jquilts

Hi folks, its jquilts here. It's been a while since I was here. Previously, I wondered how the pulmonary doctor and oncologist could be so opptimisic that I was surgical without seeing the PET scan. They were wrong. The PET showed a large tumor, lymph node involvement and possibly an adrenal gland. I had my first chemo last Wednesday. On Thursday, I was not in good shape. Motor skill issues, mental issues. My husband took me to the oncologist in the afternoon, and he sent me home, but not before saying to me, "This is not side effects of chemo, what did you take?" By early Friday am, I was fading in and out of awareness, couldn't balance. An ambulance ride to the hospital and CT scan at the hospital revealed the cancer in a very swollen brain. I started full blanket radiation on Wednesday. For those of you have had the brain radiation, how soon am I going to start feeling the effects of the radiation and what will they be. Thanks!

I watch Dr. Oz alot, but generally take what he says with a grain of salt. I think he provides a lot of anectodal information, but much of what he says, such as carbs increasing your risk for lung cancer, have not been put through a lot of rigorous scientific studies. I wouldn't believe it until I saw the scientific studies showing the correlations. That is just my sciencd background talking. Jan

Thanks, Tom. I have talked to the office of the thoracic surgeon. They don't want to schedule an appointment until I get the results from the Pulmonary tests and the PET scan is complete. If it does go to surgery, I will be sure to ask about the genetic testing of the tumor...and treatments based on the genetic typing. I'm remaining hopeful it hasn't spread, because all through the hospital stay with the pneumonia, all the doctors, including the oncologist, comment how odd, strange, weird, different, 'never seen anything like it', etc, my mass is when viewed on X-ray and CT imaging. The oncologist even comments that the tumor may not even be as big as it appears, that it is just odd. The bronchoscopy they did in the hospital was very clean, nothing grew, no malignancy cells seen (although they did say that really didn't mean much). Thanks for being there. It helps me alot....especially knowing you are at 12 years survival this year! Jan

Thanks Tom and Donna for your responses. It is difficult adjusting to the diagnosis. I believe I am healthy enough for surgery. Before I got pneumonia I would do cardio, yoga, weights at the gym a couple times a week, walk a lot and go to the Rock Climbing gym 2x/wk. I am counting on that to help carry me through the process. I do have a very supportive husband and a few friends and lots of acquaintences to help provide emotional support. My siblings are all out of state, but my sisters would fly in at the drop of a hat, if I asked. I don't want to be 'Downer Debbie' for my support group, so hope I move past this depression stage soon. I am not used to being this depressed as I am usually a very upbeat, positive person. I feel I will fall apart if the insurance has still not approved the PET scan by its scheduled day next Wednesday. I can't help thinking every day of delay could be the day the cancer spreads (assuming it hasn't already). Since the oncologist really thinks the first step is surgery, I really want that parastie out of my body. They haven't genetically tested it, perhaps this could be done after they remove it? The oncologist didn't think medicine was at the stage for lung cancer where they could genetically test the tumor and form a treatment plan for that specific genetic type. Do I need to look for a different oncologist? I am glad to know there are late stage survivors out there. It does give me hope...especially because you guys do look healthy.

Hello, I am a 61 year old woman, never smoked, always very physcially active that got very sick and ended up in the hospital from February 23rd to March 3rd with necrotizing pneumonia. The x-ray showed the bacterial infection and of course a large mass. Over a week in the hospital on heavy duty antibiotics and lots of testing, a CT assisted needle biopsy showed I had non-small cell adenocarcinoma. The biopsy sample was too small to stage it. I have had a Pulmonary Function test (don't know results yet). Couldn't have the originally scheduled PET scan because insurance had not approve it and am hoping they will approve the PET scan appointment next week. The oncologist seems to think my first step will be surgical removal of the mass. Right now I feel I am in the 'netherland' waiting to even find out how bad off I really am. While most days since the diagnosis I can remain postive and optimistic, but nights I start going to dark thinking. Today has been pretty depressing. How do you keep your spirits up when you don't even know how bad off you are?