Donna G

I had a pancoast tumor and several others here also have had one. Some were told by one doctor that there was no treatment. They went to another doctor , got treatment and are still here. It is always worth a try to get a 2nd or 3rd or 4th opinion. Keep us posted. Donna G PS I just have a short summary below, if you want more detail see "MY Story" called "Through the valley to the mountain."

Debbie I bet your sister is having a rough day today. Hope she has an epidural and /or a PCA for pain control. Pleae continue to keep us updated. Donna G

I took those drugs. It was nearly 10 years ago so for me a good effect is I am cancer free! I also had daily radiation. After a couple of months it had shrunk the tumor enough that I had surgery and the pathology was "scar tissue" . The plan from the beginnning was more chemo after surgery , the same chemo. I missed the last dose because I began to have symptoms of nueropathy from the Cisplatin. By the way I did have NSCLC. Donna G

Yes! I am so grateful for all the work. Just opened an email from last evening that it was not up and there were hours and hours of work left to do when it was available. I just had to try and voom! here it is. Thanks so much. I really need to come and check on the new posts to see how every one is. Donna G

I offer my prayers for peace during this most difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. Donna G

Boy on the news here in the twin cities they talked about more people being diagnosed with lung cancer that don't smoke and then tell us there is a 5 K walk at Lake Calhoun tomorrow 9/15 to raise $ for lung cancer research. Boy talk about finding out at the last minute! I am scheduled to work tomorrow! Here is a link to the story and from there you can see the info on the event. http://wcco.com/topstories/local Donna G in case link doesnt work, see below. What The New, Young Faces Of Lung Cancer Are Doing Terri Gruca Reporting (WCCO) Each year in Minnesota: More people are diagnosed with lung cancer than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined. It's a disease most people associate with smokers, but a growing number of patients have never smoked. Sometimes the place that makes us feel the safest hides a horrible truth. Berni Collins and her family learned that three years ago when she was diagnosed with lung cancer. "It's really been hard to accept because I've never smoked," said Collins. A quick test of her home revealed she had been living the past 34 years in a home with dangerous levels of radon. "I got the results back and found out we had a 7.8 level," Collins said. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Levels above four are considered dangerous. Two of every five homes in Minnesota that are tested are above that level. "Testing our home is one of the best things we've ever done," said Collins. Doctors may never know for sure if radon caused Collin's cancer. Lung cancer caused by radon does not look any different than that caused by smoking or second-hand smoke. However, Collins was determined to keep the invisible gas out of her home. She spent $1,300 on a system to keep the radon out. She can now constantly monitor the levels in her home. Since installing the system the levels have stayed at zero. "We wanted to make sure no one else would ever go through this living in this house if that was the cause of it," said Collins. New Faces of Lung Cancer If that's not enough to make you test your home -- maybe these stories will. High levels of radon combined with smoking can double your risk of developing lung cancer. Something MJ McKeon didn't know until she was diagnosed 17 months ago. "I had had pain in my shoulder for about two years," said McKeon. She associated it with a car accident from a few years earlier until a CT scan showed the cancer had grown out of her lung and near her spine. Judy Golz's diagnosis came during a routine checkup for an adrenal gland issue. "I felt perfectly fine, there were no symptoms to make me feel like I was sick," Golz said. Her cancer resembles cotton in her lungs. Lise Kraemer was the picture of perfect health until June of this year. This 43-year-old non-smoking mother of three works out five days a week. "My legs were swollen and my knees hurt, I couldn't bend my knees," said Kraemer. Luckily she didn't ignore the symptoms and went to her doctor who eventually performed a chest x-ray. "There was a big mass," she recalls. Each of these women is living with one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Their symptoms were totally different; two out of three of them didn't smoke. Yet they are increasingly the kinds of patients showing up at doctor's offices across the state. "We're tending to see a trend in non-smoking females that are younger," said oncology nurse Michele O'Brien. "They don't know why. There are epidemiology studies being done now." There is no mandatory screening for lung cancer, however these women want to encourage other women to stop and listen to their bodies. Do not ignore feeling tired or any of the other symptoms they suffered. After being diagnosed with cancer these women formed a support group. They meet weekly to talk about ways to raise awareness. Lung Run/Walk This Saturday those cancer survivors are launching the first Twin Cities 5K Lung Run and Walk at Lake Calhoun. The money they raise goes to research as to why so many new cancer cases are being diagnosed each year. To know more about how to participate in that run go here. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with the run beginning at 9 a.m. and the walk at 10 a.m.

Frequency of breast vs lung cancer in women. Breast Cancer Of American women, 13% will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, making it the most common nonskin cancer among women. In addition, more than 3% will die from the disease. Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, accounting for more than 400,000 deaths per year. In the United States, breast cancer trails only lung cancer as the second most common cause of cancer death in women. In 2002, more than 1.15 million new cases were diagnosed worldwide. More than 200,000 of these were in the United States alone. I just got an email about a meeting to discuss lung cancer and it says that 1 in every 16 women will get lung cancer! that is about 6.3% Boy don't we wish that 97% would survive! Donna G

Welcome. I agree with many of the comments above. Don't take anything like herbs or unusual teas without talking to the doctor first. Not all that is "natural" is really "drug" free. Think about it, many of the drugs the doctors prescribe are plants as digitalis leaf that is given for peoples hearts, etc. keep us posted. Donna G

Wonder if it is like the pre cancerous polyps they like to snip out during a colonoscopy.

Sounds like she may really have liked that nurse that died. Perhaps she needs to deal with that, her employer could help them deal with that.

Hello, welcome. Your sister is fortunate to have you as a support. I am so sorry they tried and were unable to get a good biopsy. It really sounds to me that your sister may have what Kasey and I had--a Pancoast Tumor. It is a tumor at the apex (very top of the lung) which because it is in an area where nerves to the chest and arm are located causes a syndrome that Dr. Pancoast described and therefore it was named after him. My first symptom was chest wall and shoulder pain. I thought I needed an Orthopedic Doctor but on xray there was a golf ball sized tumor up under my color bone. They had a terrible time trying to get a biopsy of it also. They came back to me and said it is non small cell , either squamous or adenocarcinoma ,they couldn't make up their mind. The treatment protocol for a Pancoast tumor is chemo and radiation first then after it shrinks surgery. Hope your sister can get another opinion. Best wishes, Keep us posted. Donna G

Welcome Connie L. When my husband was in the Navy we lived in Charleston for a while, it was nice. Glad you found us. Please keep us posted. Donna G

Boy do I remember the tears! I also remember the day my doctor let me cry for about an hour and just listened, what a nice guy! Then he referred me for counselling and put me on an antidepresent. Those first months are tough. I started with chemo and daily radiation before I became able to have surgery, it was all worth it, for that was nearly 10 years ago! Keep us posted. Donna G

You are so kind to offer. We are well aware how much stress and what a learning curve it is when you, your friend or your loved one is diagnosed with lung cancer. By the way I am originally a Bostonian, from Roslindale. I read in the paper this week that Boston was the best city to live in with on exception- the cost of housing. This AM the TV weather channel said the easiest airport to get to was--------the Boston airport. I hope you also take time to enjoy the flowers, as a jog in the Boston gardens or a great off broadway show, or the Boston Pops free concert on the Charles. Donna G

Hi Kathy, welcome. I also am a nurse. Thanks to meeting my friend Connie B and under her guidance have tried to become an advocate. With her we have had several awareness events at the Minnesota state capital, we participated in several at my city hall, and at the local Mall and I have set up tables at the hospital were I work with posters and handouts and info during the month on November. Connie will probably tell you she lost her Mom , Dad and sister to lung cancer when they told her she too had lung cancer. She is now a 12 year survivor I believe. Did you go to the ribbon on Events and see all the pictures? Let us know how we can help. Donna G

Welcome. So glad to hear you took your Mom for a second opinion at Mayo here in Minnesota. Sounds like she is has a great plan of care. Chemo can be rough but it is well worth it. Keep us posted. Donna G

Have fun and wear support hose. All of us are at risk on a long flight of developing blood clots in our legs and lung cancer seems to put us at greater risk even if not flying. Donna G

Was the first surgery more like a biopsy than a treatment? In other words, did you have a biopsy done prior to your wedge resection? If you feel very strongly about not wanting more surgery, perhaps you could get chemotherapy to be sure that all the cancer if not taken out is at least killed. Donna G

This show starts tonight on TLC ! Must remember, 8 central time! Donna G

O yes, there are several of us who have had Pancoast tumors. We even have a "Pancoast Tumor Meetings" here, but haven't for a while. It took about 6 months of treatment , starting with chemo and radiation for me. I have more detail in the "My Story section of this site. How long ago was she diagnosed? Are they giving her radiation? Keep us posted Donna G

Happy Birthday Kasey ! So glad my hubby got off the computer so I could check out what was going on at the pub. Wishing you lots of happiness , many years, and a good stiff drink. Donna G

Statins May Fight Lung Cancer Cholesterol-Lowering Drug May Have Added Benefit for Lung Cancer May 8, 2007 — People taking statins to control their cholesterol levels may be getting an unexpected benefit for their lungs, new research suggests. A study appearing in the latest issue of the journal Chest showed that patients who had taken statins for six months or longer cut their lung cancer risk by more than half. In the study, a team of researchers led by Louisiana State University's Dr. Vikas Khurana looked back at the records of more than 400,000 patients in the Veterans Administration Hospital System, more than 160,000 of whom were taking statins at the time. The research lends credence to previous animal and test tube studies suggesting that statins are capable of blocking the growth of cancer cells. "Our study suggests that statins have a potential role in primary chemoprevention for lung cancer," the researchers write in their conclusion. "Due to the high prevalence of statin use and grave prognosis of lung cancer, even a modest reduction means a considerable effect on public health." The numbers seem to agree. In 2005, lung cancer accounted for about 160,000 deaths in the United States. The researchers note that they hope future studies will help determine whether the drugs can one day be used to fight lung cancer in a clinical setting. Dr. Tim Johnson, ABC News' medical editor, said on "Good Morning America" Tuesday that the findings, though preliminary, are intriguing. But he agreed that more research is needed to clarify the effects of statins on lung cancer and to iron out some potentially confusing trends. "When they looked at people who had taken statins for less than six months, they seemed to have somewhat of an increased risk," Dr. Tim said. "So it is a complicated study and we now need a so-called gold-standard randomized trial." Not Yet a First-Line Cancer Treatment Dr. Tim added that despite excitement over the findings, a prudent approach is needed to appropriately rein in enthusiasm. "We've been burned before," he said. "For example, there were a lot of studies that seemed to suggest women should take hormone replacement therapy. But the final study showed it might be dangerous. "If they're already taking it for lowering cholesterol, it is a great drug and they should keep taking it. They might want to take comfort in the possibility that they might also be reducing their risk for lung cancer. But nobody should start taking statins for that reason alone."

HAPPPY BIRTHDAY FRED! I have to pick my husband up at the airport this afternoon but when I get back I am coming to the party. Donna G

Welcome Jennifer. Glad you found us. We all need support going through this and those with a head start can help show you the way. Some of us seem to have beat the beast. I started with chemo and radiation and when I was fortunate enough to have surgery I asked about the tumor and they said it was "all dead tissue". I will be celebrating 10 years in December! Donna G

I played the mello---Cello when I was growing up. I played in the Arch-diocese of Boston Orchestra and the Boston Junior Symphony Orchestra. That was many moons ago. I have an Organ in my living room that I try to make music with, I never took Organ lessons. Donna G