mehrensh Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Jan 2018: bad bad 3-4 wk cold, turned into dry cough Feb: was told probably pneumonia, 2 different antibiotics, x-ray showed large fuzziness in upper lobe left lung March: felt better and went for follow-up x-ray at end of month, #!%& fuzziness identical to previous x-ray early April: CAT scan, PET scan strongly suggest cancer, but I have an autoimmune disorder which could look like cancer on both kinds of scan mid April: mediastinal lymph nodes biopsied, NOT CANCEROUS, late April: fun in the pacific nw early May: Lung biopsy to be sure, YES cancer, adeno carcinoma (s...t) late May: lobectomy for upper lobe left lung containing 6 cm tumor, 2 lymph nodes positive for cancer early June: brain MRI shows three lesions, one near brain stem late June: radiation, start chemo So far 4 rounds of chemo with carboplatin, alimpta, keytruda. PET scan just before #4 chemo showed "near" resolution. Another brain MRI in a few days. I'm 64 yrs, (soon to be 65) and smoked for a few years as a teenager, and quit when I was 18. Worked as a bench scientist, parents were heavy smokers. I have a BRCA1 mutation and so would not have been surprised to get breast cancer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Mehrensh, Ouch: a diagnostic journey becomes an enduring treatment trip! I do hope the forthcoming MRI shows "near" or better resolution for the brain mets. I assume your chemo treatment is 6 to 8 infusions and the recent PET was the mid-treatment scan. Any PET results from brain mets (assuming you had a full body PET). Welcome here. Stay the course. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kleo Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Hi Mehrensh! Welcome! Wow what a rollercoaster of a ride you've been on! I totally expected to get breast cancer too as my mom had it- double mastectomy. But nope...mine chose to show up in the lung also. Sounds as though you have responded well to treatments so far though! They aren't fun I know. Ugghh. Fingers crossed for you on your upcoming MRI. Keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Hi, Cancer is defiinitely the pits! And all the up and downs you went through! I'm glad you found us. Hang in there and let us know how it's going. Bridget O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Hi there, and welcome. All the tests and waiting around for results is definitely one of the more aggravating aspects to this whole deal. Glad to hear you've been having a good response to your treatments--looking forward to the next good report! Do keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mehrensh Posted September 10, 2018 Author Share Posted September 10, 2018 Thank you for your responses, its very comforting to be able to communicate with others with shared experiences. I just moved my brain MRI up to tomorrow P.M. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steff Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Hi Marilyn, I'm glad to hear that your lung cancer treatment is having a positive effect on the cancer! It's nice when something positive happens after the roller coaster of a year you've had! FYI, my mom received the same treatment for a recurrence of NSCLC adenocarcinoma. She originally had a right, upper lobectomy in 2016 and went through standard follow-up radiation and chemo. A year after treatment ended, a recurrence was found very near the original area that was radiated. Her original treatment plan was 8 sessions of Keytruda + Alimta + Carbo. After 3 or 4 sessions, the lung cancer mass had shrunken enough to have the stent in her esophagus removed (that's where her cancer is now). She only completed 6 sessions of the triplet and then proceeded to Keytruda only. It's been a year, things are going well and we are so thankful to have the option for immunotherapy. If you are interested in reading more about my mom's treatment journey and side effects she's had from the treatment, you can find it here: Take care, Steff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Mehrensh, Sorry to hear about the ups and downs of your journey. Let's hope you have good news following your Brain MRI and any other scans that await you. We are all here for you!! Ro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mehrensh Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Brain MRI showed shrinkage of all three brain mets (yeah!) AND did not detect any new mets (big yeah!!). Another MRI in 3 months, but am happy to say no new brain "nuking" for now. My husband and I are hoping to get out of town early next week if we don't get blown away by H Florence. Its still hot and humid here and we're aiming to go north and spend some time outdoors. Thanks again everyone for being here. Marilyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 Such wonderful news! Thanks for sharing!! Enjoy your trip and the fresh air!! Ro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Marilyn, I'm glad you include vacation as one of your treatment methods. Great, no WONDERFUL MRI news! "Get on the bus Gus, make a new plan Stan, Just get yourself free!" Stay the course. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Yay for shrinkage! Hang in there. Vacation is a good idea. Bridget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LexieCat Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 WONDERFUL news! I only wish we could nuke Florence--please stay safe down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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