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LouT

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Posts posted by LouT

    About to get real

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Blossomsmom,

    Tom is correct...stay until, you're ready to go home.  Please reread "Thoracic Surgery Tips & Tricks", take your pain meds as prescribed, move when you can, rest when tired, and use the heck out of that spirometer (I'm a simple man and just called my Spiro).  I look forward to the post where you say, "this surgery wasn't as bad as I feared".  My prayers are for your peace going in, successful surgery, and speedy recovery afterward.

    Lou

    Latest scan results

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    My surgery was done robotic VATS (Visually Assisted Thoracic Surgery) so it was more endoscopic.  In my case I was told I was under for about 6 hours.  I know of others who have been under less and more.  It will really depend on what they find and what is being excised, and anything else that they want to check out during the procedure.  The good news is I wasn't aware of any of it.  

    After my surgery I was able to raise my arms, but my right-side (the side of my surgery) was sore for a while.  In the beginning I'd get up, walk around the house for 10 minutes and then sleep for an hour.  Over time the walks became longer and the sleep shorter.  That will depend on how you prepare yourself for the surgery.  I normally do 5 miles a day and then weights (not a body builder, just trying to keep everything working) but it took me a few weeks to get my first 10k steps (~1 mile).  My advice is; take care of yourself before the surgery (food, sleep, and moving), and after; use the spirometer, move as much as possible (don't overdo it), eat healthy and get good rest.  Over time you'll be surprised quickly you'll recover strength.  Right after surgery I spent time being breathless after any exertion but over time that improved so don't be frightened by it unless it is serious then speak with your doctor.

    Feel free to ask any additional questions you've got friends here and you won't go through this alone.

    Lou

    Latest scan results

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Thanks for the update on your scans.  I'm sorry to hear about the ongoing growth, but it's not unusual.  My nodule was discovered in Jan. '19 and was so small they waited three months to see what might happen.  Three months later it had grown but after an inconclusive PET Scan and failed CT-guided Biopsy they opted for surgery.  Prior to the operation I asked the surgeon what the chance was that it was not malignant and he told me "about 10%".  He went on to explain that while most nodules are benign the malignant ones are more apt to grow.  I had my surgery in May '19 and it resulted in a lower-right lobectomy.  Since that time I've been NED and leading a full life.  My prayers are that if it is malignant you'll have the same kind of outcome.

    In the meantime you may want to take a look at a blog I wrote titles "Thoracic Surgery Tips & Tricks".  It will cover pre-surgery prep, the hospital stay, and post-surgery recovery.  In the meantime please ask any questions that you may have.

    Lou

    New here....

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome to our forums.  I'm sorry you need to be here but glad you found us.  We're a community made up of LC (Lung Cancer) survivors and some caregivers.  The stages, types, and treatments we've experienced are "all over the map" so you'll be able to ask most any question and find people with firsthand experience.  Like you most everyone in my family died of cancer.  My dad, mom, most of my uncles and aunts on my mother's side, and a step-sister, so like you I understand the situations reasonably well..  What I can tell you is that when my mom died from LC we didn't have many of the treatments and trials available today.  So you have the experiential knowledge but I think it's also good to learn all you can in an updated manner so I'm going to share some different information with you.

    1. We have a section called "Lung Cancer 101".  It covers causes, diagnosis, treatments and all aspects of Lung Cancer it can be found here.
    2. An important blog written by one of our senior member is titled "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; from a Survivor" it is on this page.  This member was originally diagnosed at Stage 3 then Stage 4 and after 20 years of treatment has been declared "cured".
    3. A tip for you; stay away from Dr. Google.  Outcome statistics found there are normally over a 5-year period and don't accurately reflect new treatments available.  Neither do they consider the individuality of our situations.  You're always better sticking with your treatment team for that information.

    Please stick around, update us as events unfold and ask any questions you may have.  We'll be here to support you.

    Lou

    lung nodule

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Bob,

    Sorry to hear about the recurrence but glad you found us.  Nodules that grow are definitely worth getting a biopsy and I understand that they want more mass so they can do a better job of getting the sample they need to test properly.  The waiting is terrible and I remember feeling great anxiety during my initial diagnosis and especially when I was told to "wait 3 months" before the next scan.  Needless to say I was not a happy camper.  I'm so glad that you gave up the smoking.  Regardless of the COPD I'm sure that your breathing is most likely better now than when you were active in the habit.  That will be a help through this.  Please keep us updated and feel free to ask any questions you want.  We have a pretty large base of survivors on this site with a great variety of diagnosis and treatments so there is a lot of experience to share.  You won't need to go through this alone.

    Lou

    Atypical Carcinoid Upper Left Lobe Resection surgery

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Dina,

    I'm so glad to hear that your surgery went well and that your recovery is going well.  The spasms and pains are truly a pain in the butt.  Some of that really has to do with muscles and nerves healing after the surgery.  You may even have some ongoing nerve pain (itching and burning) at the sites of incisions.  For those I recommend asking your doctor for Gabapentin.  On the other side the more you can use the spirometer that more you do it the more benefits you'll see.  Doing the exercises multiple times a day will help; clear your lungs for better breathing, strengthen your muscles to reduce spasms and increase blood flow for healing.  Also move as much as you can comfortably do.  I found that the more I moved (uncomfortable as it was) the better I felt.  Try to keep your pain levels down as well.  When you have less pain you're more apt to move and regain strength and flexibility.  Please continue to keep us updated and I'm very happy you are doing well.
    Lou

    Hi everyone.

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Anthony,

    Sorry to hear about your cancer, but glad you found us.  There are many others here like eDiveBuddy, who were diagnosed with advanced LC (lung cancer) and years later they are still here to share their story.  The truth is LC is not the automatic death sentence it once was.  Yes it is still the deadliest form of cancer and highly recurrent, but more work (curative, and control-based).  My LC was caught at Stage 1 and was treated surgically.  But there are folks here with many and varied diagnosis and journeys.  In the meantime I’d ike to share a blog with you that was written by one of our own members.  It is based on his receiving a diagnosis of Stage 3 over 20 years ago.  That Stage 3 then became Stage 4 and he went through many treatments and recurrences and only a couple of years ago he was pronounced cured.  He compiled a list of “10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; by a Survivor” and it can be found here.  In addition, now is the time to learn as much as you can about your disease, diagnosis, and treatment.  We have a section called “Lung Cancer 101” and that is found on this page.  

    So please keep coming back.  Ask questions, read other’s posts and learn all you can so you can manage this journey in a much better way.  I pray you’ll be on the site for a long time to come.

    Lou

    sex drive increase on Imfinzi?

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Letsdothisletsroll,

    I haven't taken any form of chemotherapy, but I did find the following on the Imfinzi website in the list of side effects:

    "Hormone gland problems: headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches; eye sensitivity to light; eye problems; rapid heartbeat; increased sweating; extreme tiredness; weight gain or weight loss; feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual; urinating more often than usual; hair loss; feeling cold; constipation; your voice gets deeper; dizziness or fainting; and changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness"

    I hope this helps.

    Lou 

    Atypical Carcinoid Upper Left Lobe Resection surgery

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hello Dina.  Sorry you need to be here but glad you found us.  In 2019 I had a resection that turned into a lower-right lobectomy.  The surgery went better than I expected and here I am (almost 5 years later) and still NED (No Evidence of Disease).  A while back I put together some "Thoracic Surgery Tips and Tricks"  and it can be found here.  It can help you prepare for your surgery, get you through the hospital stay and also provides information for the post-op period.

    I can understand how frightened you must be but know that many others (including me) have gone through it and almost universally you'll here us say that it was easier than we thought.  I'm not saying it is fun or that rehab is easy, but it wasn't the tragic experience I once expected it to be.  

    Please continue to come here and read, post any questions or updates and let us help support you through this part of your journey.  Edivebuddy said it well, that LC is no longer the certain death sentence that it once was.

    Lou

    scan results

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Laurie,

    I'm glad to read the good news.  But I'm suggesting that you copy your post on the other site and paste it here on LUNGevity.  There are likely some members who won't click on a link without contextual knowledge about that it is about.  The web is a wild place so I understand that way of thinking.  Again, congratulations on the good news.

    Lou

    Husband's diagnostic journey

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Cara,

    Since you are the “reader type” here is some information on treatment options.  It is broad, but you’ll see good information about surgery there.  The “Surgery” section under “Treatment Options” can be found here.  One line from the criteria for a surgical approach found on the page is the following;

    "When surgery is an option in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), it is the main treatment because it provides the best chance for a cure."

    Whatever the outcome I pray for you both to get a curative result.

    Lou

    Husband's diagnostic journey

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Cara,

    The counsel your getting here is sound.  I was diagnosed with Stage 1 early on in 2019, had a lower-right lobectomy, no adjuvant treatment and since that time all scans have been negative for malignancy.  So, I’m in the boat of “get the surgery”, but I also believe that each patient can and should decide on the treatment that based on their own wants/needs.  Unless there are other mitigating conditions or reasons surgery (particularly lobectomy) would be the “gold standard” treatment.

    Again, having said all the above the patient’s wishes rule, just make sure that his doctor is giving him all the information on outcomes to make that decision.  I pray for good results regardless of approach.

    Lou

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