Multifocal Adenocarcinoma of the lung, continual recurrences

Posted by Merry, Volunteer Mentor @merpreb, Dec 11, 2018

We have multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. @linda10 and @sakota.- Please join me in this discussion.

For a short explanation of this tongue twister. Briefly, Multifocal Adenocarcinoma (MAC) of the lung is a clinical entity of multiple synchronous (less than 6 months) or metachronous (more than 6 months), often ground-glass opacities (GGO) on CT scan, typically indolent-behaving cancers. There is a scarce amt of clinical data to guide treatment decisions.
This came from http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.e20041.

This means that more than one potential cancerous lesion, mostly ground glass, shows up at a time. For instance I had 3 cancerous lesions 10 years ago in my left lung and in the same area. They were all different sizes. They grow at different rates.

Multifocal adenocarcinoma is a very complex cancer because the medical profession doesn't know if the ground glass lesions are the primary cancer or small metastases of another primary cancer. They don't even know where they start..

Multifocal Adenocarcinoma has sub types and it's management is based on whether it's indolent or very virulent.

These are very simplistic explanations. Even doctors are confused by it and it's only been within the last twenty years that they have separated it from a Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC).

The constant recurrences are the buggers. Not only do we have to constantly face lots of CT scans but when lung cells change, which they often do, we are in terror of another virulent cancer. I presently have several ground glass lesions. And I have had many that have disappeared. It's enough to drive you nuts and PTSD is exacerbated by the frequency of these devils.

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

linda10 | @linda10 | Sep 17, 2020

In reply to @linda10 "@merry@sakota@bluelagoon@meka Hi all. Have been back and forth to the Mayo since September 1. CT showed..." + (show)

Ok. Just heard from my Drs office. They want to do 8 treatments now. Bring it on as long as the insurance approves it.

bluelagoon | @bluelagoon | Sep 17, 2020

@linda10 @merry @sakota @meka @alamogal635 Linda- sending my prayers, as well! And, my amazement. I hadn't even heard of what you've experienced, but good to be in the know since I also had a wedge section on my left lung, albeit 2 years ago April. I'm amazed and heartened that treatment like this exists these days.

linda10 | @linda10 | Sep 18, 2020

In reply to @alamogal635 "@linda10 You’ve got my prayers and good vibes coming your way." + (show)

@alamogal635 Thank You! I appreciate it♥️

linda10 | @linda10 | Sep 18, 2020

In reply to @bluelagoon "@linda10 @merry @sakota @meka @alamogal635 Linda- sending my prayers, as well! And, my amazement. I hadn't..." + (show)

Bluelagoon Thank You! Yes, there are options out there. Hopefully you will never need them but nice to know they are there.

Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 18, 2020

In reply to @linda10 "Ok. Just heard from my Drs office. They want to do 8 treatments now. Bring it..." + (show)

@linda10- Do you have to travel away from home for your treatments? How do you feel about having to have added zap days?

Merry, Volunteer Mentor | @merpreb | Sep 18, 2020

In reply to @bluelagoon "@linda10 @merry @sakota @meka @alamogal635 Linda- sending my prayers, as well! And, my amazement. I hadn't..." + (show)

@bluelagoon- I'm so glad that you have come to say hello. Treatments just seem to keep multiplying! Isn't it great!

linda10 | @linda10 | Sep 19, 2020

In reply to @merpreb "@linda10- Do you have to travel away from home for your treatments? How do you feel..." + (show)

@merry I live around 8 hours from the Mayo. Wouldn’t go anywhere else. I’m fine with the treatment. They originally said 5-8 and then scheduled 5. So it wasn’t a surprise. Just have to pull another authorization which pushes the start date back. Hopefully only 1 day.

alamogal635 | @alamogal635 | Sep 19, 2020

@merpreb This is a great discussion. I know little about it and can see hwo it would be a stressful thing to have to deal with--constantly worrying and checking to see about these GGO.