@detroitmom23, it's completely understandable that you missed a detail or two in your doctor's description. In my public presentations, I refer to the time following the diagnosis or recurrence as "the whirlwind". You get a lot of information and are being asked to make decisions you don't feel comfortable making. We've all been through it.

I've asked my doctor to write it down. For example, when they first told me I had nonsmall cell adenocarcinoma with strong PD-11 expression and the EGFR Exon 19 deletion mutation, I asked if she would write it down. She replied, "Of course." She wrote it and handed me the piece of paper that's still lying at the base of this computer monitor six years and a cross-country move later! What can I say? I'm a geek. 🙂

My spouse always comes with me to any meeting we think might be important. If she can't be there, I'll ask, and my Oncologist will let me call her and put us on speakerphone. In short, I'm a strong supporter of having someone else there who is charged with remembering the details. I did the same thing when my parents got older, and dad "thought" mom had some type of dementia. They never went to another appointment alone.

It's not unusual for doctors to have different opinions. I'm a civilian or patient reviewer for two different organizations, and there is so much progress in lung cancer research being made so fast that it's hard for anyone to keep up. That's the main reason I encourage a second opinion, especially if your Oncologist is a general Oncologist and not a lung cancer specialist.

Until then, relax and focus on the things you can do now, like a daily walk outside in the fresh Spring air. I've found that one of the advantages of a lung cancer diagnosis is that I now pay more attention to the beautiful and wonderful things in my life. I wish you all the best.