BridgetO

Hi Erin, In 2011 I had a sudden and unexpected diagnosis of cervical or endometrial cancer,Stage 3. The "Or" is because it was in both places and customarily it would be "named" after the place where it started and two pathologists differed on that. That cancer was treated with a radical hysterectomy, radiation and chemo. I had regular CTs to surveille for possible spread or metastasis. In 2016, a single small, slow growing nodule was found in my right lung. There was a concern that it might be a metastasis from the gyn cancer, but doctors felt that it wasn't because it was NOT spiculated and metastases tend to be smooth edged (and often multiple). Because of its location, It couldn't be biopsied except by surgery. I had a a lobectomy and it was diagnosed as non-small-cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma, stage 1a. I didn't need further treatment other than CT scans to watch for recurrence. So far no recurrence. I was actually relieved to find out that it was a new primary cancer rather than metastasis. So that's my story. Most nodules, spiculated or not, are not cancer of any kind. But I think you'll need to follow up on this little nodule after your gyn surgery. Have you had a PET scan? That would be a likely step. BTW, my nodule didn't light up on the PET and I was told that small, slow growing lung cancers don't. Another step would be a followup CT to see if it's growing. Nodules that do are suspicious for being malignant. 1.3cm is probably big enough to biopsy, which is usually done by needle or sometimes by endoscope (down the trachea) if the nodule location allows. So, I think it's hard to know what might happen next for you, other than your gyn surgery. But whatever it is, hang in there. Lung cancer, if found early while small, are easier to treat with curative intent. And multiple primary cancers are not unheard of. You'll probably find on this site that I'm not the only one. I've had breast cancer as well as the other two and at 77, I'm still working part time and have a good quality of life. I hope for the best for you. Maybe that little nodule will just cease to trouble you and disappear by itself.

Hi Marcia, I had my lower right lobe removed in 2016. I had a chest tube in for 10 days because of an air leak. After the tube was out and a few days of "rice crispies" feeling under the skin in a small area, things were pretty uneventful. I felt and heard "something going on" in my r ight chest off and on, but I didn't experience it as pressure, pain or distress. It's decreased over the years and, thinking about it now, I haven't experienced it in months. I haven't had shortness of breath generally, although I admit to some now with exertion because I've gotten out of shape during the pandemic. (I probably need to stop using the pandemic as an excuse and get back to exercising). I do agree with the folks above about getting a consult with a pulmonologist and/or an oncologist that specializes in lung cancer. Everybody's surgical recovery is different. Yours does seem a bit out of the ordinary and some other medical input might find something that needs some correction or it might reassure your that your recovery is in the normal range.

Hi JDella, and welcome. This is very odd! I understand why you're confused and concerned. If the biopsy showed no malignancy, there would be no reason for them to be restaging a small cell lung cancer. Was she referred for this PET scan by the same doctor who earlier said no malignancy? It would be worthwhile to talk to that doctor about this, or if it was another doctor, to both of them. It's possible that the radiologist misunderstood the reason for the referral. In any event, you and your mom need to get an explanation so you can decide how to proceed. If you can't get a non-confusing explanation, I'd be inclined to find another doctor, preferably an oncologist specializing in lung cancer, or a pulmonologist with a lot of experience in LC to at least have them review records and give a second opinion. Let us know what your mom and you decide. I'm concerned and curious.

Hi and welcome here! I don't know how a wedge pillow would work in your mom's situation, but when I had a lobectomy (removal of the lower lobe of my right lung) for lung cancer, a wedge pillow made me a lot more comfortable and helped me breathe more easily during my recovery. Wedge pillows aren't expensive and it certainly would be worth a try. If you decide to get one, please let us know if it helps your mom be comfortable.

BBTN and Renee, Be sure to read "Tips and Tricks in Lou's post above. The other things he cites are good too.

Hi BBTN and welcome! I had a lower right lobectomy in 2016, with no further treatment. The diagnosis was adenocarcinoma stage 1a. My recovery was easier than expected. I have had no evidence of disease since. A lot of us (maybe the majority having a lobectomy) recover pretty quickly and get back to normal pretty quickly. If you have questions about any aspect of lung cancer, ask us. That's what we're here for and among the whole bunch of us we have a lot of experience . I wish you all the best. Bridget O

I'm going, too! Anybody else?

Good for you for developing a change in attitude! No one deserves lung cancer no matter what they did and embarrassment is just a waste of energy. Yay for pride--and hope!

Hi Bernadette and welcome here. As Tom said, we can support you--that's what we're here for. I can understand the need to rant. We've all had it from time to time. A lung cancer diagnosis is difficult for anyone, but I hear that it's especially difficult for you because of your famiily history and your partner not being supportive.Go ahead and post rants here. But also get hold of Kristi to see what kinds of support and resources she can offer. Hang in there, Bernadette, and stay in touch here. BridgetO

Hi AuK. I didn't get a firm diagnosis before surgery. They were unable to do a biopsy because of the location of the tumor. Based on the appearance of the tumor and the fact that I had 2 prior unrelated cancers, I was advised to go ahead with the surgery. It made sense to me and I did. I waited a long time (a couple of months as I recall) for surgery. This was partly because I wanted to take a previously planned vacation before my surgery. Because my tumor was small and so slow growing (I had been on wait and watch for 3 months and it grew just a tiny bit) it didn't seem to me or my doctors to be much of a risk to wait. One of my prior non-lung cancers was large and fast-growing and I was practically whisked into surgery (about a week from the biopsy results) so I knew that the medical system could react fast when necessary. Also, after my experience with THAT one, I think I was a bit blase about a tiny, possibly malignant lung nodule. I didn't have a brain MRI. Also, there is sometimes a reason to have further treatment, other than spread to lymph nodes. I think a tumor can be Stage 1b solely due to size or if the surgical margins aren't clear. For 1b, people usually are offered the option of further treatment. Feel free to ask anything else you want from me or anybody else on here!

Yay!

Hi and welcome. I had a lower right lobectomy in 2016, NSCLC adenocarcinoma, stage 1a. They did biomarker testing automatically.No treatment beyond surgery, and I've been NED since. I suggest you insist on biomarker testing. If your tumor is staged at 1b, you will probably be given an option of further treatment and at that point it's essential to know what your molecular type is. Also, Lou's compilation of Tips and Tricks is invaluable. Hang in there and ask us any questions you have.

Here's the attack you predicted LilyMir! I'm pretty opinionated on pizza and in my opinion pineapple and any kind of chicken shouldn't be on there. I agree with Tom about Marherita. Also I like some vegetables in moderaion: mushrooms, olives, onions, spinach and artichoke are all good, but I disagree with the "Healthier pizza" folks- piling on the vegs can result in a soggy crust. No meat on my pizza, but for those who eat meat, some sausage or pepperoni is OK. But, to each her own, so Aloha to those who like Hawaiian. And chicken if you must!

Welcome back, but sorry you need to be here. As Susan said, a lot has changed in the last few years. There are new diagnostic tests being done and a huge number of new treatments. Let us know how we can help. Bridget O

Hi Mat and welcome, You've had some good information and suggestions from other folks, above. I especially recommend Lou's Tips and Tricks checklist. Several of us contributed to it. I had a lobectomy by VATS about 6 years ago. It wasn't too bad as surgeries go. I was able to have standard anesthesia, so I can't speak to the combo of anesthetics your doctor plans to use. I like Karen's suggestion about talking to a pharmacist about them. I was up and walking around the unit the day I had surgery. I was discharged the following day, with a chest drain tube in place because I had an air leak. I do think this early release was unusual--more often they keep you in the hospital until the air leak stops and the tube can come out. Maybe it's because I don't have any serious healt problems, other than being old! (71 at the time of my surgery) My tube was in for 10 days. I had some pain fron it but I learned how to move around without aggravating it. Once it was out, my pain was much less and easily managed with ibuprofen and tylenol. My recovery was pretty fast, with no lingering side effects, except that it sometimes sounds funny when I breathe. I have a good quality of life now, and I'm working part time. There is definitely life after lobectomy. I suggest you find somebody to stay with you for the first few days, at least, after your surgery. At most hospitals they won't discharge you unless you have someone picking you up who will be with you for at least 24 hours. I was able to do most stuff for myself pretty quickly. but I did need help changing the dressings around my chest tube and a few other things. I was really restricted in what I could lift. You will get through this just fine. I suggest not thinking of it as an ordeal but rather as an "interesting" healing experience. Bridget O

Hello and welcome! We have a lot of members who are on this forum because someone in their family or another loved one has lung cancer, so you're not alone here. I agree with those who posted above that there should be other options, and a second opinion is in order. Best wishes to your mum and to you in advocating for her.

i'm so sorry for the loss of your dear brother. I wish peace and comfort for you and your loved ones.

Hi Mike, I wonder if a dietician with oncology experienc would be helpful?

Hi JHP, I have a couple of comments about prognosis and reading. First, be aware that lung cancer treatment has evolved at lightning speed over the past several years. What this means is that reports of survival and recurrrence rates, which are usually based on 5 years of experience are practically out of date by the time they're published. So beware of relying on prognosis statistics that you find on Google (or elsewhere, for that matter). Second, statistics are based on large numbers of patients, but everyone is a case of one. Third, and related to the second one, doctors don't know everything. I'm a survivor of 3 different primary cancers. My most recent was a lung cancer, NSCLC, Stage 1a. Before that I had a rare and aggressive gynecologic cancer, Stage 3, which my doctor wrote in my record as having a "dire prognosis". This was in 2011. Here I am now, with no evidence of disease since the end of my treatment 11 years ago. , So, read cautiously and keep up hope.

Hi Kristin and welcome here. You've got some great advice from other members already, so I won't belabor or repeat it. Please stay in touch. Let us know what questions you may have and how we can support you. That's what we're here for. Bridget O

Hi Teresa and welcome. I'm sorry you're having a hard time. This is a terrible disease and having recently lost your mother to it makes it even harder. And then the holidays, which can be a stressful time for anyone, especially without family support. But hang in there-- things will get easier. You've taken the first step by reaching out to us. We have all been through, or are going through, lung cancer either as a patient/survivor or a caregiver/family member, so we'll have some notion of what you're dealing with . We'll support you however we can. Please reach out to Kristi as Lou and Tom suggest. My mom also died of cancer, but many years ago. I've had three separate primary cancers. Lung cancer was the most recent, in 2016. I'm doing well today and have a good quality of life. I'm 77 and still work part time. I found these forums after my lung cancer diagnosis, when I couldn't find a lung-cancer-specific support group locally and the folks on here have been a really important support for me and I hope that they can be for you too. Keep us posted. Bridget O

Wonderful, Claudia! Thanks for sharing this great news. It will be an encouragement to a lot of folks on these forums.

Your progress sounds really promising! Keep up the good work!

Carrie, Let us know what happens next and ask us any questions you may have.

I agree with the other members suggestion of a radiation oncologist consult sooner rather than later. I also welcome you here and wish you all the best.