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Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Mar 28 9:04am | Replies (1142)Comment receiving replies
Hi, I'm Karen. I'll be 72 next week and married for 45yrs.
I was born with asthma. I started smoking at the age of 28. I quit in 2010, only to be diagnosed with COPD 7mo. later.
I had an extremely bad experience where my world literally blew up in 2021 because of multiple infidelities. Of course, I started smoking again. I endured finding out more and more things over the next 4yrs. It's only been 6mo. since my last 2 discoveries. So I've been trying to process and make any sense of that. I now suffer with C-PTSD.
I was able to quit smoking again last February 1st.
On December 1st, not even a month ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer. I've had the CT SCAN last Friday and I'm waiting for an appointment for the PET/CT SCAN. I haven't yet met with anyone yet, to discuss a treatment plan. I'm overwhelmed and very scared!
Every day, there's a battle of disbelief and mental anguish going on in my head over these two life changing events. A lot of days, I just sit and cry, not knowing how or what to feel.
I'm so sorry this is so long and in great depth 😪
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Hello Karen @karick , The stress and trauma that you've endured is more than anyone should have to bear. I hope you are getting help for the C-PTSD. The weight of this diagnosis is difficult on its own, but there is help available. Let those feelings out, cry when you need to. Just try not to stay in that low place for too long. Be honest with your doctors when they ask how you are doing. They can help with the emotional side of the diagnosis too.
It sounds like your cancer was identified at an early stage, which your future PET scan will help to confirm. It's normal to have all of the tests prior to determining the treatment plan. It's not easy to wait for appointments, but each scan or test helps fill in the clues to your story, and ultimately your specialized treatment plan. Are you working with a pulmonologist? They often drive the process in the beginning, and then they may pass you to another expert based on what these initial tests revel. Did you have a biopsy already?