AZhikeryogirunner

Hi Brandon,
I am doing great! It's been 13 months since my diagnosis and surgery and last month I was cleared to resume my normal physical activities! So I have been hiking a lot lately!  And I am now promoting the Breathe Deep Walk in Arizona for October! I am also participating in the Arizona Lung Force walks coming up in September and November. Good luck with your follow-up! I will keep you in my prayers! ✨
~Yovana 
 

Hi Brandon,
I am doing great! It's been 13 months since my diagnosis and surgery and last month I was cleared to resume my normal physical activities! So I have been hiking a lot lately!  And I am now promoting the Breathe Deep Walk in Arizona for October! I am also participating in the Arizona Lung Force walks coming up in September and November. Good luck with your follow-up! I will keep you in my prayers! ✨
~Yovana 
 

Hi all,
My name is Sydney and I am a 33 year old first year resident in Internal Medicine at Howard University Hospital. I am originally from Jamaica and recently moved to the states to further my career. Last year January, I began having these sticking left sided back pain, but thought it was a recurrence of a muscle strain I had, when I was working out. Couple weeks later, I began having left sided chest tightness, so I went to my hospital and asked a colleague to write up an xray form. It showed a large left lower lobe consolidation, The radiologist brought me into a room and began asking me quite a few questions, about my symptoms, if I was having any weight loss, cough, fever. At that point in time I had none of those, but I was on steroid treatment for really horrible eczema, so they thought it was likely infectious since steroids lower your immune system. I was given antibiotics and a couple months later followed up with a pulmonologist with a repeat cxr still showing the consolidation, which was clearing.
Fast foward to later that year, after I migrated and started working at Howard, I realised that while at work, when they would clean a patient's room with this strong chemical, that i would start wheezing. I am more susceptible to developing asthma, my family is full of it, so i thought that was the case for me. I  decided I would check with a Pulmonologist, but didnt go right away due to the crazy hours at work. In January 2017 I went to the Pulmonologist when I noticed the wheezing to be persistent. Originally I was sent to an allergist, do pulmonary function tests and cxr. I got the cxr done on Jan 25th. It again showed a left lower lobe consolidation, which totally freaked me out because I knew something was wrong. We did a CT scan on the 27th which confirmed my fears, that i had a mass. Due to the fact that I am young, perfectly healthy, have no weight loss, fatigue, or coughing, my pulmonologist tried to convince me that it was likely benign, probably carcinoid. We did a bronchoscopy on Feb 3rd, which showed a very friable mass (worst description ever! From I heard the word I knew it was cancer) and the pathologist in the room stated that the cells looked malignant. Honestly I was just floored. I was the annoying friend that used to scold my friends who smoked, how the hell did I get lung cancer??? So many emotions flowed, I cant even fully express them. We did a PET scan and MRI brain, which were both negative, so we though that we caught it early, and I was referred to a Thoracic surgeon, who deals with a lot of lung cancer at another institution.
The day I met the surgeon, I felt something was wrong. He told me he saw nodes on my CT, which were not mentioned in my PET or Bronchoscopy. We had to repeat the bronch, and get nodal samples. He also said that I had some thickening of the base of my lung, and he wasnt sure if it was just scar tissue from the repeated pneumonia, fluid or cancerous cells, so he wanted to do a pleural biopsy. February 14th, we went in and I did the repeat bronch. Again a pathologist was in the room, and he confirmed that nodes were positive. So now I was looking at stage 3a, which was a dramatic difference from the stage 1 that I thought I was. I was just shocked, annoyed and wondering when would I get a break from this bad news train. We did the pleural biopsy on February 20th, which he said looked great, looked like it was just scar tissue, so I was relieved and thought the train finally stopped. I was referred to an Oncologist
On February 28th, I went to the oncologist, who bless her heart, is young, caring and very specialized in lung cancer. She told me that it was Stage 4, that the pleural biopsy was actually positive. Due to this upgrade in staging, surgery is now not an option, only medications. They had however done genetic studies which showed i have a mutation in the cancer, so I am to start on lifelong targetted therapy. This would have been an easier pill to swallow, but due to toxic effects, I would now not be able to carry my children, and I have none. I have a wonderful partner who has always said he cant wait to see me pregnant with his children, and now that cannot happen. This cancer has changed my life in an instant, my career, my future, just so uncertain.
I refuse for this to end this way, I didnt push myself through all sorts of crap for it to end here. I will fight this, and I will beat this.
I just found this site on a google search, and decided to join. I've spoken to a few cancer patients, I was actually diagnosed when i was on my Oncology rotation, oh the irony! I appreciate the fact that i have found somewhere where people can help me since they have been through it
As my mother always told me "Many extra-ordinary things were done by ordinary people who persevere."
I will persevere.
 

Hi yyg123,
I am so glad you have found this community. It has been a great resource for me and hopefully it will be for you and your boyfriend as well. I am a 35 year old, also a nonsmoker, who has lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle. I too was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery this summer. I was also the youngest person in the hospital lung wing and I am the youngest person in my lung cancer support group. But for me, seeing that these older and more mature survivors are fighting and thriving through this awful disease gives me hope for my own future. I will include you and your boyfriend in my prayers so that he finds peace with his diagnosis and that you may both find a silver lining at this time. 
~Yovana

Hi yyg123,
I am so glad you have found this community. It has been a great resource for me and hopefully it will be for you and your boyfriend as well. I am a 35 year old, also a nonsmoker, who has lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle. I too was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery this summer. I was also the youngest person in the hospital lung wing and I am the youngest person in my lung cancer support group. But for me, seeing that these older and more mature survivors are fighting and thriving through this awful disease gives me hope for my own future. I will include you and your boyfriend in my prayers so that he finds peace with his diagnosis and that you may both find a silver lining at this time. 
~Yovana

Hi yyg123,
I am so glad you have found this community. It has been a great resource for me and hopefully it will be for you and your boyfriend as well. I am a 35 year old, also a nonsmoker, who has lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle. I too was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery this summer. I was also the youngest person in the hospital lung wing and I am the youngest person in my lung cancer support group. But for me, seeing that these older and more mature survivors are fighting and thriving through this awful disease gives me hope for my own future. I will include you and your boyfriend in my prayers so that he finds peace with his diagnosis and that you may both find a silver lining at this time. 
~Yovana

Hi yyg123,
I am so glad you have found this community. It has been a great resource for me and hopefully it will be for you and your boyfriend as well. I am a 35 year old, also a nonsmoker, who has lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle. I too was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery this summer. I was also the youngest person in the hospital lung wing and I am the youngest person in my lung cancer support group. But for me, seeing that these older and more mature survivors are fighting and thriving through this awful disease gives me hope for my own future. I will include you and your boyfriend in my prayers so that he finds peace with his diagnosis and that you may both find a silver lining at this time. 
~Yovana

Hi yyg123,
I am so glad you have found this community. It has been a great resource for me and hopefully it will be for you and your boyfriend as well. I am a 35 year old, also a nonsmoker, who has lived a pretty healthy and active lifestyle. I too was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery this summer. I was also the youngest person in the hospital lung wing and I am the youngest person in my lung cancer support group. But for me, seeing that these older and more mature survivors are fighting and thriving through this awful disease gives me hope for my own future. I will include you and your boyfriend in my prayers so that he finds peace with his diagnosis and that you may both find a silver lining at this time. 
~Yovana

Congratulations !

Hi Everyone,
I had a follow up with my oncologist yesterday to review a CT scan I had done last week. He told me I was "disease free" (his words) and I asked him to repeat himself, because it was the first time a medical provider had used such simple terminology to give me an update since my original diagnosis of Stage IB Muscinous Adenocarcinoma in July 2016. I will have another CT scan in November and should have the results from my gene sequencing then as well. Everything has happened so fast for me, from my diagnosis to my surgery, to my recovery, that it all feels like a whirlwind and I am trying to get my footing in place too. These last few months have been difficult at times, and I am glad I had you all to help me through this process. 
Thank you all! My journey in this life is far from over and I look forward to reading all your updates.
~Yovana 

Congratulations, Yovana! This is GREAT news!!
Lauren
--
Digital Community Manager
LUNGevity Foundation

Hi Everyone,
I had a follow up with my oncologist yesterday to review a CT scan I had done last week. He told me I was "disease free" (his words) and I asked him to repeat himself, because it was the first time a medical provider had used such simple terminology to give me an update since my original diagnosis of Stage IB Muscinous Adenocarcinoma in July 2016. I will have another CT scan in November and should have the results from my gene sequencing then as well. Everything has happened so fast for me, from my diagnosis to my surgery, to my recovery, that it all feels like a whirlwind and I am trying to get my footing in place too. These last few months have been difficult at times, and I am glad I had you all to help me through this process. 
Thank you all! My journey in this life is far from over and I look forward to reading all your updates.
~Yovana 

Thank you Tom! 

Yovana,
So you had a NED (no evidence of disease) consultation.  Strike up the band!
That is fantastic news.  You will likely have a series of follow-up scans perhaps once a quarter for a year or so to ensure things stay NED. 
But, for now, celebrate NED.
Stay the course.
Tom

Welcome Caroline!
You will find lots of support and information on here! I am new myself, but have received a warm welcome and I know you will too! Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way!
~Yovana 

Hi Yovana!
I am also a newbie to this community, although I was diagnosed one year ago today. I'm not normally a "joiner" & hadn't explored the support groups offered locally, but have found much information, understanding & support from the wonderful group of people  here who are ready, willing & able to help in any way they can.
Glad that your cancer was found when it was and you were able to have the VATS procedure; everything sounds great! Take care of yourself and please keep posting! Wishing you all the best.
Ruthie

Hi Yovana
Like you I had VATS surgery but on my upper left lobe. Lymp nodes and margins were clear. I followed that with 4 rounds of adjuvant chemo. That was in 2007 and I have been NED ever since. Vats surgery was not recommended for Stage 1B but I really pushed to have it and glad I did. The lower left lobe is 30% while the upper lobe is 70% so that should help you as well. You can do this and as Tom said, be vigilant with the testing. You have to be your own advocate on this journey.

Hi, Yovana!
I'm glad you've found LCSC and happy to hear that your test results came back negative. I hope that you make many meaningful connections on this site. It looks like you've already met two of our awesome members, Donna and Tom.
Just to give you a quick rundown of the features on LCSC, in addition to the discussion boards, there are also user blogs, photo galleries, and a calendar of upcoming LUNGevity and lung cancer related events. Please feel free to explore and let us know if you have any questions!
Regards,
Lauren
--
Digital Community Manager
LUNGevity Foundation

Hello Yovana!
Stage IB, VATS, left lower lobe resection, negative nodes and recovering - priceless!  Let's hope for a clean CT and that your adenocarcinoma responds to targeted therapy in case there are future discoveries.
Donna says you are fortunate and I agree.  Lung cancer isn't normally discovered early stage.  So your's was fortuitous.  I'm sure your medical team has you scheduled for recurring visits and diagnostics.  Lung cancer is persistent.  From what I've read, about 30% of those who have a successful Stage I treatment outcome experience a reoccurrence.  So be vigilant with your medical monitoring.
In the meantime, revel in that gift that all lung cancer patients desire - extra life.  
Stay the course.
Tom

Welcome,   Glad you found us. Sounds like you were fortunate to have an early stage diagnosis. It also sounds I am guessing from your sign in name that you are active in hiking and running ?   That new type of surgery is less traumatic and is a blessing to be able to have.
You are less than a month post op and are out and about to support groups, great!  I am also so glad you are being having genetic testing.  Please keep us posted on how you are
and how the tests next month turn out.
Donna G