stokedsurfer

Hi!
We got the results from the pathology testing after surgery and we got the best possible news. The tumor was only 2.5 cm and there wasn't any nodes involved so the pathologic stage is Ia.
She already had the follow up visits with the surgeon and the oncologist and they both agree that she does not need to go through adjuvant therapy.
Next visit is in 30 days and she will do only a thoracic CT scan to check the situation. After that she will have check ups every 3 months in the first year and every 6 month on the second year.
In the meantime we received the second opinion  from the "best doctors" insurance coverage; the doctor is Michael Rabin the clinical director of the Dana Farber's Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology in Boston. 
The report is very meticulous and well written but unfortunately is based on the staging we had before surgery; we will send them all the new info and hear their opinion. 
I've been reading some clinical studies and it seems that there's no clinical advantage in giving adjuvant therapy in stage Ia but of course I would love to hear your opinion on the matter.
Cheers
 

Hi!
We got the results from the pathology testing after surgery and we got the best possible news. The tumor was only 2.5 cm and there wasn't any nodes involved so the pathologic stage is Ia.
She already had the follow up visits with the surgeon and the oncologist and they both agree that she does not need to go through adjuvant therapy.
Next visit is in 30 days and she will do only a thoracic CT scan to check the situation. After that she will have check ups every 3 months in the first year and every 6 month on the second year.
In the meantime we received the second opinion  from the "best doctors" insurance coverage; the doctor is Michael Rabin the clinical director of the Dana Farber's Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology in Boston. 
The report is very meticulous and well written but unfortunately is based on the staging we had before surgery; we will send them all the new info and hear their opinion. 
I've been reading some clinical studies and it seems that there's no clinical advantage in giving adjuvant therapy in stage Ia but of course I would love to hear your opinion on the matter.
Cheers
 

Wonderful news today!
Mom's was discharged from the hospital and she's back home, strong and very positive.
She already goes up and down the house stairs like it was nothing, and she's able to do everything by herself.
God thank the single port VATS!
By the way, today reading her discharge documentation we discovered that she had a right upper and middle lobectomy...we were astonished because neither the Prof. nor his assistants said anything about that during her stay.
So we called the assistant thoracic surgeon that signed her discharge (they all three gave us their cell nº) and she told us that in her case the upper and middle lobe were "as one" so they had to also take the middle lobe, even though the tumor was confined in the upper one.
She also said that it would not make a difference in her recovery.
I'm just happy she's back home and looking great.
Her next visit is on the 13th but I expect to know the results of the tests by Tuesday.
Finger crossed.
 
 

Wonderful news today!
Mom's was discharged from the hospital and she's back home, strong and very positive.
She already goes up and down the house stairs like it was nothing, and she's able to do everything by herself.
God thank the single port VATS!
By the way, today reading her discharge documentation we discovered that she had a right upper and middle lobectomy...we were astonished because neither the Prof. nor his assistants said anything about that during her stay.
So we called the assistant thoracic surgeon that signed her discharge (they all three gave us their cell nº) and she told us that in her case the upper and middle lobe were "as one" so they had to also take the middle lobe, even though the tumor was confined in the upper one.
She also said that it would not make a difference in her recovery.
I'm just happy she's back home and looking great.
Her next visit is on the 13th but I expect to know the results of the tests by Tuesday.
Finger crossed.
 
 

Hello Stoked surfer,

I am also very happy to hear that your mom was Dx early & her surgery went well!

Some doctors order some post op chemo to sweep up in case anything was left behind. Obviously, if only some order it, some don't. The doctor might want to wait for pathology results to see if clean margins were removed... that they took enough extra tissue around the tumor to be certain nothing was left behind.

What is important is mom & how she feels! It sounds like you got doctors who have this goal as well. I will keep my fingers crossed for the best outcome with the least harm to mom brings a great many years of healthy enjoyment for all of you!

I don't know if there was any testing done regarding mutations on your brother's tissue, but with a mom & brother both Dx, I would be thinking of some testing for yourself & any siblings you might have. Better safe than sorry as they say.

Take care,
Mary

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

My situation is in some ways similar to your mom's  I'm 71. I had a lower right lobectomy in November for a small tumor. It was in a location in the center of the lobe where they couldn't do  a biopsy without taking it out. My tumor had no aggressive component though--it  was so slow growing that it didn't even light up on the PET scan. Lymph nodes were taken out and were negative. It was adenocarcinoma Stage 1.  Since the tumor came out with clear  no chemo was recommended.  So chemo is not always the standard, I think. I will have to have CTs every 6 months , because of the risk of recurrence. Tumor genetics showed a KRAS mutation.  From what I've found on the internet, KRAS tumors don't respond well to chemo and there's no targeted or immunotherapy for them, so it's good they got it all out. I'll be seeing my pulmonologist next month with a lot more questions.
I's like to say to you and your mom that I've recovered really fast from my surgery and my life is pretty much back to normal.  Also, it looks like you're doing all the right stuff. When you get the pathology and mutation testing, spend time to be sure you understand as much as possible about them. Ask questions. Look things up. If you're not sure about what you're being told, a second opinion is a good idea. 
It's great that your mom has you to advocate for her.  Tell her hi from another old lady who's doing well after surgery and looking forward to getting MUCH older.

Stokedsurfer,
Wonderful news! Get the recovery underway.
My understanding is that adjuvant (post surgical) chemotherapy is pretty standard.  Of course, her oncologist should be able to answer that question.
If the chemo is not exotic (requiring hospitalization) and it shouldn't be, I'd suggest it be administered in a place proximate to your mom's home.  For me, the dedicated small clinic was a better choice than a large hospital setting.
Stay the course.
Tom 

Hello, stokedsurfer, and welcome to LCSC!
I am happy to hear that your mother's surgery went well. Please continue to share updates. I am also glad to see that you've already connected with Tom and Donna. This community is a great place to ask questions and share stories. Please let us know how we can help you navigate your mother's treatment. We have many resources available, including the Lung Cancer Navigator App and the Lung Cancer Helpline. I am happy to help you find the information and resources that you need.
With gratitude,
Lauren
--
Lauren Humphries
Digital Community Manager

Hi,
I'm happy to say that my mother's surgery was a success.
Tomorrow I will speak with her oncologist to understand her ideas on treatment and on the possibility of having the resection tested for mutations.

Hi,
I'm happy to say that my mother's surgery was a success.
Tomorrow I will speak with her oncologist to understand her ideas on treatment and on the possibility of having the resection tested for mutations.

Strokedsurfer thanks for your update .  That is great news.  I pray her recovery continues to go smoothly.
I hope you let us know what the Oncologist says and what the future plan will be.
Donna G

Dear Tom,
Thank you for your reply.
Sintra is indeed a beautiful and unique village, just a few km from Cascais where we live.
I'm glad you had a good time over here.
I've been reading all the outstanding information links you posted also in other topics. 
I have to say that I found here the most comprehensive compendium of information around.
My mom will be undergoing surgery today, her tumor is 4cm with no metastasis; in relation to the lymph nodes involvement the N0 has to be confirmed after surgery because the PET showed some residual activity in the hilar nodes that was suggested to be of inflammatory nature.
She will be operated in one of the leading research institutions in Portugal, The Champalimaud Foundation http://www.fchampalimaud.org/en/ .
In her case the procedure will be a right upper lobe lobectomy with a single port minimally invasive approach.
 The Da Vinci robot surgery was over the table but she would have to wait until next Monday so along with her doctor we decided to have surgery immediately.