I'm not a newby to cancer, only to this site. My only reason for registering is to demonstrate what is possible. Perhaps my experience will provide a little encouragement to others affected by this wretched disease.
I was diagnosed with Stage IV, adenocarcinoma NSCLC in July of 2002. The primary was in the upper lobe of the left lung and metastases were spread to central chest lymph nodes and the brain.
I first had neurosurgery to remove the brain metastases because the edema was causing respiratory difficulties, a seizure-prone condition, blurred vision, loss of certain motor functions, balance, blurred vision, and general incoherence. After a very short recuperative period (too darn short), the upper, left lobe was resectioned (ouch) and a cluster of 6 lymph nodes were removed (2 of the 6 were cancerous).
I had no post-op chemo and no rads...nuttin, zilch, zip-zero, nada.
On-going monitoring via scans/MRIs was initially every 3-months...clear, clear, clear...later every 6-months...clear, clear, clear, and I was declared "NED" in late 2004.
I high-fived a surgeon, hugged a chubby nurse, and had a double martini as an investigative nutritional supplement.
My point to all this: ignore stats. Their best use is for actuarial calculations. Stats are based on years prior historical events that may not apply to today's more advanced medical technology of diagnostics and treatment. Though the odds can look pretty bad on the surface, this stuff can be beaten. I'm living proof because I'm still vertical and above ground.
If you every peruse http://www.acscsn.org, my handle is "nodawgs." Come see me, anytime.
By the way, I also have Stage IV prostate cancer with mets to the bones and recently completed (fall of 2006) cisplatin chemo and rads for Stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the epiglottis, now "NED." I suppose I'm an over-achiever. Thank you, M.D. Anderson-Houston.
Best to you all and havagoodun!
Perry aka "nodawgs"
