luvs2crossstitch Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 I was diagnosed in January but just got my PET Scan results yesterday due to originally being sent to doctors that were out of network. I have Lung Adenocarcinoma Stage 4. I am so terrified right now and no matter how much my family says they understand they don't really. I start chemotherapy next Thursday and right now I feel like I am in information overload. I keep thinking that I am going to wake up and this is a bad dream but it is not. I am 47 and have been married 20 years. My niece and her two children live with us. Every time I see my great niece and my newborn great nephew I remember that I am fighting not only for myself and my husband but I want to be here to see those two children graduate from college. Mally 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 lvs2crossstich (love the name BTW), I completely understand how you feel. My diagnosis was also a complete surprise. Ok, let's talk about two topics you might want to try and neck down your focus on: treatment and attitude. First, you have one of the most treatable forms of lung cancer -- adenocarcinoma. You don't mention it but I imagine you must have had a biopsy somewhere along the diagnosis trail because you identify adenocarcinoma and a type of lung cancer does not result from a PET scan. Ensure your biopsy is tested for the presence of tumor markers. Some forms of adenocarcinoma tumors display genetic portals that are open to attack in newly emerging targeted therapy. You can read more about targeted therapy here. But postpone reading that link till you've read this one. Steps three through ten are applicable to you. Step six -- getting an infusion port is something I strongly recommend, and steps eight and nine are also relevant just starting chemotherapy. But, the most important reading you should do is in steps five and ten -- attitude. I just celebrating surviving 13 years since a surprise diagnosis of non small cell Squamous cell lung cancer. Many of us on this site are long term survivors with a late stage diagnosis. The most important take away from that statement is if we can live, so can you. I fundamentally believe the most important factor in surviving a lung cancer diagnosis is attitude towards treatment and outcomes. I have no medical proof to bolster my belief but developed it about halfway through my 3-year treatment journey. Since then, my outcomes improved dramatically. Here is a youtube link of Dr. Gould's essay mentioned in the step five discussion. I still listen to it frequently and find it reassuring. I'm not going to "put a good spin" on your diagnosis. Treatment will be difficult and it will likely not be "one and done." Lung cancer is persistent. Most of us have had recurrences since achieving a "no evidence of disease" or a NED result from treatment. But, for me, the persistence was worth it. I lived to walk my daughter down the aisle when she married and just recently celebrated the birth of my first grandchild. So put your battle rattle on, lock and load, and proceed purposefully into treatment with the objective of more than surviving, but thriving in life. You'll have many more questions and this is a good place to ask. Stay the course. Tom Mally, LindaD, LaurenH and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIndy0121 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Tom, as always, has given you a lot of good information to help bring some structure to your steps forward. We are all able to empathize, and there's always agreement that the initial diagnosis and staging and getting your treatment plan in place just adds to how overwhelming the thoughts and emotions are when you're probably still in some degree of disbelief about the whole situation. What additional information did your PET results provide that you didn't have in January. I too was diagnosed at stage IV and chemotherapy was my only option. We all have loved ones who are always first and foremost in our minds...both for them to understand, but also to protect them. But you used the word "fight" and ultimately it is your fight. Women, wives, moms, grandmas, etc. aren't accustomed to putting themselves first. It's okay to be more assertive and insist on your needs being met with your medical team. Relationships and communication will settle down somewhat, but you need to know that there is hope, that many people have been successfully treated and are still living their lives with cancer and you can too! Please stay connected with us here. I know you will find it very supportive. Mally, Tom Galli, LaurenH and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayven198 Posted March 5, 2017 Share Posted March 5, 2017 Hi luvs2crossstitch, I was recently diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in early February, I learnt it was stage 4 on the 28th. I am only 33. I understand what you are feeling. I am currently in residency, studying in Internal Medicine. I have spent my entire life being healthy, no smoking, hardly drinking, working out, studying. I feel like I've focused my whole life on the proper order of things, getting my career, that to have this diagnosed now, I know I am not ready. I am currently in the process of harvesting my eggs, since I have no children, and then i have to start lifelong targeted treatment, I have an ALK mutation, which I've been told is rare, especially in my age group. If you want feel free to message me, we can go through the stages together Michele, Mally, Susan Cornett and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Cornett Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Good morning. I was diagnosed last year at age 46 with stage IV adenocarcinoma. I had surgery for both my primary tumor and my metastatic tumor and four rounds of chemo. For better or worse, I didn't have any tumor markers, so my cancer and treatment are just the plain vanilla variety. I just celebrated my first cancerversary. My suggestion to you: listen to the long term survivors on this forum. They know. They understand. They empathize. This forum has been my anchor for the last year. Your friends and family mean well, but they can't fully comprehend what you are feeling both mentally and physically. That's why we're here. Tom Galli, LindaD, Mally and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Susan, Did you paint a toenail red? Stay the course. Tom LaurenH, Susan Cornett and Mally 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Cornett Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Tom - yes I did! Looking forward to having to "borrow" toes to mark my success. Tom Galli and LaurenH 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CIndy0121 Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Good morning. I was diagnosed last year at age 46 with stage IV adenocarcinoma. I had surgery for both my primary tumor and my metastatic tumor and four rounds of chemo. For better or worse, I didn't have any tumor markers, so my cancer and treatment are just the plain vanilla variety. I just celebrated my first cancerversary. My suggestion to you: listen to the long term survivors on this forum. They know. They understand. They empathize. This forum has been my anchor for the last year. Your friends and family mean well, but they can't fully comprehend what you are feeling both mentally and physically. That's why we're here. Where was your "metastatic" tumor? How much did you have to go through for your doctor to decide that surgery was a viable option for you?Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Cornett Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Hi, Cindy. My primary tumor was in my upper left lung, but we didn't know it was cancer until after surgery. The goal was just to remove the mass. My metastatic tumor was on my thyroid, which is apparently quite rare. I also had a second cancerous (papillary) tumor on my thyroid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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