Lin wilki Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 So another scan after finishing 4 rounds of Carboplatin and Alimta. Now just Alimta for maintenance. All is stable except one tumor that keeps getting tiny bit bigger. Makes me nervous. Onc, not so much. Another scan in 6 weeks then reassess Doc wants me to calm down but just the uncertainty of this damn disease is hard to ignore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rower Michelle Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Hi Lin, That’s actually good news, hard to imagine in this strange new world. If the chemo is affective in stabilizing the “spots” then there’s other options for the primary tumor such as radiation down the road. Hang in there, you’re doing better than you feel right now. Michelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted March 4, 2020 Author Share Posted March 4, 2020 59 minutes ago, Rower Michelle said: Hi Lin, That’s actually good news, hard to imagine in this strange new world. If the chemo is affective in stabilizing the “spots” then there’s other options for the primary tumor such as radiation down the road. Hang in there, you’re doing better than you feel right now. Michelle Thanks. I*m just not doing well with the uncertainty. I already had SBRT in both lungs, and it was effective. But since I progressed, this is a new mass. Doc did mention radiation, but is hesitant since I have fibrosis from the first round. Other options - maybe another biopsy? Wait and see at next scan in 6 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruboak Posted March 4, 2020 Share Posted March 4, 2020 Im very new to this site so can’t comment about the treatment. I very much understand the anxiety though. I want so much to just control the whole process. What a teacher this illness can be. I’m hoping that as time moves on I can be more relaxed. Anybody have any tricks about how to “ get on” . I hate how it is consuming my thoughts, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted March 5, 2020 Author Share Posted March 5, 2020 I sure can’t help you there! My doctor can’t understand why I get upset. Stable is good. But one tumor getting bigger each scan. She doesn’t have to live with this shi_! So I always worry! I guess I expected a smooth road. Shrinkage and feeling better 9 months into treatment and not smooth sailing Everybodys cancer is different. She has other options I probably need to calm down and take her lead. Easier said than done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 hi Lin and Scruboak, Anxiety is such a part of what we all go through regardless of what our diagnosis is. I was diagnosed in March of 2019 and had to wait until May 2019 before I had my lobectomy. I can't tell you how each step along the way I would "catstrophize" about what was going to happen and how there was no hope for me, but my Lungevity Family helped me get through. I learned to take each day on its own, stay away from Dr. Google and ask any and all questions that came into my mind. I also found reading others' stories here really helped ground me and gave me hope because there was a full range of people with diagnosis from 1a to IV and yet many of them were doing well and had survived varied forms of treatment. My advice therefore is simple: 1. Stay focused on today...looking into the future can only cause anxiety, especially because it has yet to be written. 2. Eat healthy and do what you need to relax; exercise, yoga, whatever floats your boat. 3. Make sure you are actively involved in your treatment plan, you are part of the team and your doctors should be able to answer any questions you have regarding treatment protocol. 4. Read some of the "Introduce Yourself" posts as as as "Member Updates" you'll learn a lot about what folks have gone through and how we have some great stories of survival here. Good luck to both of you. We're glad you found us. Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 I sure can’t help you there! My doctor can’t understand why I get upset. Stable is good. But one tumor getting bigger each scan. She doesn’t have to live with this shi_! So I always worry! I guess I expected a smooth road. Shrinkage and feeling better 9 months into treatment and not smooth sailing Everybodys cancer is different. She has other options I probably need to calm down and take her lead. Easier said than done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Lou. Thanks for the uplifting words. I try to live a day at a time but I feel so crappy these days. Nerve pain from fractured rib. Being in constant pain is draining! Started Gabapentin and hoping it helps the pain If I can get the pain behind me I can go back to giving each day its fullest attention. I have 2 grandsons that I see at least once a week and I should be fully “there “. I am spending some time in the poor me place. I’ve got to step out of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Lin wilki, I fully understand. BTW, after my surgery I started feeling a lot of nerve pain and Gabapentin was a lifesaver. I hope it will work for you as well. And...we all go through our "pity parties", but you can get past it. Having the pain reduced will help and don't hesitate to do what it takes to reduce pain, you'll be much more clearheaded afterward. You can do this, it is not easy, but it is worth it. And soon you'll be having a ball again with your grandsons. Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lin wilki Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFK Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Hey Lin, At least you didn't ask your oncologist for a neurology consult to have a lobotomy.....I did and it was in jest, but I truly was up to my eyeballs in WTF moments. Enough of them and any sane person with warm red blood running thru their veins wants to tap out. ENOUGH ALREADY of the uncertainty, of the annoying pains, infusions, of the labs and scans and medical interventions. I totally get it. But I also know, somewhere in the deep recesses of my being, that in time, a wave of hope and joy enters my life and I reboot. The ups and downs we can expect as part of this C hand we've been dealt. Hang tight, enjoy those grandbabies and do your best, that's all we can ask of ourselves. Take Care, DFK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruboak Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 Once again, I just thank you all for being here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM Posted March 8, 2020 Share Posted March 8, 2020 I've been doing pretty good with the anxiety for the last couple of weeks, but will admit that I am feeling some today. Tomorrow I will start Chemo. Guessing I wont sleep much tonight But, I am sticking with the one day at a time routine. Has worked well so far. Peace Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 TJM, When you can please let us know how your treatment went. Fingers and toes are crossed for you. Lou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJM Posted March 10, 2020 Share Posted March 10, 2020 Thanks Lou. First day went well. Came home and fell asleep pretty quick. Wife told me I was sleeping so well she called a friend of ours battling Breast cancer to make sure it wasn't an issue! I'll post an update today...but so far so good. Appreciate your thinking of me Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.