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Multifocal Adenocarcinoma of the lung, continual recurrences
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.
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Here is an update on my Covid situation. I am on my 5th and last day of antiviral treatment. My blood oxygen is great, my breathing much easier and my "congested" cough 95% improved. I tested positive (PCR test) for Covid 4 months after my third Pfizer dose and 30 days after my VAT surgery. Symptoms after surgery just changed into symptoms from Covid. Apparently, surgery weakens immune system (and I was under for 3 hours). What is also of note is that I had no contact with family/friends, and I always wore an N95 mask when leaving home, only curbside pickup of groceries/takeout, never entered any building but my own, never lingered in common areas and only occasionally passed someone on the stairs. I use a Merv13 filter with my independent air/heating unit. Therefore, I caught Covid through groceries/takeout food packaging or aerosols in my building. I will start again spraying disinfectant on all packaging. I am looking for a spacesuit.
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1 Reaction@vic83-haha, no space suit needed. Omicron is very very contagious. You can get it if it's in the air. You must feel extremely frustrated after being so careful and then, BAM.
Remember that no vaccine is perfect, nor is anything else that you try. If I were you I would continue to do what you have been doing. Am I right in thinking that you don't want to live in seclusion?
Are you watching Dr. Greg Poland's podcasts?
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1 ReactionYes, I watch Dr Poland. I have followed Covid closely since early 2020 because of my contacts in Italy. I was aware of aerosol impact early on and about importance of mask quality and fit. While now people understand about air and aerosols (they can hang in the air for hours), other means of contagion are no longer getting attention. My case demonstrates that other means are quite possible. And the viral load on surfaces? Must be lower than talking to a sick person. But still sufficient. No, I don't enjoy seclusion. Because I am considered immune compromised due to surgery, they recommend quarantine for 20 days - because a weakened immune system allows the virus to linger longer and mutate. But I was already isolated so no big deal.
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1 ReactionVic- Somehow, from somewhere you picked up the virus at a miserable time. Not that there is a good time. You are now finished with your treatment for Covid. I know that you were ill at the time, but did you experience any side effects from the anti-viral? Can you tell if there is a difference now that you aren't getting it?
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1 ReactionI started molnupiravir anti-viral 2/2/22 and one takes it for five days. I had no side effects not even diarrhea. I felt better the next day with more relaxed breathing and improved cough. The cough improved every day. On 2/7/22 I awoke and thought I hadn't felt this good since before surgery. My blood oxygen levels are higher. I still have a very modest cough.
Looking back, I can see that Covid was impacting my recovery. I did wonder why I wasn't more myself at the time. What drove me to Covid testing was that my modest dry cough from surgery had become very frequent and "congested rumbling" in my throat and stuff was coming up. The anti-viral I took is only 30% effective, but it seems to have helped me. Pfizer Paxlovid is much better. My doctor told me that there are not enough of these FDA emergency approved drugs to go around in Minnesota, and the majority of her high-risk patients get nothing. So I was fortunate to get something, and to have a mild case. There is a point system.
I had the third dose of Pfizer vaccine (booster) four months before testing positive. Given all my precautions to not catch Covid, they need to revise advice to people, because the variants require very little opportunity.
I read that CDC now approved fourth dose of mRNA vaccine (second booster) three months from 3rd dose (first booster) but only for people immunocompromised like cancer therapy drugs etc.
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1 Reaction@vic83- I agree with what you have said. I'm very glad that you pushed ahead and took control and got treated. What would you recommend to other people in this group that they need to do if they wind up with symptoms like yours?
If they have any covid symptoms, they should immediately get tested (and PCR test is the gold standard). If positive, they should call their primary care doctor immediately and tell them they have symptoms and make sure the doctor understands their health issues. In Minnesota (and I imagine elsewhere), the distribution of these FDA emergency approved medicines is controlled by the State, there are not enough drugs to go around, and they are distributed on a point system based on health conditions. And with my experience, realize this virus is far more contagious than people realize, take extra care including packaging and indoor spaces. Also check with doctor to see if they are eligible for the 4th dose(second booster)
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1 ReactionHear, Hear! Thank you
Vic Am glad you are doing well. I'm impressed by the response you received once were diagnosed with Covid and getting the viral therapy to you. I'm in Minnesota as well and have tried to wade through the dept of health web site to understand how to get treatment if needed or what kind. Extremely confusing. So expect I would go to my primary care doctor which is Allina and/or try to see if my Mayo Hematology and/or Oncology doctors can help. Anyway, I hope I don't ever need it. Also, I have my 4th Moderna shot scheduled for April.
On another subject, Prior to my last surgery, radiation and ablation were also mentioned/offered as a treatment for my lung nodule. Merry has commented a bit on radiation but I don't see cryo ablation ( freezing the nodule) mentioned much in this forum. Am wondering if you or anyone else has experience or comments on this as a treatment. Thank you
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1 ReactionHi Stan. I too was impressed that they delivered the medication to my door two hours after my phone call!!!! I would contact your doctors on how to proceed to be prepared - I never checked MN site, but you could try calling around there too. There is a point system to decide who gets these emergency approved drugs, and my doctor's nurse (organized to do this) questioned me accordingly. I "passed" and got the medication. But sadly, there is not enough to meet the demand. Regarding your other question, I was just recently diagnosed with multifocal adenocarcinoma, and I had VAT surgery to remove the largest nodule six weeks ago. So, I won't know what is next until my March CT scan. I was told I am a classic case, and they will treat aggressively.