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Multifocal Adenocarcinoma of the lung, continual recurrences
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Jun 14 6:32pm | Replies (472)Comment receiving replies
I have the same diagnosis. Multi-focal adenocarcinoma - possibly in situ, meaning the nodules in the glands could turn o to cancer someday, but they may not be now.
For me it was somewhat similar - I had needle biopsy of growing GGO, PET, and VAT wedge resection for two 1+ cm nodules in upper left - this all happened in 7 weeks, including changing from other cancer center to Mayo and their doctors and I insisted on moving my planned 12 day vacation up to take before the surgery.
I am 50 and very active. 4 nodules remain one in each lobe ((range .5cm - 1cm all GGO), but except upper left is now clear. I am now on a plan to repeat CT scans every 6 months. If changes or growth happen we will act on them, but if they remain stable we do nothing. At my first CT after surgery, all nodules remained stable - repeat CT in June. My pulmonologist said they could be nothing or they could eventually be something. My oncologist said to think of it as a marathon, not a sprint.
Nice to hear the surgery went well for you, it is one of my concerns as I get older too. While very scary coming up to it, the surgery was a breeze compared to others I’ve had. I worry how will I tolerate it if I have to do it at 60 or 70 or older. I decided, I’ll just be thankful to be alive still and cross that bridge when I come to it.
Best wishes to you on your journey.
Replies to "I have the same diagnosis. Multi-focal adenocarcinoma - possibly in situ, meaning the nodules in the..."
@jamineibs - I can address your concerns and let you in on what you might see in your future. One thing that surgeons look at when surgery is considered is the location of the lesion in question, the size, and composition. They also look at how much healthy lung tissue you have and if the lesion is actually operable. If not (and you would have to ask your doctor why not) you most likely be offered SBRT. I have written about this and there are many many articles written about it. I have had it twice with two different types of beams. My cancer did not return.
My oncologist calls Multifocal Whack a Mole. lol But it's certainly an apt description! My last lobectomy, by the way, was in my early 60's and I rebounded very well. Remember, it all depends on how you have been living and what other illnesses, if any, you might have.
I was very fortunate that I didn't have COVID 19 around. But my upcoming, maybe SBRT will be during it and I'm sure that it will be a different world for me.
This will make my 6th cancer treatment, my 3rd SBRT. I might not have the same lung capacity as I used to but my life isn't over. I think that living harder after cancer is so important. By harder, I mean with more purpose. What do you think?
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Thanks, best wishes to you too. So far none of my reports have mentioned "in situ". Thanks for the explanation. Haven't you heard? 80 is the new 60. I guess it really depends on your overall health. They did an Echo stress test before surgery to be sure my heart would handle it. And consider I had just learned that I also have a blocked coronary artery that they wanted to put a stent in. However, that requires antiplatelet therapy for a long time and then one cannot do surgeries in that period. I was put on medication and am fine with that. I was told that with VAT surgery 95% of people go home after one night but I stayed two. I was "wobbly" the first day, but after did well. VAT surgery is a godsend for older people. The biggest annoyance for me is the nerve damage - but in the third week that began to improve a lot. I was to leave for Italy on Jan 18th but had to cancel as I knew I would not be back to 100% in 20 days.