Hi hi, I think what they may might have meant to say is "re-stage". They (most of them I thought) determine the stage initially after the biopsy using it and CT scans. TMN = Tumor Mets Nodes and that is the size of the tumor, if it's spread, and how many- if any - nodes are involved. I feel like I want it to be TNO but I can't think of what the O would be. I am only sure that this style of staging was used where I went, along with numerous other places here in the USA.
I am in Pennsylvania.
I can't swear to what exactly the re-staging is categorized as, but I do know that they need to wait 4-6 weeks after radiation to re-stage. I'm guessing stuff is too swollen to get accurate measurements before a healing period. In my case they were doing that to make sure that the plan for surgery a couple of weeks after restaging was done was still going to be on track. I did not read everything here after your post. I just glanced over the posts to see if anyone had already mentioned what I could add. If I duplicated anything, please accept my apology.
I did notice a mention of an inoperable tumor in your reply here. I also saw your concern about Stage IV. I can point you to dozens of people who have between 8 and 16 years of Surviving & Thriving after a Dx of Stage IV lung cancer. Mom can do this too!! The things cancer centers are finding out on practically a daily basis anymore are just amazing!!
Not that any 2 people ever have the same story, I can tell you that I was Dx almost 6 years ago (March 2011) T-3 M-0 N-0 = IIB and had cisplatin & etopiside with radiation and I had what the docs call a "complete pathological response" meaning it was "killed"!! They still did my surgery to remove "the shell of the tumor" and everything that it ever touched so that if even a microscopic bit of the smallest bit any microscope could see, it would be OUT! That surgery was done in August 2011 and thank God, it's still gone to this day!!
I hope that this information helps and that mom's treatment has the best responses possible!!
Jesslaa,
You are most welcome here.
I want to reinforce a point Mary brought out. Many of us on this site and others are alive and well after being diagnosed staged IV. Staging for lung cancer, in my opinion, roughly translates to a determination if surgery is possible. If the tumor is a single mass and there are no distant metastasis, then surgery may be undertaken and may be curative. In my experience, I had a recurrence after what was supposed to be curative surgery, then twice more after 12 cycles of chemotherapy. Lung cancer treatment can often be a long game, but, as Mary says your "Mom can do this too." That is survive and thrive after a lung cancer diagnosis.
Stay the course.
Tom
Hi Jesslaa
I hope your Mom is doing OK. I was diagnosed with SCLC in May 2016 and it was found by me having a allergic reaction to of all things a cookie. I have been through the Chemotherapy and will be starting Radiation in the next week or so. My tumor in the left lung was 6.3cm and after chemo it is now 2.3cm. So it works. My wife is my rock and living angel. Without her encouragement I would have just given up. Stay strong, and give love to your Mom every day.
Best wishes to you both.
