Secondary Cancer

[Pepsicoley]

Hi

I'm new on this site and wondered whether anyone could advise me about secondary cancers.

I was diagnosed with lung cancer just over four years ago. My last check up was at the beginning of this month (July) and it seems that all is well.

I have been led to understand that after lung cancer a brain cancer is likely as a secondary cancer. Does anyone know if this is correct.

Annec

[Billculbard]

Hi there,

I don't know if this can happen or not, but it certainly doesn't happen all the time. I had NSCLC in 2000, which was inoperable and treated with chemo/radiotherapy, and have had no sign of secondary's. Get the correct answers and advice from your CNS or from the staff here at Roy Castle, or Macmillan.

Best wishes, Bill

[Pepsicoley in reply to Billculbard]

Hello Bill

Thank you for your kind message and for the good advice.

Many thanks

Annec - xxx

[Joewarren]

Hi Pepsiecoley

In all cancer diagnosis there is the risk that secondary's may develop in other organs the main culprits being liver kidney brain etc, but the point is that it is not a certainty and some people may never develop secondary cancer at all. It is very good news that you have been stable for 4 years your treatment is obviously doing the job. Try not to worry about secondary's and what they might be because after all if you take it to the extreme, you could start worrying that your treatment may be so successful and you live so long that you will have to start worrying about developing senile dementia. We can only deal with the problem that faces us now an to consider or worry about future problems would drive us insane. Like yourself I have lung cancer an so far my treatment has held me stable for a year. The truth is nobody knows what our future holds we must just enjoy what health we have today. Hope this helps

Joe

[Pepsicoley in reply to Joewarren]

Joe

Thank you for your message.

I have to say that I am a very optimistic person. When I was diagnosed with the cancer in 2009, I did not think that it was the end of my life and I'm not really worrying about secondary cancers. If I develop a secondary cancer then I'll think about it then.

I'm pleased to hear that your treatment is working well. My treatment was surgery (two lots; one in 2009 and the other in 2011). No chemo or any other treatment. In fact, I never actually spoke to anyone about the cancer. I have no idea what type of lung cancer it was - I sometimes think that I should have been referred to an oncologist.

I hope that you go from strength to strength.

Love from

Annec

xxxxx

[Hidden]

Hi Annec, Bill and Joe are right, you can get further advice about secondary cancers but really is it worth it? You say that you have had surgery twice, I also had surgery to remove my tumour on the right lung in September 2011 then followed up with 4 rounds of chemo for back up. I was always told that surgery was the best result regarding the lung cancer so you should be quietly optimistic. I also did not listen to all that I was told at the time of diagnosis but I asked the respiratory consultant that I now see and he wrote out a full report to my GP and also sent me a copy. I have found this useful when applying for Travel Insurance. So I am sure your consultant or GP will oblige.

Regards Rabbie

[Pepsicoley in reply to Hidden]

Hello Rabbie

Thank you for your message.

My first op at the end of April 2009 involved the removal of the top lobe of my right lung and it was confirmed that the tissue removed was cancerous.

My second op in September 2011 was to remove some wedge sections which turned out not to be sinister at all.

My question was prompted as a result of having occasional stabbing pains on the right-hand side of my head over the past few days. Perhaps the pains were the result of the 'close' weather lately.

Thank you again for your message.

Love from

Annec

[LarryW]

Hi Pepsiecoley

I had middle lobe removed in Nov 2004 no Chemo or Radiation because of small size..

In 2007 they found cancer on a lymph node thought not to be related to 1st. instance because of time that had past.

I had 5 treatments of Chemo along with 37 days of Radiation.

Last october CT showed i was NED.

[Pepsicoley in reply to LarryW]

What's NED?

Annec

[LarryW in reply to Pepsicoley]

"NED" stands for "no evidence of disease" and is probably the term most often used to describe a patient's status after treatment.

[Pepsicoley in reply to LarryW]

Thank you Larry.

NED would seem to be my status now. I have already received my appointment for my check up next July (2014) and if that shows NED then I can say that I do not have cancer.

Thank you for your messages.

Annec

xxxxx