Lung cancer

Was diagnosed with non small lung cancer in Jan... Went through 20 sessions of radiotherapy. Only to find out the radiotherapy. Had fractured 2 of my ribs. And the cancer has spread to the ardelene gland. Last pet scan gett the results next week. Praying its staying where it is. And that they can operate.. Immunotherapy was mentioned..   

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  • Sorry to hear of your situation. I too was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer, following an incidental finding on a CT scan in January. Quite a shock as I have never been a smoker. 

    I have heard very positive things about immunotherapy.  In my mind, it seems logical to use your own immune system to deal with cancer cells - sounds less damaging than chemo or radiotherapy.

    Best wishes.

  • I had ct scan for base scan after endometrial and they found 2 x 3.5 shadows either side of me spine ( chest level), waiting for pet scan really worried. I’ve never smoked and no symptoms of anything, not sure of just all in my head but feel a tightness in my back just below my shower bladesby spine, never had before told me am hoping that’s just panic

  • Mario, I can really sympathise - waiting is awful.
    I had very mild back ache behind my shoulder blade (while waiting for surgery) but of course back ache can be due to all sorts of things including infection.  I don't know, I'm not medically trained, but I would take comfort from the fact that both sides have the same appearance - I'd have thought that would be unlikely if they were tumours.  I hope your PET scan goes well.  Try not to dwell on your worries (easier said than done I know) and find some distracting activity that you enjoy. 
    Very best wishes.

  • I think just finishing my brachytherapy for endometrial everything is just so scarey at moment. If pet scan shows nothing will they do a biopsy still, and if shows something do they do a biopsy to see what is. I’ve heard they painful, do u mind me asking what they found on ur ct

  • Yes stsge2 non small lung cancer said it was treatable radiation fractured 2 of my ribs. And spread it to the ardelene gland.... Pet scan will see tell if it's spread. If it stays on the gland. Then they will operate. And  immunotherapy.... I'm now at stage 4.

  • Thanks... And i am keeping busy... I wish u all the best xxx

  • Mario11, you asked what they found on my CT:  They were actually investigating a large growth near an ovary that had caused me acute pain in December.  That turned out to be a simple cyst which had reduced in size, but the CT showed a 2cm lesion in my left lung, right next to the aortic arch.  I had not had any symptoms and thankfully, they didn't see anything else of concern on the scan (from shoulders to pelvis).

    On a PET scan, the lesion lit up strongly, with a slight positivity on one lymph node in the same area.  It was in a position that couldn't be accessed for biopsy, so due to the PET results, they decided on surgical removal of the growth.  During surgery, it was analysed as cancerous (not really a surprise), and they removed the upper lobe of that lung. The nodes in the centre of my chest (mediastinal nodes) were also affected and I believe the surgeon took out as many of those as he could.  Based on the findings during surgery, the stage was 3a.

    I'm now 8 weeks after surgery and getting back to normal - though having to give martial arts training a miss!  I'll be having further treatment in case there are any 'seed' cells floating about.  I was worried about my 'night sweats', maybe just getting overheated at night, but to be sure nothing else has cropped up, they are doing another CT scan this week.  If it's clear, I'll have chemo.  If not, it will be immunotherapy.  So, weirdly, I am hoping for chemo.

    It's possible that I have been cured already by the surgery (surgeon said 20% chance) and if not, it's possible that chemotherapy will cure me.  At any rate I am still hopeful, realistic but optimistic, if not for complete cure then for years progression-free.

    I'm not sure if this is helpful to you.  They seemed pretty confident from the start that my lung lesion was cancer and it sounds like yours is very much in doubt.

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  • Mario11, you asked what they found on my CT:  They were actually investigating a large growth near an ovary that had caused me acute pain in December.  That turned out to be a simple cyst which had reduced in size, but the CT showed a 2cm lesion in my left lung, right next to the aortic arch.  I had not had any symptoms and thankfully, they didn't see anything else of concern on the scan (from shoulders to pelvis).

    On a PET scan, the lesion lit up strongly, with a slight positivity on one lymph node in the same area.  It was in a position that couldn't be accessed for biopsy, so due to the PET results, they decided on surgical removal of the growth.  During surgery, it was analysed as cancerous (not really a surprise), and they removed the upper lobe of that lung. The nodes in the centre of my chest (mediastinal nodes) were also affected and I believe the surgeon took out as many of those as he could.  Based on the findings during surgery, the stage was 3a.

    I'm now 8 weeks after surgery and getting back to normal - though having to give martial arts training a miss!  I'll be having further treatment in case there are any 'seed' cells floating about.  I was worried about my 'night sweats', maybe just getting overheated at night, but to be sure nothing else has cropped up, they are doing another CT scan this week.  If it's clear, I'll have chemo.  If not, it will be immunotherapy.  So, weirdly, I am hoping for chemo.

    It's possible that I have been cured already by the surgery (surgeon said 20% chance) and if not, it's possible that chemotherapy will cure me.  At any rate I am still hopeful, realistic but optimistic, if not for complete cure then for years progression-free.

    I'm not sure if this is helpful to you.  They seemed pretty confident from the start that my lung lesion was cancer and it sounds like yours is very much in doubt.

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