Susan Cornett

Getting that pain leveled out makes all the difference. Glad you feel good.

Great news on the PD-L1 numbers. Mine have always been under 20% so I went the traditional route with chemo and radiation. Not as exciting but it worked! Something you'll quickly learn is that treatment options are increasing and improving every year. I was diagnosed in 2016 and I've been amazed at the progress made in treatment options. It's definitely a roller coaster of emotions so know that we're here for all of it - good and bad. If your husband can hold onto his good attitude, it will absolutely make a world of difference.

Welcome, Linda. Let us know how we can help you.

Hi Anna. I'm sorry for your loss but take comfort knowing he is no longer in pain. Wishing your family peace.

Lexie - how are you doing with the chemo?

Hi Karen. I took Carboplatin and Pemetrexed but not together. I took another platinum-based chemo with pemetrexed. I highly recommend this site for chemo information. It has great information about possible side effects and ways to manage them. The most important thing to remember is to tell your medical team if you're having side effects. There are really good prescription options to manage nausea if it becomes an issue. Radiation wasn't too bad for me other than some minor difficulties swallowing. Others made it through with zero issues. Someone should chime in on the Durvalumab - I haven't taken it. Please keep us posted.

Hello and welcome. I'm going to tell you what you already know - your oncologist is a jerk. You should be able to have frank conversations with him/her. You should also have an oncologist who isn't threatened by you seeking a second opinion. I hope that you are able to resolve this soon. It's added stress that you don't need right now. Keep us posted.

We have piano, cello, and violin covered. We're on our way to a Lungevity concert!

Hi Iris - Sorry to hear you've had a recurrence but, unfortunately, it is not uncommon with this stupid disease. I was first diagnosed in 2016 - I had surgery and chemo. I had my first recurrence in 2017 - I had chemo and radiation. I had my second recurrence in 2018 and had SBRT (type of radiation). That second recurrence hit me hard, but I've (knock on wood) been cancer free following my SBRT treatment in the fall of 2018. Don't let this take the wind out of your sails. Hang in there and keep us posted.

Hi Carrie - It's a lot to process. It's scary. It sucks. But the great people in these forums are absolutely incredible. Someone here has endured whatever treatment, side effect or oddity that you'll come across should it be cancer. My first suggestion to you is this: don't Google statistics. So much has changed in the last 2-3 years and we're living longer and better after this diagnosis. Let us know how we can help you.

Hi LindaMarie. I see you've already met some of our rock stars on the forums. I wanted to jump in with my experience. I had an upper left lobectomy with 10 lymph nodes removed (7 were cancerous). I didn't have any issues from it. We're always here for you.

There are definitely ups and downs with cancer and treatments and all of the extras that go with it. Some days it is 2 steps forward and 47 steps back. In the first 2.5 years of my journey, I had the initial diagnosis, two recurrences and thyroid cancer. But it's been 5 years as stage IV and I'm here. I have rough days from time to time because of lingering side effects but those side effects sure beat the alternative. Just keep coming back here. We all understand where you are. Hang in there.

A lot of those pesky side effects can go away quickly once treatment is started, especially if you get radiation. I coughed like crazy and once my tumor was removed, the coughing stopped. Seriously - I haven't coughed much in the last 5 years!

Hi Rikki. I had an upper left lobectomy in 2016. My pain is on my left side, under my arm and down my rib cage. It comes and goes but when it comes, oh wow does it hurt. I also have numbness in my left breast and some nerves that continue to work incorrectly. Touching my left side in the front is felt under my arm or on my back. I would definitely mention the pain to your team just to rule anything else out.

I'm also going to jump on the "don't throw in the towel just yet" team. All of this sucks. It does and no one can tell us otherwise. Thoughts of chemo and radiation and fatigue are just too much. But some of these treatments can provide some relief from symptoms and give you more time to make all the plans and decisions you need to make. Whatever you decide, we're here for you so lean on us.