If you have an adenocarcinoma, I would be interested to know if you also have a family history of cancer and your age?

[Bow-19]

I' m trying to put together some information for a meeting with the consultant who missed my tumour. Two of the reasons being my age 48 when I saw him and a family history of skin cancer but no other cancers. Thanks.

[hedgehoggy]

Hi Bow-19 I was diagnosed at 54 with lung cancer. My father had lung cancer probably through asbestos/smoking and my sister had a brain tumour and was operated on in the US and is now more active than me at 75 years old. I am not sure this will help you but I wish you luck. There is more to my story but it would take too long.

Best wishes

[therare1]

I was just 50 when diagnosed with Non-small cell adenocarcinoma of the lung. I had no symptoms like a cough or such but was just not feeling right in the chest area - intermittent background pain, in a niggling way. A chest x ray showed it up. My aunts & cousins have had breast cancer so I would have been monitored for that since my early 40s at my own request. Mum had died the year before at age 85 from oesophageal cancer. I was caught early & had 1 lobe removed. No further treatment needed.

[Bow-19 in reply to therare1]

It's good to hear a positive story. I am very glad that you were caught early and needed no further treatment . It's great that there are good doctors out there doing their job properly. Since my diagnosis I cannot fault the care that I have received which has been truly excellent.

I wish that I had had the excellent care that I am getting now by the medical team who misdiagnosed me initially with a series of errors. I don't want what has happened to me to happen to others so I am now on a mission to prevent this happening. I am working through the complaint process at my local hospital to try to ensure that the doctors involved improve their practice and that they are aware of the impact on my life. I am also trying to tell people my story to educate them re lung cancer.

[elja]

I had an adenocarcinoma in the left upper lobe. This was diagnosed in May 2011 following removal of the left lower lobe due to a squamous cell cancer. So I had a pneumonectomy (in 2 stages!). I was a heavy smoker until 2004. My father smoked until his death from stroke, aged 70. He had no cancer at any time. My mother smoked very rarely and died at 84, without cancer. My half-sister (same father) still smokes at 82 and has health problems - but no cancer.

[elja in reply to elja]

I forgot to say: I was 66 when diagnosed. Sorry to hear that you've been diagnosed at such a young age for lung cancer.

[TrishLamb]

My husband diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in January T3N1M0 my hubby is 46 years old. My husband lost his brother 4 years ago, to liver cancer. There is no other known history in his family, my hubby is one of 11 and his father is one of 9.

[Bow-19]

Thanks to everyone for their replies.

[LorraineD Partner Roy Castle]

Hello Bow

I hope this background information from everyone is of interest, shows there is a lot we still don't know about adenocarcinoma and genetics.

if you would be interested in sharing more of your story with us, we can feature this on the website, through presentations we make to improve education of professionals, or in media stories if that is something you are comfortable doing.

You can find more information on the "share your story" section of our website, wroycastle.org

or email me on [e-mail]

best wishes

Lorraine

on behalf of the Information & Support team

[Bow-19]

I am happy to share my story anywhere that helps to improve diagnosis and awareness of lung cancer. My experience of lung cancer is only since last November , however since then I have become aware of how it is one of the cancers which needs to be supported more and how health professionals / people in general need to be educated more about it.

[Falv]

I was only 39 when diagnosed (which was in May last year). I was a non-smoker and the only symptom was a persistent cough. The only family history of cancer I am aware of is my cousin who has had cervical cancer. My cancer is apparently incurable. I have had chemotherapy, radiotherapy and am now on targeted tablet treatment, although that is now not working so well and so we will be looking at other treatment options.

[Bow-19]

Thanks for your reply. It would be interesting to know what causes lung cancer in people like us. I am sorry that targeted treatment hasn't worked. Are you ALK positive? I am. I am on maintenance permatrexate at the moment and it seems to be knocking the cancer back.

Best wishes