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Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Sep 25 12:58pm | Replies (1044)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with stage 1A lung cancer. They followed the nodule for 15 months and when there was change I had VAT surgery. I have had (1) 4-month scan with no change and my next scan is in April. I am 79 but find I can not make any long term commitments for business or personal matters as I don't know what to expect from scan to scan. I have not required further treatment at this point. I started at Mayo Rochester but had my surgery at Rush in Chicago near my family. Both hospitals and staff are excellent. I am thankful for this time but wish there was some medical professional who could render advice about possible reoccurrence and available treatments.
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Goodmorning @woodedareas and welcome to Mayo Connect. I feel your frustration with not being able to see into the future and making plans. My first cancer was exactly like yours and mine (1B) never came back after surgery. I wondered the same things that you are now. I just couldn't believe that I didn't need chemo or something else like radiation. I actually wrote a blog post about my frustrations with it. I know that it sounds crazy but in 1997 I thought that everyone had to have these two things! https://my20yearscancer.com/lung-cancer-survivor/
I wish that I could wave a magic wand and let us all know what the future holds for all of us who have had cancer. There are so many treatment options available now. But, as you know, no one can tell us about recurrences. My second cancer, a multifocal adenocarcinoma was 10 years after my first. I needed radiation and that put a huge kibosh on any future plans, as you can well imagine.
I had a trip to Israel planned about 2+ years ago. But I needed an SBRT (a type of radiation) to kill a new lesion. My radiologist put a stop on the trip. We had taken out travel insurance and I got every cent back.
I have also been very honest with people about my having cancer when making plans for the future. I can't tell you how many dinners that I have canceled, or other social plans. I don't know how you will deal with business plans. I really do suggest being open and honest about it, if you haven't already.
My suggestion is to make plans. Live your life the way you want and work it around what your main priority is now, taking care of yourself. As you get further and further from your surgery you will see that even if your life has changed the future is still there to be grabbed!
Merry