Susan Cornett
-
Posts
735 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
85
Content Type
Downloads
Store
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Events
Posts posted by Susan Cornett
-
-
-
-
Good morning. I was diagnosed last year at age 46 with stage IV adenocarcinoma. I had surgery for both my primary tumor and my metastatic tumor and four rounds of chemo. For better or worse, I didn't have any tumor markers, so my cancer and treatment are just the plain vanilla variety. I just celebrated my first cancerversary. My suggestion to you: listen to the long term survivors on this forum. They know. They understand. They empathize. This forum has been my anchor for the last year. Your friends and family mean well, but they can't fully comprehend what you are feeling both mentally and physically. That's why we're here.
-
Good morning, Ruthie. I'm in a holding pattern until my pet scan on March 15th and results on March 16th. I think I've resigned myself to/made peace with a recurrence. If it's not, we'll be dancing in the streets. I am fortunate to have an incredible husband and a very close knit group of friends who are basically sisters. I know my parents will be in good hands should the worst happen, but I still want to be there.
I have found comfort in an odd place this week. A dear friend from high school and college was diagnosed with cancer this week and she is overwhelmed as we all were when we were diagnosed. I've tried to give her information and comfort and help her get through the first few days. She told me last night that everything I've shared with her this week has been very helpful to her. Helping her has been a lovely distraction!
So much is out of our hands, isn't it?
- RuthieThomas, Jg_miller and Tom Galli
-
3
-
Thank you both. I'm approaching this as just a flare-up from a chronic illness. I knew that a recurrence was highly likely but I was hoping I'd have a little more freedom before this hit. But, in all honesty, I've felt almost guilty that my first year went as smoothly as it did, so to speak. So many people have far greater challenges than I've faced.
If the lymph node lights up on the pet scan, oncologist will refer me back to my friendly thoracic surgeon for a biopsy and to remove the node during the process. What sucks about that? The surgeon would have to make an incision on my neck BELOW my thyroidectomy scar - he can't use the same one. Oh well, nothing a little jewelry won't cover.
My concern - the one that is always there - is my parents. I'm sure I shared this on an earlier post, but I'm an only child. My husband and I don't have kids. If something happens to me, who'll look after them? My mom is my dad's caregiver. He's had two strokes and he is currently battling lymphoma and another blood disorder. My mom is one tough cookie.
I love this forum because I can come here to share, whine, cry, and curse; everyone here understands. Thanks for being my therapist!
-
Got my results from last week's scan. Blood work was good but I have a lymph node that is behaving badly. A lymph node on the left side of my chest has almost tripled in size since November. I will have a pet scan in 3 weeks - doc wants to wait until I recover from this upper respiratory mess I have. So, we wait.
-
-
One year ago today, I was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer following a lobectomy of my upper left lung. The rest of 2016 brought chemo, a second surgery, a second cancer diagnosis, and enough anxiety to power a small city. But all that matters is I AM ALIVE TODAY. There are so many cancer patients who don't make it this far and I will not take this for granted. I have three trips planned this year and get to see my precious niece marry the love of her life in a couple of months.
Now I just have to get through tomorrow's scan results.
-
Michele,
I'm so glad that your cancer was caught early and that you were able to have the VATS surgery. My first cancerversary is this week. I've had (knock on wood) good scans but the fear, worry, and anxiety are always with me. Both the week leading up to my scan and the time between scan and results is terrible; I'm deep in scanziety. I go through the "what if" scenarios in my mind. I've learned to find tasks that keep me busy. But, yes, each new pain or twitch makes me wonder. You'll have to find what keeps you centered and focus on that when you find your mind wandering.
-
Hi CarlaAnn. I was on the same chemo/steroid regimen that you are on. My doc told me that insomnia might be a factor because of the steroids. I don't recall having issues with insomnia, but I was also taking an anti-nausea med that knocked me out at night. What some doctors fail to realize is that we all react differently to the chemo and ancillary drugs. Hope your next chemo cycle goes more smoothly.
-
-
Good morning, Nicole. I can't speak to the concern about coughing; my tumor was removed prior to chemo. But I do know that things tasted different when I was on chemo. One of the tips I was given was to use plastic utensils. Another tip was to keep hard candy like Life Savers or lemon drops handy; sucking on hard candy seemed to help. Another tip was to gargle with baking soda, salt, and warm water daily (maybe after each meal?) to prevent mouth sores. It also helped with the bad taste.
Keep us posted on his progress.
-
Good morning, Sue. My mom was in your shoes last year; I was 46 when I was diagnosed with late stage adenocarcinoma and it shook us all to our knees. I had an MRI and CT after surgery and before treatment began. My cancer had metasticized to my thyroid, so I got a bonus thyroidectomy last year. My oncologist tells me that it is very common for lung cancer to go to the brain, but has also told me that doctors are having great success with radiation for the brain mets.
Please keep us posted on your daughter and you. I swear the diagnosis is harder on the family than the patient. But if you want to yell, cry, throw things, pray - do all of those things. Just know we're all here to support you and your daughter. If you need inspiration, you don't have to go any further than this site. There are quite a few long term (10+ years) survivors on this board who have sage advice and inspiration.
-
Mally,
Good morning. I did not lose my hair during chemo. The PA at the oncology clinic said I had a 50/50 shot of losing it, but the oncologist said that I likely wouldn't lose it. I have a friend who took cisplatin for a different type of cancer and he lost his hair. The PA told me to be gentle with my hair - don't wash it every day, try to minimize use of hair dryers and curling irons, etc. I hope this helps.
-
Mally,
For me, one round = 1 day of treatment, and all of my chemo was outpatient. Chemo days were long, though. I started with lab work then to the infusion room so that the nurses could start IV fluids. Once the oncologist saw me and reviewed the lab work, he'd sign off on chemo and they would start the chemo drugs. Because I had fluids, two different drugs, steroids, and fluids each time, I was usually at the clinic for 7-8 hours. I had three weeks between each treatment.
For better or worse, I could predict when the side effects would kick in. I had chemo on Fridays and felt pretty good until Sunday, when the steroids wore off. Fatigue and nausea kicked in on Sunday and were the worst on Tuesday. By Wednesday, I started feeling good again. The worst one for me was the last chemo - it took a few extra days to feel normal again.
I hope this helps.
-
Leia,
Thank you for sharing the progress on your brother's treatment. I'm thrilled he'll get an opportunity to check out trials at MD Anderson. I'm from Friendswood so I'm fully aware of the opportunities available both at MD Anderson and in the Med Center. As for the cancer, I didn't have any mutations either. I went through four rounds of chemo with cisplatin and alimta. My side effects were manageable. I had fatigue, nausea, some neuropathy and tinnitus. The tinnitus is the only thing that still lingers and I finished treatment in May. My oncologist provided two different anti-nausea meds that I could piggyback in the days following chemo.
I will keep you all in my prayers. I believe in the power of prayer and a positive attitude.
- MaryTD777, Tom Galli and Jennifer.LP
-
3
-
-
-
Mally,
I had a lobectomy of my upper left lung in February 2016 for a mass that was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma (no mutations). Surgeons removed 10 lymph nodes and 7 had cancer cells. I went through four rounds of chemo (cisplatin/alimta). If you don't want to wait, or you don't like the treatment options provided by your team, get a second opinion.
Hope this helps.
-
We've all experienced that sucker punch to the gut when we, or a loved one, are diagnosed. But several physicians have told me and others on this forum that a positive attitude is so important in this fight. There are so many wonderful survivors on this forum that gave me, and continue to give me, hope.
I read this today and think it applies to all of us on this forum: Don't die before you are dead. So, I move on with life and have decided not to die before I'm dead. Cancer be damned - I'm going to Hawaii in 4 months.
-
Leia,
I know this is a lot to digest - any cancer diagnosis is - but to have a doctor say days are numbered must be too much. I'm not doubting your brother's medical team, but has he pursued a second opinion? Is he eligible for any clinical trials? There are so many stage IV patients running around living their lives like the cancer diagnosis isn't there. Because your brother is young and otherwise healthy, he is a step ahead. Please know we're all here for you and will do our best to answer questions and share experiences.
- LaurenH, MaryTD777 and Jennifer.LP
-
3
-
Hi, Bobbie. I also have NSCLC but didn't have any of the genetic mutations. It sounds like you've had quite the experience with managing your meds. How is your arthritis since you stopped your NSAID? Although my dad doesn't have lung cancer, he has a number of other conditions that require medications; due to ongoing liver disease, balancing his meds is tough.
Hope you continue to have success with your treatment and that your side effects diminish.
-
Good morning, Jess. I'm glad you found this site - it has been very helpful to me. My lung cancer was diagnosed during surgery; my cancer had spread to my lymph nodes so it was staged as III. The doctor revised the staging because after surgery, but before chemo started, metastatic lung cancer was found in my thyroid. Perhaps your mother's medical team is waiting for more information, such as any metastisis, before they stage. That said, please don't let the stage number take over. I pretty much ignore my stage IV diagnosis and am making plans for two trips in 2017.
I also took the cisplatin, with alimta, earlier this year. My biggest issues were fatigue and nausea, although I did develop neuropathy.
Please keep us posted on her progress, and let us know how you're doing.
-
Hi Stephanie. I was diagnosed with Stage IV in February of this year with mets to the thyroid. I had an upper left lobectomy on February 22nd and started Cisplatin/Alimta in March. I had four courses of chemo and I tolerated the side effects fairly well. My issues were nausea, neuropathy, fatigue and tinnitus. I had chemo on Fridays, with a side of steroids, so I usually felt good until Sunday afternoons. My oncologist did a fantastic job of managing my nausea by giving me 2 different meds to alternate. I did not lose my hair with this treatment. I have not had any experience with Keytruda but I know that others on this forum have and will likely share their experience.
Always ask questions of your father's providers. Ask until you get answers. Keep us posted and let us know how he, and you, are doing.
Happy 2017.
5 year survival percentage
in NSCLC GROUP
Posted
If you want my honest opinion, I think statistics are crap. When I was first diagnosed, my oncologist gave me the grim statistics and I cried for 2 days. Then I talked to a physician assistant at the oncology clinic and she put it into perspective. Those stats are based on people diagnosed 5 years ago and all lung cancer patients are lumped in. Those statistics don't accurately reflect the new treatments on the market in the last 2-3 years, or those who were diagnosed and opted out of treatment, or YOUR age and overall health. I literally trashed the printout the oncologist gave me and I've never looked back.
My oncologist and I have a running joke about statistics. I had a nodule on my thyroid; both he and the ENT said that less than 5% of nodules are cancerous and it is incredibly rare for cancer to metastasize to the thyroid. Fast forward to my thyroidectomy where they found two nodules and both were cancerous; one was thyroid cancer and the other was metastatic lung cancer. So stats? Nope.
Stop googling the stats and enjoy today. Enjoy tomorrow. Make plans. In the words of Tom, if he can live, so can you.