MsC1210 Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi everyone. I wanted to make sure we all met Bruce U. He had posted on a different thread and I have moved him here so he would be welcomed. This is his post.... First time viewing this site. I am a 46 year old male that had surgery in September removing the upper lobe of my left lung. Discovered last February in a chest x-ray,the tumour was 2cm and was a stage 1b. Now I have to decide to have 4 rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy or not. There are mixed opinions on this for stage 1b. Would anyone have more information on this or on studies completed ? Welcome Bruce! Warmly Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyr Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi Bruce I cannot offer you any advice. There are others here that have more experience that will be able to guide you, but I just wanted to offer a very warm welcome to you. Wendyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolasDaughter Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Just a quick hello and welcome from me, too! I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm sure others here will. And if you have not already, you could post the question to Dr. West at www.onctalk.com - he is very quick to respond and is extremely knowledgable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi Bruce, I think the last I heard adjuvant chemo for 1b was still considered controversial. I would ask for DR West’s opinion and just do what he recommends. http://www.onctalk.com/ For what is worth I never had adjuvant chemo after I had a 4 by 5 cm mass stage Ib removed at my upper left lobe. I had a new cancer less than a year later in my lower lobe, Maybe if I had chemo, I would not have had the second cancer, but no one really knows for sure. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muriel Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Welcome Bruce. I have been in your situation twice. Adjuvant chemo for stage 1B was just being considered back in June 2003 and there were few studies. I did have chemo (carbo and taxol) following surgery to remove the upper lobe in my right lung. 18 months after the first surgery, a tumor appeared in the upper lobe of my left lung. Again, surgery followed by chemo (cisplatin and gemzar). The first time my reasoning was that if I had chemo and didn't need it, I would never know. If I didn't have chemo and would have benefitted from it, I would regret that decision. As it turned out, I made the right decision. I don't know how much sooner the second tumor would been seen without chemo (sooner, I assume, but don't know). I really recommend adjuvant chemo - especially since you are young, and probably,healthy. Let us know what you decide. Muriel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recce101 Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hi, Bruce, welcome to the LCSC! Nicole mentioned onctalk.com as an excellent source for the type of information you're seeking. I went there just now, typed "adjuvant" in the search box, and found a number of pertinent items by Dr. West that mention Stage IB in the context of adjuvant chemo: http://onctalk.com/?p=32 http://onctalk.com/?p=829 http://onctalk.com/?p=837 If you register (many of us have the same usernames there as here) you can ask a specific question, and Dr. West will normally answer within 24 hours. Of course he won't give you medical advice as such, but he is very good about laying out the pros and cons in an understandable manner. When you make your decision about the chemo, we'd appreciate hearing about your decision and the factors that led to it. Best wishes and Aloha, Ned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 No info on your question from me, just lots of hugs a big welcome. pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted November 25, 2007 Share Posted November 25, 2007 Hello Bruce and welcome to this site of support. I had chemoradiation before surgery, then surgery, then adjuvant chemo. My stage was 3A. My surgery was in July, 2005 and my scans have been clear since. Talk to your doctors so that you can give yourself the best advantages available against this awful disease. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judy-OK Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi Bruce and welcome to LCSC. The final decision will be yours or course so you need to arm yourself with all the information you can stand to absorb and then take it from there. Keep us posted. P.S. with red face Christine you had already cut his message out and started it here. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
never2late Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Hi Bruce, I had a situation very similar to yours except my tumor was approximately 6 x 6.5 cm, much larger than yours. I opted for the adjuvant chemo and don't regret it one bit. It has now been 20 months since my surgery and all scans/x-rays have shown no evidence of disease. Chemo was no walk in the park but I had few side effects (meds controlled most very well) other than hair loss and fatigue. Best wishes on your fight with this disease, no matter what course you choose. Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMLV Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Bruce Welcome to the site. For what it's worth, I was originally diagnosed with Stage Ib in 2004 and was initially scheduled for chemo and/or radiation following my lobectomy. But after the operation, in which they had to remove my entire lung, I was bumped up to IIb. At that point it was a no brainer. I'm happy you are a candidate for surgery. Good luck. Lenny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce u Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Thank you to everyone for the well wishes and advice. Receiving advice from people who have already walked down that road is very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barbara5452 Posted November 26, 2007 Share Posted November 26, 2007 Welcome Bruce, I have no info for you but you have received some excellent links to other web sites that will help you with you question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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