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rdflynn

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About rdflynn

  • Birthday 08/13/1947

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  • City
    Temple Terrace
  • US State (if applicable)
    FLORIDA
  • Country
    United States
  • Status
    Lung cancer patient/survivor
  • Interests
    Lung cancer

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  1. Okay. I’m a lung cancer survivor. I’ve had cancer and I’m not dead.
    The non-small cell adenocarcinoma they removed March, 2017, along with the lower lobe of my left lung, was stage IA. 
    So October, 2017 I had my six-month CT scan with contrast. A very small nodule showed up in my lower right lung. Ugh! At five millimeters, it’s too small to attempt a biopsy. They are doing another CT scan with contrast in December to see if there is any change. It could be gone. It could remain the same. It could be bigger. It could be nothing. It could be cancer.
    I am a Vietnam veteran. The VA considers the lung cancer to be a service connected disability since I was apparently exposed to Agent Orange. I was a smoker too so who knows? I feel that my care at the VA hospital has been nothing short of great. My oncologist is on a fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center and he works one day a week with cancer patients at the Tampa VA hospital.
     

    Since jumping to stage 3B status with recurrent NSCLC last November, 2019, I have:

    - had seven weeks of chemotherapy and radiation.

    - spent one night in the hospital with pneumonia and pulmonary embolisms.

    - had four infusions of durvalumab as immunotherapy.

    - had a PET scan that showed that the original hyper-metabolic nodules and lymph nodes have responded well to the therapy, BUT new nodules have shown up along with a new adenopathy and large areas of ground glass opacities. ALSO two new hyper-metabolic areas involving bones.  One area on the L1 vertebrae and one on the right sacral ala abutting the ileum.

    - had an MRI confirming dimensions of the bone lesions, but showing no brain lesions.

    - had a biopsy performed on my L1 yesterday.  No report from the pathology folks yet.

    Most likely, the bone lesions are mets from the NSCLC.  If that proves to be true, I am now staring at some dire statistics.  If this latest biopsy is inconclusive, we will have to try to get a biopsy of the sacral ala lesion.

    So, "here I stand, head in hand", but I won't turn my face to the wall.  I will be making those end-of-life decisions.  I will also involve my family and friends in living out the rest of my life with vigor.  We will cry and we will laugh........cry AND laugh, damn it!

    This is my sharing.  All of you please share back.

  2. LLL lobectomy for stage 1A Adenocarcinoma in March, 2017.  6 mm nodule in RUL with borderline enlarged subcarinal lymph node detected in May, 2019 CT scan.  Waiting with some scanxiety for CT scan on 8/19 to look for change.  Rick

  3. LLL VATS on 3/24/2017 for stage 1 adenocarcinoma.  New RUL 6 mm non-calcified nodule with borderline subcarinal adenopathy on CT scan in May 2019.  Next CT scan scheduled for 8/19/19.  Working with some scanxiety.

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