Susan Cornett

Angela,
I was diagnosed in February 2016 during surgery to remove a mass in my left lung.  A previous biopsy didn't indicate cancer so I wasn't expecting that result.  My mass had spread to lymph nodes in my chest. I was stunned, angry, confused, scared - you name it, I was there.  I  followed my surgery with four rounds of chemotherapy.  About two months after I ended chemo, we found cancer in my thyroid (both thyroid and metastatic lung cancer). Again, I panicked, cried, screamed and almost gave up.  But I didn't and I did everything my doctors suggested.  I just finished chemo and radiation for a recurrence in my lymph nodes.  All this to say that yes, I am now calm.  I realize that I can't control what the cancer does or where it goes, but I can control how I react.  
On this site, I have found so much information and so many long term survivors who are absolutely the best at providing hope.  Don't get me wrong - the treatment is not fun.  But at the end of the day, I'm here and making plans to live my life; part of me pretends that lung cancer cloud isn't following me. 

Bridget O,
My chemo is carboplatin and taxol and my caregivers have told me that hair loss is probable. My sister had breast cancer and lost her hair. She was devastated and often cried, which she rarely does. I have decided that I'm going to take the "bull by the horns" so to speak. When my "shedding" starts, I have ask my husband to shave my head (he has the clippers for it) and have already picked up a few turbans to wear. I did tell him that if I started crying, just keep going and reassure me that everything will be fine. I guess it gives me a small feeling of having some control of my life moving through treatment. He laughed when I told him I would wear the turbans and long earrings and just tell everyone I've turned gypsy! I just don't like the pitying looks when people find out I have cancer. I will continue to fight for as long as humanly possible and with God's blessing I will get through this just fine. Sometimes feeling positive about this situation is difficult, but I plan on staying confident and trusting my medical team. So far they have been wonderful.
Holly K

Angela,
I was diagnosed in February 2016 during surgery to remove a mass in my left lung.  A previous biopsy didn't indicate cancer so I wasn't expecting that result.  My mass had spread to lymph nodes in my chest. I was stunned, angry, confused, scared - you name it, I was there.  I  followed my surgery with four rounds of chemotherapy.  About two months after I ended chemo, we found cancer in my thyroid (both thyroid and metastatic lung cancer). Again, I panicked, cried, screamed and almost gave up.  But I didn't and I did everything my doctors suggested.  I just finished chemo and radiation for a recurrence in my lymph nodes.  All this to say that yes, I am now calm.  I realize that I can't control what the cancer does or where it goes, but I can control how I react.  
On this site, I have found so much information and so many long term survivors who are absolutely the best at providing hope.  Don't get me wrong - the treatment is not fun.  But at the end of the day, I'm here and making plans to live my life; part of me pretends that lung cancer cloud isn't following me. 

Hi and welcome,
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and your evacuation. One or the other of those would be overwhelming by itself. I often say to newbies that whatever you're going through, someone on this forum has been through something similar. But I don't know of anyone who was diagnosed while they were under evacuation. Whew!  
Please let us know how we can support you.  You can find wisdom and hope on this forum, as well as information. I'll be thinking about you.
Bridget O

Brace yourselves... Dawn's PET scan showed 100% remission in her lymph nodes, 50% shrinkage in her lungs and sacral tumors. We are winning.

Jane,
I'm happy to see that the cancer isn't growing, but know that the muscle weakness certainly doesn't help matters.  That's the thing with chemo - it may save you but it will damn near kill you while trying to save you.  

Hi, Darleen.  I'm glad you found us.  I don't think you can have this diagnosis and not be overwhelmed at some point.  I can go most of a day and then it hits me - I have cancer!  I've tried very hard to live my life with my new normal, but the key is I'm living my life.  I refuse to give in or give up!

Hi, Bes.  I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis.  It's overwhelming and frustrating and scary all at once.  Thankfully, though, we're seeing increased treatment options now that provide hope and extend life for so many.  There are numerous long-term survivors on this forum.  Please let us know how we can support you and your husband through this.

Welcome here, Anna. You'll find support and hope. Statistics are just numbers. I think that they can help us make decisions about treatment but that it's important not to get hung up on then. They represent the combined  experience of large groups of people and don't tell us how any particular individual will do. Also, any stats having to do with, say, 5 year survival rates are going to be based on people diagnosed at least 5 years ago, more likely 10 or more years ago, And lung cancer treatment is changing at lightning speed. New treatments are being approved all the time.
If you feel comfortable telling us more about your husband's illness and the kind of radiation being planned, you'll undoubtedly hear from others with similar issues. In any event, keep posting and hang in there.
Bridget O.

Hi, Darleen.  I'm glad you found us.  I don't think you can have this diagnosis and not be overwhelmed at some point.  I can go most of a day and then it hits me - I have cancer!  I've tried very hard to live my life with my new normal, but the key is I'm living my life.  I refuse to give in or give up!

The Economist magazine, in its September 16  issue focuses its Technology Quarterly on diagnosing and treating cancer. AND it features in each article a woman from Massachusetts, Diane Milley, walking the reader through each phase of her diagnosis and treatment for advanced lung cancer.
The  articles are very up-to-date, clear and informative. It's good to see "our" cancer getting some attention, rather than it all going to cancers that are less prevalent and less deadly. (Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to attention given those, also, since I've had two of them. )

Pegi,
I'm so sorry that you and your husband are dealing with this.  I pray that he gets more good days and that you two can enjoy your time together.

Faye,
Tom and Susan are right. No one deserves cancer. And anyone with lung cancer deserves to be treated with compassion, not callousness. LCSC is a place where you can find support and understanding.
At LUNGevity, we are working very hard to end the stigma and help secure an investment in research that matches the impact of this terrible disease. Thank you for sharing your story and being part of this community.
We are here for you.
Lauren
--
Digital Community Manager
LUNGevity Foundation

Hi, Sally. It's quite understandable to be scared when starting a treatment.  We don't know how our bodies will react, what side effects we'll endure. Hopefully some of our members who have had taxotere can jump in on this topic. We're here for you.

I'm honored to have been asked to become a moderator for LCSC.  I'm a survivor of 3 primary cancers. I  had a Stage 1 breast cancer in 2008 with a lunpectomy and radiation. Then in 2011, a Stage 3 cervical cancer, a  rare and aggressive type of cervical. I had  a radical surgery, then concurrent chemo and radiation and additional chemo. I had a long recovery with a lot of late occurring treatment side effects, some of which are permanent. During a routine surveillance CT scan for that cancer, a nodule was found in my right lung. In November last year I had a right lower lobectomy, and was diagnosed, as Lauren said, with stage 1 adenocarcinoma, KRAS mutation. I'm now NED on all 3 cancers. Whoo! 
I've learned a lot about lung cancer in the last year, much of it from the Lungevity website and this forum. And I've really appreciated the support and hope I've gotten  from forum members. I've been in a gynecologic cancer support group here in Portland, which has been great. I was hoping to find a lung cancer support group here, but surprisingly for a big city with a big cancer center, there doesn't seem to be one. So this forum has been especially important to me. 
About me: I'm 72 years old. I was a case manager working mostly with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I retired, sort of, at age 57. Since t then, I've been working at a variety of jobs, when not traveling or having cancer treatment. I spent a year teaching English in Poland. I've worked both as a volunteer and paid staff  with homeless and recently homeless people. Most recently, I was back working part time as a case manager. I decided to "retire" again a year ago when I began having tests for what turned out to be lung cancer.  I travel when opportunities arise, and I'm always looking for opportunities. I just got back from a women's cancer retreat in Montana. No trips planned right now, but I'm looking for something for spring. I read a lot, do water aerobics 2 or 3 times a week, walk usually daily, do beadwork, and volunteer with a  non-profit group for tree-related activities such as pruning small trees. I'm a member of my Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET, these are called CERTs in most parts of the country.) and I'm working with neighbors on my block to prepare for disasters- the most likely one in Portland is a devastating earthquake. It would be as bad as one of the big hurricanes and maybe worse since there would be no warning. So, as you can see I'm busy. I'm determined not to waste my "rare and precious life" ( I think that's from a poem by Mary Oliver), but to do things that I love and that have meaning to me. I try not to worry about the cancers, but of course I do anyway,  Generally, I am able not to use up too much energy on worrying.
So, Forum folks, please post often. I love to hear what's going on with you and to learn from  all of you.  
Bridget O

We are excited to announce that BridgetO will be a new LCSC Moderator of the Introduce Yourself and NSCLC forums.
BridgetO is a survivor from Portland, OR. She joined LCSC in December 2016 after being diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, grade 1, stage 1a, with a KRAS mutation.
BridgetO is an invaluable member of this community, and we look forward to seeing her shine in her new role as Moderator!

Hi, Sally. It's quite understandable to be scared when starting a treatment.  We don't know how our bodies will react, what side effects we'll endure. Hopefully some of our members who have had taxotere can jump in on this topic. We're here for you.

Hi, Sally. It's quite understandable to be scared when starting a treatment.  We don't know how our bodies will react, what side effects we'll endure. Hopefully some of our members who have had taxotere can jump in on this topic. We're here for you.

Went to my cancer dr yesterday for results of latest CT Scan and breathing tests - breathing in great- breathing out - not so great - CT Scan - only thing left is a scar!  Now I wait five years before I can say "Cancer Free"
 

Wheezer,
I'm only 18 months into this journey but I don't think the "what ifs" ever go away.  I'm on the 90 day scan routine so I'm good for about 75 or 80 days then the "what ifs" hit me.  I had a recurrence earlier this year and am on the scanning end of that episode.  I hope your scans continue to be good news.

I know I've not posted in a while. Thought I'd let some time pass and see how I felt about sharing.
Dawn had an MRI yesterday. The tumors in her brain have nearly vanished. Her doctor suggests that the shadows we see may be dead cancer cells that haven't been washed away just yet. Next up is a CT scan to look into the cancers in her lungs, lymph nodes and sacrum.
My baby is going to be okay.

Hi all-
Sorry it's been so long since I posted. Since my original posting I had two biopsies, one of the armpit/breast area and another of my lung. Luckily they both came back normal! I was so relieved to find this out. My oncologist says I am now in maintenance/monitoring scanning. Since I found this out I have been very busy spending time with family and friends, going back to a "normal" lifestyle. Now I just need to focus on building up my lung function so I can get back to an active lifestyle again. Thanks all for your thoughts and posts, it means a lot to know there's a community out there to turn to. I hope others are having luck and getting some good news as well!

Your mom may have had the scans by this time, but I wanted to chime in here. As others have said, there are no stupid questions. I was diagnosed almost 10 months ago, and I ask him a couple of questions at each appointment, because of things I read about here and elsewhere. So, ask whatever you want to know. I have a little notebook that I bring to my appointments, otherwise I'd probably forget something or not remember exactly what my doctor said. Also -- none of us have an expiration date stamped on us. I also asked my doctor "that question" when I was diagnosed and he said 6 to 12 months. I nearly fell off my chair. But he meant that as a "soft number"... if I didn't have any treatment, or if treatment didn't go well for me. No one can say with 100% certainty how long a patient will live, because there are so many variables. Your mom sounds like me -- I work full time, I feel perfectly normal most days, I cook, clean, work in the yard, etc.  My health, other than the cancer, is good, although I do get tired more easily now. I don't think you're giving your mom false hope. You'll help her to realize that despite this horrible disease, she can still do things she enjoys. There is definitely a "new normal" that she will come to terms with. We don't have to like what's happening, but doggone it, we don't have to let it rule every moment of every day. Last year, I thought  it was going to be my last Thanksgiving, last Christmas, etc. Now, I'm making plans for next summer's vacation. I've met several people through a local support group who have been fighting lung cancer for 3 years or more. Most of them had been told something similar to your mom. 
I'm so glad you're there for your mom. I have two sons in their 20's and they are a huge support for me. When my husband and I told them I had cancer, it was the hardest thing I've ever done. As a mom, I understand that your mom didn't tell you everything at once because she didn't want you to worry about her or be upset, frightened, etc. Even though they're adults I feel protective toward my "boys".  But I'm proud that these young men are going to be with me through the good and the bad. Your mom feels the same, I'm sure. 
Take care, and I hope you will let us know how things go. 
JulieG.
 

Hi, Ray. It's all overwhelming right now; all of us understand it. But I think you'll find hope I the fact we have so many long term survivors here. We've seen so many advances in treatment the last few years and that gives me hope.
Keep us posted on your progress. We've walked the same path and are here for you.

I am so excited and happy for you!!! NED!!