Recently diagnosed with lung cancer - Lung Cancer Support

Lung Cancer Support

3,990 members2,163 posts

Recently diagnosed with lung cancer

Wardth profile image
14 Replies

Was diagnosed Jan 9th 2016 with stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma in lower right lobe 1.6 cm nodule . I have had 5 radiation sbrt treatments and waiting till July for blood work and ct scan with contrast to see where I am at. I was very lucky my dr sent me for a ct scan because I had a bad cough and chest congestion . I live in mi and the cold weather is hard on me especially with the radiation treatments. I was not a canadiate for surgery due to copd . So this treatment is my best hope

Written by
Wardth profile image
Wardth
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
14 Replies
DoggyFoster profile image
DoggyFoster

I was diagnosed December, 2013, with NSCLC, stage 1. After losing confidence in the doctors I was seeing here in MS, I decided to go to MD Anderson in Houston for a second opinion. They told me I was not a candidate for surgery due to poor lung function and if I had the surgery as was the plan in MS, I would eventually be in a wheel chair waiting for my organs to fail. At MDA, I was put in a clinical trial of STARS, stereotactic ablative radiation therapy, which I think is the same or similar as your treatment. I had 54 GY over three days, the same dose as would be given over 6 to 8 weeks. While I was thankful I was able to finish treatment in that short period of time since I was traveling back and forth, I couldn't find much information relating to side effects from this treatment. On a positive note my doctor said I was in remission at my last appointment October, 2015. 

Wardth profile image
Wardth in reply to DoggyFoster

I did good until the last treatment, I don't have a lot of energy ,but the information I have read is that's a side effect .My breathing isn't as good as before but I am told it will improve. My fev1 is 33% no oxygen yet . So all I can do is pray the sbrt works. Nobody mentioned anything about chemotherapy . This whole thing has turned my world upside down, but that is life. I am taking one day at a time and all I can do is wait and see in July what the ct says.

merilee profile image
merilee in reply to Wardth

I feel the same way since diagnosis 6/2015. I has wedge resection and chemo after, then twoscans later and 3 months later had local reoccurance in mid chest lymph nodes, just finished. Daily radiation 30 rounds and low dose chemo once a wk for 6 wks..mau have 2 additional chemo treatments. Then wait for another CT and in app 3 months another pet scan.. But yes it seems my world ended as I knew it before..everything now seems to evolve around cancer and it's scary and I hate this..I do try to stay positive and happy that mine was found fairly early stage 2.  I hope all works as it is supposed too.   Good luck to you all... M M

Wardth profile image
Wardth in reply to merilee

Mine was stage 1 according to the pet scan my lymph nodes were clear and it hadn't  spread, but up until the biopsy I was convinced it wasn't cancer , so after the diagnosis it really hit me hard. When I went to the cancer center for treatment and saw all the people there I knew I was not an isolated case. I can't say I felt better but I knew I was not the only one with cancer. Try to stay as positive as you can , eat as healthy as possible and hope for the best outcome , that's what I am trying to do. My Dr said there is a possibility it may come back. If it does I will cross that bridge then. Good luck and give the fight all you have. T

Jhecho profile image
Jhecho

How do u cope with COPD?

Wardth profile image
Wardth

I have learned to slow down, and pace myself .if I want to do some chores like mowing the lawn I have to take my time. I have found I don't have any reserve so if I do things like I have always done at a faster pace. It takes me awhile to recover . Even walking I walk a lot slower than I did before. Hope this helps.

bellaella profile image
bellaella

Why did you not have a lobotomy?  I had stage 1b small cell lung cancer. They did a lobotomy and 4 rounds chemo. That was 10 years ago and I am fine.

Wardth profile image
Wardth

I had surgery on my left lung in 2007 ,left lower lobe removed, not cancer related, it really lowered my breathing capacity, so with cancer in right lower lobe , I was not a canadiate for surgery. Surgery is the best option for cure if it is found early, which mine was, the onocaligest said I was not a canadiate due to my lung function . That is why I opted for the SBRT , he feels that was my best option under the circumstances .I am very  lucky to live in MI . Where in a 100 mi radius I have three very good cancer centers. At this time all I can do is wait and pray the sbrt worked. I would have opted for surgery if the circumstances had been different . 

Mary43 profile image
Mary43

How are you doing ?? Have not been on here for awhile.

Wardth profile image
Wardth in reply to Mary43

So far so good. Had blood work and ct scan in July , the dr said everything looks good . I have to have the same tests done in Jan 2017 , I am hoping for good outcome then to. I feel ok , but you never know ,I didn't have any symptoms when they found this. So just trying to stay positive. How are you doing?

Mary43 profile image
Mary43 in reply to Wardth

So far so good with me too. It has been a year now since Surgery. I get blood and 24 hr urine every 3 months plus Cat Scan and MRI . I never had symptoms either, I requested an exray just because!! It is so hard to think positive but I kept working and that has helped. Mary

Wardth profile image
Wardth in reply to Mary43

Sometimes I wish I wasn't retired, I had a miniature schnauzer for 13/5 years and lost him October 14 this year. It really took its toll on me, he had liver cancer and it had spread, he lasted 3 weeks and 1 day after diagnosis . My wife works , so now it is just me, he was a lot of company. I try to be positive that is about all I can do , and pray. I am glad that you are doing ok. Sometimes I wish I hadn't had the ct scan and let nature take its course, now after I had the sbrt ,it's all I think about. Has it came back or popped up somewhere else, my sons say not to worry about it, that is impossible for me. Forgive me for venting I am just having a rough day. It's like walking around with an inflatable balloon , just waiting for it to bust. Take care wardth.

Mary43 profile image
Mary43 in reply to Wardth

I am so sorry about your little buddy !! We have a little ShihTzu and we would be lost without him. My Family, the same. They say, you will be fine. They just want to make me feel better , I am sure. Every pain I get I worry that it has returned and that I may have made a bad decision to refuse Chemo when I did. It just started pouring rain here !! Take care and we have to think positive... It was good to hear from you. Mary😊

Wardth profile image
Wardth in reply to Mary43

Thank you , all we can do is just hang in there . I plan for the worst and hope for the best. Wardth.

You may also like...

Stage IV Lung Cancer Diagnosed/ Life Expectancy

months to 1 year of life left with treatment when he was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer. Our...

How long is the life expectancy of a diagnosed lung cancer patient with a 2.5 cm lump in her lung?

know how long her life expectancy is and which stage she’s in since she has to make another...

Lung cancer stage 4 and treatment

anxiety/depression but I also have stage 4 non small cell lung cancer. I just had my 2nd treatment...

Liver cancer and now suspected lung cancer

Now I have been told that my mri scan and ct scans have shown nodules on my lungs and the doctor...

Adenocarcinoma lung cancer

months unless she has treatment. Anyone else been in a similar position & had treatment? Mums 79 &...