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LouT

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Posts posted by LouT

    Mri scan

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Justin,

    I can only imagine how hard this is for you, but my hope (and yours no doubt) is to come out of this brutal treatment better and healthier.  I have not had these treatments, but others have and as you've heard from them it is surely a rough road.

    My prayers go up for you to adapt to this treatment and to have positive results.

    Lou

    Immunotherapy after treatment and surgery are completed

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Hi Sally,

    I'm very glad to hear that your tumor has been shrinking.  If you had a chance to see the readings I recommended to you in my last post there are times with a stage IIIa lung cancer when surgery may be performed after other treatments.  I think you need to sit with your oncologist and ask all the questions you have regarding the potential therapy; Why do it now?;  Why not just continue with radiation/chemo?;  Do the surgery benefits outweigh the risks?

    You should not go into any treatment not believing it is necessary or that it is well-advised.  Have the conversation with the oncologist (or any of the physicians you want) before you make a decision to take or not take the surgery route.  Please keep us advised of what you learned.

    Lou

    Loss of caregiver

    in GENERAL

    Posted

    Marycecilia,

    I can't imagine how bad you must feel right now.  Losing anybody close to us is so painful.  If you do need additional support please seek it so you're not alone.  You can also come here anytime to chat, ask questions, or even rant about what's happening in your life.  We'll be here for you.

    Lou

    Immunotherapy after treatment and surgery are completed

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Sally,

    I'm glad to hear that the lymph node has shown such improvement.  While my treatment was surgical only there are many different combinations or avenues of treatment available.  I recommend that you take a few minutes to look at Treatment Options for Lung Cancer, it can be found here.  It can help you understand some of the options while you wait for others here to respond.  Again, I'm glad to hear that you can now move on with your treatment.

    Lou

    Found something small in lung after CT scan

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Kelvin,

    Justin is correct; Scanziety is a real thing.  But please take his advice and let events unfold on their own.  This disease already takes enough out of its victims and their families.  Repeating the scan is wise and even if it is a small growth it doesn't mean it is a recurrence or a new malignancy.  Please keep us updated and ask any questions you may have of your doctor and the good folks on this forum.

    Lou

    Mri scan

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Justin,

    Good to know you have the nurse and that she is advocating for you.  Keep that spirit of working through one day at a time as that is what is needed when we feel so badly.  Feeling stressed is no surprise as we are dealing with a terrible disease and treatments that can often bring more symptoms than the disease did.  Keep on pushing through Justin, our prayers are with you.

    Lou

    Diagnosed Jan. 13, adenocarcinoma LLL

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Hello Auk,

    Welcome to our forums.  Being diagnosed early is a luxury as most LC is usually diagnosed only after symptoms are presenting.  This results in many diagnosis at Stage III.  Like you my LC was first seen on a CT Scan of a different issue (kidney stones).  Catching this disease early is a true benefit going forward.  Now that you are scheduled for a lobectomy I want to share a blog that will help you prepare for the surgery, get through the hospital stay, and help you in your post-surgery recovery.  It's titled "Thoracic Surgery Tips and Tricks" and it can be found here.  

    You would also be well served learning more about all aspects of this disease from Diagnosis, to Treatment, and Outcomes.  That exists under our section titled "Lung Cancer 101".  It's found on this page.

    Lung Cancer is no longer the "guaranteed death sentence" that it once was.  There are many, (like me), who are alive years after their diagnosis and treatment time.  Learn all you can, take care of yourself (eat well, be active), make sure you ask for support (family, friends and here), and you'll do better through the surgery and recovery than you ever expected.  

    Lou

     

    Mri scan

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Justin,

    I'll give you bit of advice I first rejected when I received it, but over time I came to realize how true and helpful it was.

    "What other people think about you is none of your business"  

    It may sound weird, but what others think (regardless of relationship) should never interfere with our peace, serenity, and focus on living.  I hope you come to a better place around the personal situation.

    Lou

    Husband diagnosed yesterday

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Kristin,

    Okay, you've got a solid diagnosis and a plan for treatment and all that is good.  There are a number of folks here who will comment on the Stereotactic Radiation as it has shown itself to be quite successful in many cases.  Regarding the surgery, there is a blog here called "Thoracic Surgery Tips and Tricks" please share it with your husband.  It will provide pre-surgery, hospital stay, and post surgery tips on getting through the surgery easier, it can be found here. 

    You should also check into our forum "Chemotherapy".  You'll get support and counsel there from others who have gone or are going through the same treatment protocol.

    And yes, there are folks here with history of brain mets and stages III and IV that are also survivors. 

    Lou

    New Here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Julie,

    A singular situation for sure.  The fact that they couldn't get tissue and the mass seems to be reducing at this time gives a level of credence to your doctors' opinion that this may not be cancer at all.  I had failed biopsy attempts as well, and wound up getting surgery to confirmed once and for all if my growth was malignant or not.  In my case it was and they removed it.  I can understand that they may not want to put you through such an operation while the mass is shrinking though.  It's not a terrible surgery but it is still challenging.  

    Others may have different experience and opinions, but I would recommend sticking with the doctors' approach and pushing , when necessary, to get relief from any symptoms caused by the collapsed lung.  Please keep us updated and let us know if you are getting relief from the discomfort this causes.  If you do need to have thoracic surgery I have information to share to help you prepare for, go through, and recover from such surgery.

    At this point you are not diagnosed with Lung Cancer so let's hold off on that discussion.  I have all digits crossed that you get through this with a clean bill, a disappearing mass, and no further treatment needed.

    Lou 

    New here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Running Girl,

    So sorry to hear about the complications during your recovery.  Most times the post-op symptoms are much less, but each case is individual.  In my case it was about 5-6 weeks to recover enough to maintain my former workout routine (albeit with limitations that lessened over the following months.  I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend and hope you were able to let your frustration with the first hospital known to them.  We can be of help to the "next patient" to give feedback so medical institutions improve their work.  Please keep us updated on your continued progress.

    Lou

    Scan results

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    So glad to hear that your brain met(s) have not returned.  In December I remember a post from you that you were "still stable".  Did you have a scan at that time as well?  The lung nodule growth is very slight and I've heard that some things (position, etc.) can affect a CT Scan result regarding size.  I pray that is the case here.  The adrenal gland growth is more concern at a 1 cm growth.  Has that mass been confirmed as a malignancy? I'm sorry if you mentioned it before and I just don't remember).  

    Lou

    New here

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Mat,

    Welcome and sorry you need to be here.  You've come to a great place for support, knowledge and experience.  I hope you'll hang around.  I want to start by sharing two things with you:

    1. A blog titled "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; From a Survivor" and it can be found here.  It's a great primer and comes from a member who was diagnosed with Stage 3 then Stage 4 eighteen years ago.  His story is inspiring, and you'll find many inspiring stories here from survivors a number of which we not given much hope but have lived years past diagnosis and continue doing so.

    2. I have also had a lobectomy robotic VATS and prepared a checklist that will help you pre-surgery, in-hospital, and recovering.  It is titled "Thoracic Surgery; Tips and Tricks".  I believe there is information there that can help you, it's on this page.

    One final thing...please stay away from "Dr. Google".  Much of the data there is dated and it does not look at individual aspects of your disease.  I would personally trust my medical team and learn what is possible from the other super folks on this forum.

    Stay in touch, ask questions, and take the time to learn more about your disease at our "Lung Cancer 101".

    Lou

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