Hello 👋 sad and happy to be here

[elki]

Hello!

I'm Ellen, I'm 40 years old and I was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the right lung just a week ago.

It was discovered when I went to hospital with severe upper right abdominal pain. It's still not clear what caused it, and it never came back, but it put me on the road to my diagnosis. I'm free of symptoms at the moment, so it's very surreal.

Waiting for molecular testing to be done so I can get a treatment plan. I have young children and I'm very scared.

[LouT]

Hi Ellen,

Sorry you need to be here, but glad you found us.  You're in a good place we have people with all stripes of LC (lung cancer) and who were diagnosed at all stages and many are still surviving and living their lives.  First I'd like to share some items for you to begin to your important education as well as tips on how to survive with LC.

1. The author of this article was diagnosed 19 years ago at Stage 3 and then it went to Stage 4 and he lives today and is one of our senior members.  Please read "10 Tips to Surviving Lung Cancer; From a Survivor"
2. Next, from our "Lung Cancer 101" section is something I wish I knew when I was going through my early part of the journey "What to Ask Your Doctor".  So often, in the beginning, we are emotional we don't yet know enough to ask the questions that should be asked.  This will help you out there.
3. Finally, "Lung Cancer 101" this covers everything from testing, diagnosis, to treatments of all kinds and covers a number of situations that can arise.

I realize I'm giving you a lot of information to look at, but in the case of LC "information is truly power" and we need all we can get.  The last thing I'll leave you with is not to consult with "Dr Google" regarding prognosis and outcomes.  Much of the data you'll find is averaged over a number of years and does not reflect all the latest treatments nor does it consider the individuality of your particular case of LC.

Stay strong, know that you are not alone and ask any questions you have.  You'll find that you've come to a wonderful community of people.

Lou

[RJN]

Hi Ellen,

Welcome from a fellow Brit with a similar diagnosis. Sorry you are having to come here, but hoping you will find it as helpful as I have. I was diagnosed at 49 two years ago. There are some very knowledgeable people on here who can help you navigate the coming months.

Keep us posted on what happens next, Rikke

[Karen_L]

Hi Ellen,

Waiting for the biomarker results can be excruciating. The hardest thing to do right now is keep your mind exactly where your body is, in the current moment. The minute I catch myself in "What if__________" mode, I am headed off the rails. Now. Today. You can do this. Please keep us posted.

 

Karen

[elki]

Thanks so much everyone. I'm doing okay, but in a way, I knew it was coming. Everyone around me was in denial throughout the diagnosis process, but not me. My loved ones are having a lot of problems.

I'll keep you posted 😊

[LilyMir]

Breaks my heart that younger people are increasingly getting this wretched disease! Hand in there, hopefully they caught it before too much damage occurred. It took around 6 weeks for me to get complete biopsy report and the waiting was so very hard. Your loved ones must be so worried but try to calm them with the knowledge that lung cancer treatments have come a long way, especially over the last 5 years. You won't find this info reflected when you web search, which I am sure your family is doing.  All online stats and prognosis info is no longer valid. Stay positive and good luck!

[RJN]

Ah yes - Lily is so right.  Tell family to ignore Dr Google. I banned my mum from looking and she said that it helped her a lot. Even if she saw terrible things, she knew that this was seriously outdated!