Follow up post lobectamy

[Lovey1000]

I ended up having double lobectamy right upper and middle, removed along with 4 nodes on the trachea that came back positive, everything is out and I'm cancer free, went to see my oncologist who put me on 3 more rounds of p3remix and cisplatain then when that's done, 5 weeks of radiation to the middle of chest where the nodes used to be, it's a preventative to make sure I'm all cleaned up and no reoccurrence.......I think I'm good since chemo just makes me tired. Radiation added to the mix after chemo scares me...should I be?

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

There’s a kind of interaction between the chemo and radiation. The best easy to describe it (not the most accurate though) is that the chemo mops up stray cells and softens others in the tumor bed so that they respond better to the radiation.

Ask your dr for an Rx for magic mouthwash. It will help numb the throat so you can swallow, aloe juice will help soothe it too. Eat a tablespoon of honey after each radiation treatment, it’s high in anti oxidants and has been used to heal burns for millennia. It’s best to use processed honey as raw honey can contain botulins.

Eat soft foods avoid hot peppery spices. Some suggestions: scrambled eggs, oatmeal, cream of wheat, buttered rice or noodles, puddings, Ensure or Boost, cream soups, applesauce,smoothies, milkshakes, finely diced meats and ice cream.

With regard to the cisplatin, use plasticware to reduce the metallic taste. If you develop a steady ringing in your ears or numbness in your hands and feet let the dr know as that indicates neuropathy and cisplatin can be replaced with carboplatin. I never went bald on Cisplatin, my hair thinned some though. I did need to have transfusions when my blood values dropped.

Was p3remix autocorrect for pemetrexed?

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Yes pemetrexed

[Lovey1000 in reply to Lovey1000]

You are a genius... did u go thru all this?? Why is my dr saying I’m cured and cancer free but we need to dio this last treatment ??

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Lovey1000]

I’m a 7 year stage 4 survivor who has educated her self as much as possible. 2-3 times a year I can be found at a patient education seminar. I had chemo and radiation.

You ask why chemo and radiation after the surgery. They can take all the cancer they see but still miss a single cell. That’s all that needs to be left in order for you to have a reoccurrence or progression. Technically, you are NED (no evidence of disease), you must go 5 years without progression before you are considered cured 100%.

Adjuvant chemo and radiation (treatment post surgery) are especially important if you have an aggressive or high grade cancer cell. It clears the tumor bed and mops up any stray cells that may be floating around in your blood or lymph system.

Congrats on having that caught early. Your chances to lead a normal life go up exponentially with that. I’ve met at least one 32 year survivor of stage 1 lung cancer.

One goal of lung cancer advocates everywhere is to find tests that increase early diagnosis. Every diagnosis like yours is a win.

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

You have no clue how much that meant to me.... I have no margins only the 4 nodes by my trachea were positive but my surgeon got all of them.... thanks so much, I think I'm going to bingo tonight, tired of this damn depressing thought I'm going to die soon, I start chemo 3 rounds next week then radiation after. Ill be in touch with you and let me know when you are ever in Northern California

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Lovey1000]

Hey! Win big at bingo! You haven’t gone through this surgery and all that testing to sit in front of a tv waiting to die did you? You did it so you can go out and live and that’s what you need to do. Soon enough chemo or radiation will have you feeling fatigued so get out there now!

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Thanks love

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

What does mean ???

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Comments: final pathologic stage (y)pT2a,N2...part L; There is submucosal lymphatic invasion by Timor present 0.3 cm from the bronchial margin.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Lovey1000]

This means stage 2a

[Lovey1000 in reply to Lovey1000]

But my dr wrote 3a

[Lovey1000 in reply to Lovey1000]

So confused

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Also report says There are both enteric type and clear cell features in this adenocarcinoma. On immunohistochemical staining CK7 TYG-1 and Napsin are positive as well as villain, CL20 CDC2andCD10 are negative. Although true enteric type adenocarcinoma can be diagnosed strictly on morphology , we collectively feel this tumor is most correctly classified as invasive adenocarcinoma, with enteric and clear cell features. This case was reviewed or parts there of in intradepartmental consultation

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Lovey1000]

This is beyond my knowledge and I don’t want to misinform. It looks like he presented your case to the Tumor Board to get a clear picture. Do call his nurse and ask about ant Eric and clear cell.

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Yup it did go to tumor board and I found out Eric and clear cell is the most common nsclc

[Lovey1000]

Do I have some rare cancer clear cell features

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to Lovey1000]

Enteric and clear cell are new to me so I’m going to try to do some research

[Lovey1000 in reply to Denzie]

Thanks greatly appreciated

[frisk]

Glad that you have received good news! Hope and pray for continued success.

[Ruthie1950]

You’re blest the cancer was found and treated early. I pray you do well with the treatments. I had chemo and radiation and I feel the chemo was much harder on my body than the radiation. From what I’ve read on here, everybody’s different. All you can do is take it a day at a time and pray at the end that it was all worth it.

May God bless you through this.

[Lovey1000 in reply to Ruthie1950]

Thanks so much❤️

[Feelingblessed2013]

I had squamous cell lung cancer stage 2. My upper left lobe was removed, all nodes tested came back negative.

I tried to have chemo just to "mop up" any little cancer cells that may be floating around. My body didn't handle it well and I was unable to complete the treatments. My oncologist said it was most likely because my body had already been through so much. In 8 months time I had 3 abdominal surgeries (unrelated to the cancer), and then the lung surgery.

Please let us know how you are doing

[JRuthI1946]

Lovey1000, as I understand, the treatment that you have described seems to be the standard today. Sounds like you are in hood hands. Good luck with everything