Lung cancer concern

[tracyball1]

Please help following a chest infection that wouldn't clear I've had s CT scan the area has grown its 4cm biopsy will be in the following days. I'm terrified I can't eat, sleep I'm convinced its cancer and I won't survive. I already have copd. Im 48 I'm just in dispair. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Jenniferroseolson]

Tracy, I am so sorry you are so anxious. The world is so filled with actual truths to cause anxiety that I encourage you to try not to jump to the worst case scenario and hold onto hope. Even IF the biopsy shows the 4cm area is malignant, you potentially have an early identification. And IF the malignancy is lung cancer, lung cancer is not an automatic death sentence. There are many people in this forum who have lived with Stage IV metastatic lung cancer for years…7, 10, 15 and more. Research advances in the past seven years since my Stage IV diagnosis are impressive, and my standard of care is really “old medicine” now. Take it one step at a time. IF the biopsy shows malignancy, you will still need a PETscan to check for metabolic activity in the rest of your body and then comprehensive biomarker testing to find the very best treatment options. Best wishes.

[etpd2226]

Hi Tracy

I have been living with stage IV lung cancer for near three years. Yes, it can be heart wrenching and frightening. However, treatments today can be very effective and we can live years with stage IV. Focus on what you can do to improve your health and lifestyle. Obsessing about what ifs stresses our bodies more. In my prayers for a great outcome.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Your anxiety is a natural response to what has been observed. Please know that I am more than 12 years in with stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma. When I was diagnosed in 2010 my doctor told me I might live 10-15 months. ( I guess they forgot to start the clock on that.) My primary tumor was 11cm x9cm x13cm

In the last 12 years there have been many advances in treatment and more are in studies all the time. In the last 5 years alone me there have been 40+ new or novel treatments approaches.

If the biopsy does establish a cancer there will still be other tests to be done to get a complete diagnosis. Including PET scan, MRI and biomarker testing of your tumor to learn if there is a treatment that will have a targeted therapy.

Please keep in touch and let us know what you learn

[tracyball1 in reply to Denzie]

Hi thanks for your reply what are biomarker tests xx

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

Biomarker tests look at your tumor to learn why the cell mutated and continued to grow. It tells them where in the DNA it broke down. Some of the biomarkers (mutations) have drugs that target it. Some patients are able to take a pill to treat their cancer rather than chemotherapy. I hope this helps.

[tracyball1 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you so much it does xx

[Linnie1430]

Good morning, Tracy, my name is Linnie and I am a stage 3 lung cancer survivor that was diagnosed in August of 2018, so I have now been in remission for almost 4 years. When I first found out that I had cancer it was very scary because I thought that I was going to die, so I began depressed and sad. I had a lot of prayer warriors, family members, Co-Workers, and Church family and friends that prayed with me and supported me during my journey. I had chemo, radiation, and immunotherapy. Every day I got closer and closer to God and began to quote scriptures to myself like I will live and not die, I am more then a conqueror through Jesus Christ who gives me strength, and no weapons that are formed against me shall prosper. This not only gave me encouragement to keep going, but within 6 months I was back at work after I finished Chemo and Radiation treatments. I did immunotherapy for 1 year. Today I don't take life for granted, but I enjoy my life and spend a lot of time with my grandbabies that God blessed me with to the fullest. I have started traveling more to see sights that I want to see. People are always asking me if I am afraid of traveling by myself, but I say no because if I overcame cancer which was really scary for me then I don't have to be afraid of anything or anyone.

[tracyball1 in reply to Linnie1430]

Thank you so much for giving me hope xx

[Linnie1430 in reply to tracyball1]

You are very welcome!😊

[Greendeco13 in reply to Linnie1430]

thank you for your uplifting and gracious story.

[JanetteR57]

How are you feeling now? As others have said, our imaginations can run riot when waiting results or more investigations? I was 52 when I went to A&E with strange symptoms for me and a 'lesion' was found on my left lung, later described as a 'large mass' in the top of my lung after CT and PET scans after initial misdiagnosis and admission as 'uncontrolled asthma'. It was surgically removed with half my left lung and sent away for biomarker testing for the only marker at the time for which targeted treatments existed and I didn't have that biomarker (EGFR). A month later I was told it had been a 7cm adenocarcinoma and to get on with my life. That was in January 2011.

I've been involved in lung cancer research since the end of 2013 and the lung cancer landscape is beyond recognition in every way - earlier detection, screening, more knowledge about so many different types, different treatments, treatments that existed before having changed, surgery now mostly keyhole rather than the open surgery I had, radiotherapy in so many modes and intentions including ablation (cyber knife), immunotherapy and targeted agents. Many patients end up now with a combination of treatment types so even if it is cancer, it's not the doom scenario our imaginations think of first.

I've been privileged to have met patients, advocates in UK and Europe - many of whom were years out from their diagnosis at different stages (many stage iv) and many before today's more effective treatments. I never imagined I'd get to 12 years out.... so don't give up - new treatments being introduced all the time and research learning more about so many aspects of lung health. good luck.

[tracyball1 in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi thank you for your reply, I have my biopsy on Tuesday its been a bit of a wait, I'm very nervous, I just keep thinking the worst, I think I just want go know now one way or the other. Xx

[tracyball1 in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi Janette I went for my biopsy on Tuesday and unfortunately I've got to have it again it was making me cough so they are going to put me to sleep. The consultant said to me from my pet scan results in November the area didn't light up to indicate cancer but the area has grown so I'm so confused xx

[JanetteR57]

Oh that's too bad about having to have it redone - but important. Not all tumours light up on PET which is why so many tests are done to determine what things might be.... hang on in there --- hopefully won't be too long until it's rebooked then you'll be given the results by the consultant. Several who've responded so far are living with advanced cancer but at 4cm if contained within the lung, this may well be treatable with curative intent if it hasn't spread elsewhere if it does turn out to be malignant. Survival rates for those detected earlier are higher. However I have read of people having tumours in their lungs that were non malignant so try not to get ahead of yourself just yet.... good luck.