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Scruboak

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Posts posted by Scruboak

    Mucinous adenocarcinoma

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome to the forum JT. I hope your healing after surgery is going well. I was diagnosed with stage IA2 invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung 3 years ago (IMA). It was a solitary nodule type, not the pneumonic type. Questions might be what stage, any nodal involvement (IMA often is nodal free and typically does not metastasize outside the lungs), any treatment beyond surgery needed, solitary or pneumonic type. Often stage I lung cancer patients are not offered biomarker testing. I understand that a form of KRAS mutation is common in IMA and there currently is no targeted therapy for this type of lung cancer.  I don’t know if I had a KRAS mutation because I was not offered biomarker testing and it is not clear if there would be any advantage to knowing. 

    Stage 1A lung cancer

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome, Mary Ann.  I’m sorry you are dealing with this, whether writing for yourself or someone else. I was diagnosed with stage IA2 invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma in May, 2020. It took longer to get it diagnosed because of COVID and the ban on “elective” surgeries.  I had a VATS lobectomy on the lower left lung and two weeks later had a repeat VATS to remove part of the upper left lung due to a hemothorax. No treatment other than surgery. My last CT scan showed some scarring and atelectasis (partial lung collapse) in the left lung which I’ve been told is normal post lobectomy. I also have a small nodule (4 mm) that has not grown over the past year. I’ve moved to annual scans! I live at 9000 feet and, after the initial recovery from the surgeries, can breathe just fine. Hiking higher than 10,000 feet is a challenge that I haven’t yet tried. But hell, that was hard even before I was diagnosed. Mentally, I still have niggling concerns about recurrence. I saw an oncological therapist for three months who was very helpful. 

    Hemoptysis

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Ct scan update. Mucus plug or nodule has not grown (!) but is now “reticular” in shape and surrounded by atelectasis and “foci scarring”. I still cough up rusty phlegm only in the morning. I was fortunate in getting my scan moved up but unfortunate in that my follow up appointment with thoracic surgeon is not until May 5th - couldn’t get one sooner and she is on vacation for a few days. Arghh!  I just keep reminding myself to chill, distract, and stay away from Dr. Google. I am still practicing my banjo and my daughter and I “jammed” a couple of days ago. She laughed heartily when I said, “Hey, are we jamming?” 

    Hemoptysis

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Thanks for the “nudge”, Karen. I do tend to not squeak wheels as much as would benefit me with this medical crap.  They seem pretty casual in the office and I do need to speak out. I guess I fear looking a little crazy. Do you remember that scene in Terms of Endearment” where Shirley MacClain practically climbed over the nurses station to get her daughter her pain medication on time? Yeah, that’s my goal.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plqzeUB9B-w

    Hemoptysis

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Thanks, Lou and Tom. It’s Monday morning and I just will call my thoracic surgeon’s office to give them a heads up. From what I’ve read this symptom can be hard to find out where it’s coming from. I think I’ve read every article out there which always does a fine job of ratcheting up my scanxiety. You’d think I’d learn!  Suzan

    Introduction

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Welcome Herbert. This is a good site to use as people here understand what you’re going through. I talk to my family but often use Forums to relieve my family of some of the worries that come up.  And, although the Forum is no substitute for medical advice, you will find people here who are familiar with procedures and protocols. And, we’re very good at just being here for you.  Suzan

    Hemoptysis

    in MEMBER UPDATES

    Posted

    Diagnosed with invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma solitary type in May, 2020. Scans have been mostly clear although they do think I might have two areas of mucus plugging (it looks like 4-5 mm nodules and one pathologist thought the newest nodule was an “endobronchial lesion” in what is left of the left upper lobe. My thoracic surgeon has been following me after left lower lobectomy with a return VATS procedure for “massive hemothorax” two weeks after the initial surgery. I’ve been getting CT scans every six months this past year due to the tiny nodules.  For the past two weeks I’ve been waking with a slight cough that produces bloody sputum. It happens only in the morning when I first clear my throat - no problems the rest of the day. I don’t feel sick really although I feel fatigued a lot which I attribute to anxiety, I’m using a humidifier at night. It does seem to be just sitting in my throat every morning and is easily coughed up. I contacted my medical team at UCHealth via email last week - no response yet.  I am scheduled for a CT scan with contrast on May 1st - routine. I feel like I want my thoracic surgeon to know about this development so that, at least, the pathologist who will interpret the CT will have knowledge of this daily bloody phlegm concern. Any suggestions, experience with hemoptysis? The amount is just enough to color a blob of phlegm - sometimes rusty red, sometimes pink. TMI?!

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