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I has a large NSLC adneocarcinoma in my right lower lobe....I had a lobectomy and partial resection of the middle lobe done in Feb.of 2009 and then did chemo. I was declared cancer free in 2013 and released to the care of my family doctor. I had my CT scans done every Dec. at the same hospital from 2008 thru 2014. I was uneasy about my after care and had my scan done at the Cleveland Clinic last Dec. and saw an oncologist there who I supplied with a copy of my 2014 scan. Imagine my surprise when I saw him for my appointment and he told me the nodule in my right upper lobe was stable and there were no changes since my 2014 scan!!! What the hell?!?!? What nodule?!?!? How long has that been there?!?!? I'm not quite sure what to do.....should I ask for copies of all my scans to try to figure out when it developed??? Do I file a complaint about it??? Do I tell my insurance company they paid for at leastt one misread CT scan??? I had my first panic attack in over three years over this!!!!

I has a large NSLC adneocarcinoma in my right lower lobe....I had a lobectomy and partial resection of the middle lobe done in Feb.of 2009 and then did chemo. I was declared cancer free in 2013 and released to the care of my family doctor. I had my CT scans done every Dec. at the same hospital from 2008 thru 2014. I was uneasy about my after care and had my scan done at the Cleveland Clinic last Dec. and saw an oncologist there who I supplied with a copy of my 2014 scan. Imagine my surprise when I saw him for my appointment and he told me the nodule in my right upper lobe was stable and there were no changes since my 2014 scan!!! What the hell?!?!? What nodule?!?!? How long has that been there?!?!? I'm not quite sure what to do.....should I ask for copies of all my scans to try to figure out when it developed??? Do I file a complaint about it??? Do I tell my insurance company they paid for at leastt one misread CT scan??? I had my first panic attack in over three years over this!!!!

I'm not sure how helpful I can be, as I am just in the second round of my chemo and still trying to figure out the side effects myself. I am getting --- 4week/rounds--28 day cycle --days 1 and 8 cisplatim and navelbine, day 15 is just navelbine---and day 22 was supposed to be navelbine too, but it looks like I may be getting that week off coz my blood counts are low and my onc doesn't think I will be able to handle it. I get most of the side effects --- but the week with the navelbine was very mild compared to the previous week with both---just very tired the next day--but I do get a migraine like type headache every Thursday morning at about 3am (chemo is on Tuesday) that lasts pretty much all day, but is managable with Excedrine. Deb[/b]

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and good wishes---I'm taking my login info along coz they said they have computers available for patients, and I can get on line if and when I get out of bed---if they make it bearable I'll get up !!!

Just an update--the Cleveland Clinic called and has moved my surgery up to Thursday now---better that than a delay coz I was starting to get nervous and needing more of my anxiety helpers. Had a major meltdown at first coz all the plans had been worked out with kids and the dogs---and the reservations had been made. But I think I got it back together and am getting things in order again. Thanks again for all your positive reinforcement and good wishes---I feel more confident and hopeful than I did when I first got here. I'm gonna go in there and kick some adenocarcinoma butt, coz the lymph nodes are gonna be clear !!! Deb

Just a quick update----surgery is on for Feb 20th!! All my testing is ok---no brain mets, hearts ok---everything looks good and my surgeon is still pretty optomistic----he will check out the lymph nodes first then proceed if all is well. He says I'll be up walking with my IV pole the next day and out in 4-6 days. He talked to my oncologist and we will talk afterwards about any possible need for chemo or radiation--he also said I may qualify for a couple clinical trials they have through Cleveland Clinic. I've been listening to this Guided Imagery cd they gave me that's supposed to help-- and so far it does sorta seem like it puts me in a better place mentally. Hopefully I am ready for this---I've tried to keep up with everything---but was kind of thankful when a Case Manager contacted me from the insurance company (AdvoCare) and assured me that all is well there, and to call if I need anything or have any questions. I also got a page all set up at thestatus.com--- a site to keep family and friends updated on your condition. If any of you can think of any helpful pre-surgery things I an do that would be helpful, it'd be greatly appreciated---right now I'm sorta in a hyper mode getting ready---but I'm sure the fear part will kick in pretty soon. Deb

Thanks for the positive thoughts---of course I am trying to be as optomistic as possible. After thinking about my tests Tuesday,I decided maybe I better not go alone---I sure don't want to be stuck in Cleveland trying to get home during rush hour if for some reason they tell me I can't have my surgery. I sorta figured I should be realistic--I don't have to do this alone-- and there are those that truly do want to help me through this. Deb

I met my surgeon yesterday---I feel good about this guy. And he agreed with my oncologist and is also saying 80% chance cancer free with surgery !!! I go up Tuesday for the day---he wants a nuclear stress test and a ct of my brain---then I talk to the anesthesiologist. If all goes well---my surgery will be the 20th. He is going to check lymph nodes for mets first --and if all are ok, he will remove the mass and I will be cancer free---no radiation or chemo. BUT if there's any sign of mets he will close and I go back to the Onc to kill the spread first. So ---I am in better spirits than I have been in quite awhile. He said I am really unlucky to have two cancers---but very lucky that I am young for this ---and that they are unrelated ---and that the thyroid thing is no big deal---don't worry about it for now. He also said my mass is about the size of a small plum-- he thinks it is an adenocarcinoma that thankfully is not in the pleura ---it looks contained---my lymph nodes looked good on my pet---and I am an excellent candidate because I'm not sick--- the only symptom is coughing a little blood. So--unless something shows up I am tentatively staged as 1B NO MO . It is such a relief to know what I'm up against and to have a plan !!

You guys are awesome---thank you so much for your replies and support. I was feeling pretty low and alone when I posted and the response was much more than I expected. It's comforting to know that someone understands what I am trying to deal with. I already have a prescription for klonopine---I started having panic attacks almost a year ago that they had blamed on peri-menopause. My doctor says just to let him know when I need more or if it is not enough to handle the stress. Right now I am still taking vicodan for the collapsed lung and it is keeping me pretty calm. It was reassuring to hear that I am not alone in finding that the meds help to cope---I was sort of afraid I was creating another problem by trying to numb the feelings and slow the racing mind. But, I was finding that I can't stand myself and just want to be alone unless I can mellow out and calm down. Thank you all for being here,and for making me feel better about myself and what is happening to me. Deb

I just got the definate diagnosis of nsclc today after three months of tests and being on a roller coaster of emotions. The oncologist is calling it stage 1 and says we caught it early--but-- my mass is pretty big--3.8x5cm, in the lower right lobe. I am scheduled to go to the Cleveland Clinic to talk to a surgeon on Tuesday---and to have ressection done asap. I've already had my pft and am operable, and have had a ct/pet done with no sign of any lymph node involvement so far. They have found that I also have papillary thyroid cancer---but that is supposed to be more treatable and is to be tackled later. Needless to say---I am a mess---trying to be positive---but still dealing with a partially collapsed lung from my ct biopsy Tuesday---and also impatient to fight this before I get sick or start to weaken. I don't know anyone who has a clue about what this is like.