Having difficulty waiting

[JeanE41]

I had 2/3 of my left lung removed in June 2015 for adenocarcinoma. 3 months prior to that I had a lumpectomy of the right breast for invasive ductal carcinoma. The recovery was long and difficult. I now have a small growth in what's left of my left lung. It's too small and too close to the aorta to biopsy. My oncologist,who I trust, feels a wait and see approach is appropriate. Though I trust his expertise, I would like to know what is growing (very slowly) inside me. The wait is difficult. See him in 4 months.

[FtB_Travis]

JeanE41 :

The wait and silence can be so suspenseful. I recommend that you keep communication open with your Dr on these concerns. Ask questions; keep informed. I feel that will help soothe some of the worries about the unknown.

-Travis

[JeanE41 in reply to FtB_Travis]

The doctor and I had a good meeting of the minds during my last visit. I completely understand why he is taking this course of action. I just like to know what I'm dealing with. Patience is not my middle name. I will adapt.

[scifiknitter Blogger]

JeanE41,

Waiting and watching is indeed hard on patients. Doctors, on the other hand, are happy when they are able to proceed with a patient's care through watching and waiting, because it postpones invasive treatments and procedures that all come with costs to the patients. If you can figure out how to do so, maybe you can flip your feelings upside down and learn to celebrate that right now you are free to keep living your life for another 4 months without another surgical recovery (I bet that was no picnic!), nasty infusions, needles, etc. If you do need an intervention eventually, that day will come soon enough.

Anita

[JeanE41 in reply to scifiknitter]

Thank you for your encouragement. I have decided to try a dietary approach while waiting and reduce carbohydrates, especially sugar. Can't hurt and might help.

[scifiknitter Blogger in reply to JeanE41]

Great idea - keep yourself busy with the good stuff that you can do.

[FtB_Peggy]

Jean,

Waiting is horrible, I am sorry. But I am really glad to hear that you have a good relationship with your doctor - so important! Thank you so much for sharing with us. And as Anita said, using this time to celebrate is a great place to be...still, I am not the most patient person either. Bless your heart, and carry on! Great to have you with us!

[JeanE41 in reply to FtB_Peggy]

Thank you.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Sending prayers for strength and patience. The wait is not easy. But let me add that 85-90% of those lung nodules clear up on their own. As tough as not knowing is you 'get it', it is what is is and you'll deal with it when you need to.

[JeanE41 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you.

[anrean]

Waiting is the most difficult part. I'm on my 5th primary cancer, this time in both lungs, and can tell you from experience that although waiting is difficult, it is also a sometimes necessary part of the process. It doesn't mean that you aren't getting the best care, it just means at this time waiting IS the best care.

[JeanE41 in reply to anrean]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you are a strong person. I appreciate your comments and completely agree. It's so much easier to be taking some sort of action,.

[Ruthie1950]

It sounds like you're a strong person. Waiting to see the outcome is never easy for anyone. Hang in there and trust the Lord to carry your burdens. He is able to handle anything life throws your way.

God bless you and may you find peace.

[JeanE41 in reply to Ruthie1950]

Thank you. Actually, you sound like the strong one.

[JeanE41]

I truly appreciate all the support and good advice. Being a person of action I have decided to change my diet for the better reducing carbohydrates, especially sugar. Since cancer cells love sugar this approach can't hurt and might be helpful. It would be nice to see the lesion shrink on the next scan.

[kri312]

I too had DCIS on the left which then they found the adenocarcinoma stage 1 one the r. had R LL lobectomy and R UL wed 4/30/18. I read so many women with both of these - I know many say they have been different primary cancers but the numbers seem overwhelming. Have you had any issues with either since??

[JeanE41 in reply to kri312]

I am still in a holding pattern for the tumors in my lungs. They are too small and dangerously positioned to biopsy. Based on the way the tumors are behaving, my oncologist is now convinced that these are metastasis from the breast cancer. In the last scan 4 months ago they were only a little over a centimeter. The oncologist feels that the anastrazole I take is keeping the cancer controlled. It makes sense since during the breast surgery the surgeon only got a very small clear margin, then radiation was cancelled to concentrate on the lung cancer. In the two years since the vigil began, the tumors have grown extremely slowly and I've learned to relax with it, though it's always in the back of my mind.

There are a number of us here on this site who have had both cancers. How common it is I do not know. All we can do is watch for changes and report them to our doctors and be as informed as possible before making any decisions about our care. I'm fortunate to have very knowledgeable and caring doctors who LISTEN.

I hope your recovery has gone well and you never hear from those cancer cells again.

Jean

[kri312 in reply to JeanE41]

I hope so too...some days better than others - trying to learn to manage the anxiety that comes with the bad ones! That's the hardest part- physically, I feel fine and am back to the activities I did before. One would never know other than the battle wounds from the surgeries! Stay well too

[Pessa]

I, too, had breast cancer and lung cancer. Diagnosed with stage 1 CA of breast, had chemo and bilateral mastectomy 2010. 3 yrs later diagnosed with stage 1 NSCLCA initially. Had RUL lobe to my, then 2 yrs later had RML lobe to my for recurrence, now stage 4. On Tagrisso for 10 months. And doing well. On anastrazole for breast cancer, year 8. A struggle to be dealing with both (also had melanoma 25 years ago, cured??).

Wishing you the best.

Pessa