Guest tammy Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 I am so glad that I have found this board. My name is Tammy I am 29 with 2 children. My Mom just found out that she has stage 3b lung cancer (adeno). She had a pain in her back for one day and something told her to go to the doctor. The doctor sent her to get a CAT scan done and sure enough a 5cm tumor. She has no symptoms of having lung cancer no shortness of breath,not coughing it just seems so odd. My mom weighs 90lbs but has always weighed this her entire life so no weight loss. Her brother just had surgery because he has lung cancer they removed his lower lobe of his right lung so far so good he his on oxygen but he is still with us. They tell Mom that this tumor is inopertable thats why they call it stage 3b but I have read that people have had surgery with stage 3b adeno. I just am so confused and scared can someone help me with this? She goes on the 17th to the specialist to find out what treatment she will recieve they said Chemo I hope she can get through that she is so tiny. Any stories of hope would help. Thanks and God Bless. Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Dear Tammy. I'm sorry to have to welcome you to this wonderful board, but I'm also happy that you found us. Tammy, I'm with you on the "Confused Part"! Oh this disease is and can be so very "Confusing". All I know, is for me, I was dx.d in 1995 at the age of 43 with Stage IIIA (Adeno). On July 25, 1995 I went into surgery to have my right lung removed. My surgeon said, "When you come to after surgery, and I tell you I took your entire lung, that's a GOOD THING"! (easy for him to say)! Anyway, I came out of surgery, and was told he had taken my left lung, along with several lymph nodes, because 2 of the lymph nodes were positive for cancer. When my surgery was all over they Re-staged me a IIIB. 8 Weeks later, I was doing chemo and radiation treatments and now am soon to be 8 year lung cancer SURVIVOR. Now, what is SO confusing to me is, They did surgery on me and (lucked out) why not TRY it on others that are Stage IIIB? I do know that a LOT depends on where the tumor IS, and what lymph nodes are involved, etc........ But, I have to say, that TODAY, all my doctor's tell me I am a MIRACLE!!! I have also heard stories of people that are Stage IIIB undergoing Chemo FIRST, and then being Re-staged and doing Surgery. SOOOOOOO!!!! My wish would be if we on this board could get a Surgeon, or Onc. Doc, or WHOEVER, that could better Explain this to all of us, in LAYMENS Terms!! But, I know I have asked time and time again, of my doctor friends why this and why that, and they always say, "It all depends on THIS THAT AND THE OTHER THING"! My Pulm. Doctor has also said, Staging is and can be VERY tricky at time, as well as CONFUSING!! So I'm afraid I am no help to you. However, I do wish you all the best with your mom and I hope and pray she too can be a long term lung cancer survivor just as I am. Warm and Gentle Hugs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Tammy, where is her tumor? If it is on major vessels or in the mediastinum they may feel it can't be safely removed. HOWEVER, if it shrinks with chemo or radiation (depending on the location) she may be able to be operated on in the future. Several people on this board were also told they were inoperable and were able to be operated on successfully. So take heart, things may change. Your mom's case is much like my husbands, he also had no symptoms till wham ~ the tumor started to cut the blood supply returning to his heart. See if you can get info on why they feel they can't operate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marlon Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Tammy, Welcome to the board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tammy Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 Thanks for all the warm welcomes and the information. At this point I am in the dark as well as the rest of my family at understanding what all she has and why it is inopertable until we talk to the specialist. After the 17th maybe we will have more understanding. I am not even sure exactly where it is on her lung or if it has spread anywhere. The other doctors don't say to much because thats not their field. I will let everyone know what she finds out. Thanks again I feel so much better being able to talk to people that are going through this. Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 It has to be T4 to be staged at IIIb. Since they did not do a PET scan to check for lymph node involvement. I am assuming it is T4. Like people said they may be able to shink it. If there are not any other nodes maybe radio frequency ablation is an option, or radiation/chemo can shrink the tumor and then it can be removed. If they can do a biopsy you can get more information on the grade, and confirmation on the histology (cell type). TX Primary tumor cannot be assessed, or tumor proven by the presence of malignant cells in sputum or bronchial washings but not visualized by imaging or bronchoscopy T0 No evidence of primary tumor Tis Carcinoma in situ T1 Tumor 3 cm or less in greatest dimension, surrounded by lung or visceral pleura, without bronchoscopic evidence of invasion more proximal than the lobar bronchus T2 Tumor with any of the following features of size or extent: · More than 3 cm in greatest dimension · Involving main bronchus, 2 cm or more distal to the carina · Invading the visceral pleura · Associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis that extends to the hilar region but does not involve the entire lung T3 Tumor of any size that: · directly invades the chest wall (including superior sulcus tumors), diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, or parietal pericardium · is located in the main bronchus less than 2 cm distal to the carina but without involvement of the carina · is associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis of the entire lung T4 Tumor of any size that: · invades the mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, esophagus, vertebral body, or carina · is associated with a malignant pleural effusion Take care and God bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tammy Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 My Mom read me the CAT scan report that said she is no a canidate for surgery due to invading mediastinum so she must have T4. She is going for a PET scan on the 16th will they be able to see if the lymph nodes are involved? She also had a biopsy done but not sure what all they found. Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayroy Posted April 10, 2003 Share Posted April 10, 2003 It could be worse, stage 1v. I know things may sem very bad, but there is hope as long as there is life. Cherish the good days and try to overcome the bad ones. ITs better to be alive than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Tammy, Well, I'm a IIIB who is still hanging around! You can read my story in Inspiration, "A 4percenter who is still here." I think that sometimes the decision to not do surgery, is because some of these surgeries are VERY difficult. That's why it's important to see a surgeon who has done ALOT of these operations! Keep fighting for your mom. Be aggressive and don't worry about whose toes get stepped on!!! JudyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted April 11, 2003 Share Posted April 11, 2003 Tammy I'm a IVB survivor with no surgery. My upper right lobe tumor was so close to the breathing tubes that I had radiation to shrink it back for possible surgery. When the surgeon opened to remove upper lobe he found a spot on my lower right lobe which tested malignant. Therefore, he said my cancer was on the move. Many months of chemo, lots of side effects from the cure, but, I'm still here. Currently in remission for over one year. Good Luck and God Bless Sue M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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