I have stage 4 lung cancer which was diagnosed 2021 whilst testing me for Atrial fibrillation during an MRI scan. Yes I have A.F which is being treated. I am having Immunotherapy every 6 weeks and regular blood tests and scans. I do get out of breath and have to keep stopping when walking, but I can do most of the daily chores. I have changed from my Yoga class to Chaur Yoga. So much can be done to help in 2023 so try not to worry. Yes it is scary. I had breast cancer in 2007 but am all clear of that.
live well, do exactly as you are told by the medical profession and good luck.
I was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung Cancer yesterday and I am very devastated and feel hopeless. Iwent to A & E with heart palpitations and did a chest X-ray which show I have a mass on my right lung. Did CT scan, PEP scan and EBUS lung biopsy and was diagnosed with stage 4 Lung cancer. I need to do MRI tomorrow to find out whether the cancer spread to my brain then the oncology doctor decides what drug they are going to use.
Tarry, your messages are very helpful for me because we have a similar problem.
I hope we can continue to support each other.
Could I have the details of what treatment your oncology doctor has been using since you were diagnosed in 2021.
I was diagnosed stage 4 lung cancer with a brain tumour back in February 2018. I'm now 70.
Long story short: brain surgery, Keytruda 80% suitable, feeling good, one last nodule in the lung now stage 1, lower right lobectomy last January. Now waiting on my first post-op scans to confirm cancer free. I live in London too.
Any tips? Don't go with the first prognosis you're given, they keep changing their minds. Do exactly what the consultant tells you. Ask questions, they only silly question is the one you don't ask. Exercise, anything as long as it's regular, because people who exercise live longer and you might need to get fit enough to survive surgery.
Sorry, I tend to go short on sympathy but long on practical.
My treatment wasn't complicated - Keytruda every 3 weeks. Blood tests a day or two before to check that I was tolerating it okay. (Hospital was half hour walk away, so that was four 30 minute walks every 3 weeks, which helped with the exercise targets!) Going 3-weekly makes for more inconvenience but reduces the side effects compared with double-dose 6-weekly. Hospitals like 6-weekly because it's less work for them, but try for 3-weekly if you can.
Standard treatment duration is 2 years, my scans confirmed that was enough. I had insurance so I was able to continue as long as I tolerated it and stayed stable. My consultant was "if it ain't broke don't fix it" so the Keytruda kept coming. It was 5 years before the lobectomy was needed, by which time I was stage 1 and it was an option. Not sure if the extra years of immuno made any difference, but at least it didn't hurt.
