Jump to content

Hello newly diagnosed and new member


Wanda

Recommended Posts

Hello

I am newly diagnosed with NSCLC. 
I have Dermatomyositis so was fortunate to have yearly CT scans which found a nodule it is very small 8mm x9mm located in my right lower lung near the fissure. 

After a biopsy I ended up with a pneumothorax/ chest tube placement but did ok with it all. 
I have stage 1a  NSCLC adenocarcinoma, asked for the biomarker testing and I have Pdl-1 EGFR.

I am scheduled for a wedge resection at the end of September.

i have to have a tracer placed because it’s small before surgery….nervous about that 

I am concerned about the recovery and pain afterwards. I have to say I do feel better after reading the posts. 
Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Wanda,

Welcome to the forum.  Sorry you need to be here, but glad you found us. There are a lot of super people on this forum willing to share their experience and knowledge with you.  You're lucky that they caught it at Stage 1a...your story sounds very much like mine with the exception that mine is squamos (I just had my 5-year scan and all remains good). 

Let me share a few important bits of information for you.  

  1. We have a section titled, "Navigating Your Diagnosis", there is a lot of helpful information there regarding diagnosis, treatment options, and even questions you should ask your doctor.  Click on the title to take a look.
  2. If you're going to have the surgery there is a blog that offers tips for pre-op, time in the hospital, and post-op.  This one is titled "Thoracic Surgery Tips and Tricks".
  3. Learning about the disease, treatments, and other information is very necessary in the case of LC (lung cancer).  Also, understand what others have gone through can help us to have hope if the going gets rough.  Twenty years ago one of our members was diagnosed with Stage 3 LC and then Stage 4.  He condensed the knowledge he gained over the 20-year period and put it into a blog; "10 Steps to Surviving Lung Cancer; From A Survivor".
  4. Do not consult with "Dr Google".  Published prognosis data is normally base on a running 5-year average and doesn't take into account new treatment impacts, the individuality of the cancer (i.e., type, mutation, stage, etc.), and the unique condition of the patient.  Your medical team can give you the best information.

Feel free to ask questions and know that you'll find a great group of survivors here to share with.

Lou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't have any advice except try to keep your spirits up.  You've been unlucky to get cancer.   But incredibly lucky to catch it so very early. 

You must have excellent health insurance.  Ldct aren't always covered for dermatomyositis even though the risk of cancer is through the roof.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome, Wanda!  Glad you've explored some posts.  Combined with Lou and Edive's I hope it continues becoming clearer you are in a very good starting point catching things so early.....  Wishing you well with surgery and recovery-Please keep us posted.  Sending positive energy your way....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Wanda and welcome!  I'm also one of the "lucky" ones who had a stage 1a NSCLC diagnosed after a CT scan for something else. That is, if there is such a thing as a "lucky" person with lung cancer. Is your surgery going to be by VATS(video assisted)? I had a lobectomy by VATS and my recovery was easier than I expected. I'm now more than 7 years out from my surgery, no further treatment, just surveillance scans. I have no evidence of disease and no symptoms other than my breathing sometimes sounds a little funny to me (is that a symptom?). Good luck to you. Ask us anything you want. There's a lot of experience and hope here.

BridgetO 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi.  I also had an incidentally discovered nodule on a CT. I had a RLL segmentectomy on June 5. I did not have a biospy prior to the surgery. The results came in a few days or so after surgery. It was MIA. No further treatment was warranted. The surgery and recovery were much easier than I anticipated. The surgeon said I would be in the hospital for 2-3 days (mostly depending on the chest tube and pain). I ended up only having to stay overnight. After the surgery day I never took anything but Tylenol and never experienced any real pain.  I followed orders and didn't lift things, etc for 8 weeks but I was up and exercising almost immediately and was back to normal fairly quickly.  The only post operative issue was a dry, nagging cough that persisted, improving bit by bit. It has pretty much resolved now. I go back for a three (ish) month follow up next week. I consider myself very lucky that it was found and removed and that the surgery was "easy"...well easier than I thought it would be.  I was scared to death prior to. This forum provided a lot of great information and support. I wish you the very best of luck with your surgery.

Aimee

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Wanda! Welcome to this pretty great crew of folks. There are many different kinds of EGFR mutations, and the specific mutations you have will guide your treatment path. I can't say more about surgery except I am so glad the docs are responding aggressively. Good luck with it!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.