUARANTEED that I'd be losing my hair 2 weeks after the first chemo infusion. So much for that. The other side effect I experienced was tingling/numbness in my feet (mainly toes) and fingers (peripheral neuropathy). It started 3 days after first chemo and I still have it ... mainly in my feet. The good news is that it's just numbness and no pain. I can definitely live with that! Have had 2 CT/PET scans since treatment ended. The first showed definite improvement and the second showed even more. The best part of the second scan was the Radiologist's comment: "Excellent response to treatment." I haven't had any additional treatment and my next scans are scheduled for mid-November. Fingers crossed!!! Hope this positive news helps anyone who has recently been diagnosed or who is going through treatment right now. Again, I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC Stage 3A and I'm still alive and kicking. I thought doctors were making up the "positive attitude" angle but trust me ... they weren't. Take each day as it comes ... the medical advancements in treating lung cancer are huge!! - Sherie

Hi, Barb. How did your doctor's visit go? In what direction(s?) are you headed? - Sherie

B? I think we should stick together on this one!!! What a "life experience", huh? How did your doctor's appointment go? As for me ... my treatment was delayed again only this time it's only for one day. I start tomorrow!! The dosimetrist (radiation plotter) recommended that I have IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy) which is more advanced than regular ol' radiation which means more expensive which means we had to get this referral re-Authorized/Approved. I can't wait to get this show on the road!! Chemo tomorrow morning followed by radiation in the afternoon. Will report how it goes!!

Hi, B! How was your staging of 1A diagnosed? And what made you get tested? Hope you're doing okay. I'm rooting for you!! - Sherie

Thank you so much, Tom!!! Just got back from a marathon dental appointment and I can't wait to jump into all of the great info you've sent. This is just wonderful. - Sherie

So happy you're still here typing, Donna!! Will definitely keep updating my journey ... right now I'm on a break from a 5 HOUR dental appointment!!!! Trying to get my mouth into shape for whatever havoc is wreaked by chemo. And tomorrow is my "Simulation" for radiation ... this sounds like it's going to be yet ANOTHER life experience!! Fingers crossed!! Thanks so much for responding ... it's wonderful to have this kind of support. - Sherie

What a nightmare year you had trying to get a correct diagnosis!!! Do you have any updates to share with us? - Sherie

Good news is that I feel great. Bad news is that I've been diagnosed with NSCLC Stage 3A. Good news is that I would NEVER have known anything was wrong if I hadn't switched health care providers. First appt. w/new doctor was July 2, 2015. She recommended a battery of tests ... hearing, mammogram, full blood work-up, and most importantly ... a CT scan based on my history of smoking (3 packs a day for 30+ years) and the fact that I quit within the last 15 years (it's been 7). The CT scan showed 3 areas of concern in or around my left lung. I then had a PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) and a PT scan. I learned that the PFT was to find out if I could get through surgery if that was an option. The PT scan confirmed that surgery is NOT an option ... I have a smallish mass in my left lung and cancer has spread to a lymph node in the mediastinum ... this was confirmed by multiple biopsies that were performed via a mediastinoscopy; 6 lymph nodes were biopsied and (more good news) only one tested positive for cancer. Lastly, I had an MRI of the brain and thank goodness, that one came back with no signs of cancer. So here we are. I'm scheduled to start chemoradiation (concurrently) on Monday, Sept. 28th. The chemo cocktail is Carboplatin & Alimta and the proposed plan is treatment every 3 weeks. For how long ... I don't know. Radiation will begin on 9/28 as well and the schedule will be M-F for 6 weeks (30 sessions). Amazingly, I am taking this news very matter-of-factly. I'm not scared ... I'm actually looking forward to treatment and to see how I will (or will not) tolerate it. I'm guessing that being 65 years old and not having any "symptoms" accounts for most of that. I look forward to eMeeting all of you and learning a lot about this disease and about coping with it. I'm so happy you're here!! - Sherie