Diagnosed with breast cancer & primary lung cancer: Next steps?

Posted by bdurel @bdurel, Feb 10 7:15pm

Hi. I’m Barbara. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in October. At the pre op I had a slight cough. I was diagnosed with pneumonia and breast lumpectomy surgery was rescheduled. Cough didn’t resolve so further testing was ordered. I was diagnosed with Lung cancer also at Christmas. Had lumpectomy and lymph node removal Jan 7 and just started radiation. In meantime my case has been presented to the tumor board and I should hear treatment recommendations for the lung cancer by end of week. Dr ordered a pulmonary function test for tomorrow and said it’s looking like surgery may be best option.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

mamajite | @mamajite | Apr 28 11:40am

In reply to @artistrose "@bdurel I’m just another lung cancer patient reading on Connect but have followed your story as..." + (show)

@artistrose how are you doing with your treatment?

artistrose | @artistrose | Apr 28 1:17pm

Ok. I’ve had a bit of tough spot yesterday and today just from chemo but it will pass.

mamajite | @mamajite | Apr 28 4:26pm

In reply to @artistrose "Ok. I’ve had a bit of tough spot yesterday and today just from chemo but it..." + (show)

@artistrose I hope the difficult side effects pass quickly and that you can take it easy in the meantime. sending you hugs!

katgob | @katgob | Apr 29 10:53am

In reply to @artistrose "Ok. I’ve had a bit of tough spot yesterday and today just from chemo but it..." + (show)

@artistrose
Where in California are you being treated? I had Breast cancer and MDS with a BMT, but i have a couple spots in my lungs they watch.

artistrose | @artistrose | Apr 29 11:33am

I’m in Sacramento, CA. With the Sutter Health System. I have Stage 4 adenocarcinoma EGFR L848R with Mets to liver and brain. On Tagrisso targeted medication and going through Chemo Cycles.

bdurel | @bdurel | May 3 10:48pm

Thank you everyone. The latest is that I am considered Stage 3A. Mostly based on size but it scares me because it keeps getting closer to Stage 4. My doctors have all agreed that I will do 4 cycles of Carboplatin & Pem. 7 weeks of radiation at same time. Start both tomorrow. After I will do 3 years of Tagrisso and I guess they’ll address a hormone blocker for the breast cancer. All focus now on the lung. I was unable to arrange for cold capping as the hospitals here aren’t set up for it and I just couldn’t pull it together. My UCD Dr said there’s a big chance I will not lose my hair. My local oncologist disagrees and says it’s likely I will. I know I shouldn’t be so focused on that but I am. I’ve spent hours researching wigs, hats with hair, shampoos that are gentle and might prevent hair loss. My info sheet says use Johnson baby shampoo but my hair stylist said absolutely not. I’m so stressed thinking about tomorrow. On top of this I was just notified of the passing of a friend’s daughter who had Stage 4 and seemed to be doing well with chemo. I am heartbroken for them both. 3A seems so close to Stage 4 but my oncologist said it’s not. I’m sorry to be rambling but I don’t know where else to go with these overwhelming feelings. ❤️❤️

bdurel | @bdurel | May 3 10:56pm

In reply to @mamajite "@artistrose how are you doing with your treatment?" + (show)

@mamajite Thank you so much for checking on me. I’m not very good at navigating this site so just posted an update that may be redundant because I forget what I’ve already said. I apologize. How are your treatments going? What have you found most helpful? How are you feeling and coping? I start tomorrow. Prayers and hugs to you that you will be better very soon. ❤️

bdurel | @bdurel | May 3 11:00pm

In reply to @lls8000 "@bdurel, with everything that you have coming at you right now, I'm not sure how you..." + (show)

@lls8000 I’m going to have to learn to reach out to friends. I know if I could determine what I need and ask that they would respond.

bdurel | @bdurel | May 3 11:02pm

In reply to @lls8000 "@bdurel, with everything that you have coming at you right now, I'm not sure how you..." + (show)

@lls8000 and Thank you for your encouraging reply.

mamajite | @mamajite | May 4 2:58am

In reply to @bdurel "@mamajite Thank you so much for checking on me. I’m not very good at navigating this..." + (show)

@bdurel no worries at all. I'm very sorry to hear about your friend's daughter. 🙏🏻
I'll be sending you good thoughts tomorrow. try to take cancer stuff one day at a time because it really is overwhelming. I hope you will be able to take it easy this week as you adjust to how your feel after your treatment. when my mom had chemo, she had a tough time on day 3 and 4 and started feeling much better by day 5. do your best to stay hydrated (something with electrolytes) even if you don't feel like eating too much.

I can empathize with your feelings about your hair. I've lost about half of mine and it's just enough that no style looks good. 😓 I'm doing all of the things (Routine Wellness shampoo/conditioner for hair loss, oral minoxidil, red light therapy) but they haven't helped as much as I had hoped. that said, everybody is different. my mom didn't lose her hair from her chemo. I've asked my oncologist if there might be other treatment options I could try, aside from just continuing Tagrisso indefinitely, and I'm waiting to hear back. 🤞🏻