Staying (Lung) Safe this Holiday Season

@sharry That's a great suggestion. We have all seen how a spray bottle will send small droplets into the air and all you need to do is wet a cloth or paper towel . I do like the bottles with flip caps as they are easiest to open. If you had a spray bottle, you could also hold the cloth against the nozzle while you spray it, so it catches the liquid instead of spraying it into the air.

Sharry we gifted our daughter and her family biweekly house cleaning instead of material gifts this Christmas, but not until we interviewed the company owner to be sure they would clean with unscented products and minimize spray due to family sensitivities. It is awesome ‐ she also opens windows while she works to clear the air of any residue even faster. It is awesome when others "get it".
Sue
PS My friend and I drive " no scent" cars when our group carpools. We have a lot of people who prefer to ride with us, saying they feel better when they get home. Our community clubhouse is a no smoking & no perfume zone to accommodate delicate lungs and allergies. It is heavenly to socialize, eat, dance, play cards, etc and to come home still able to breathe.

What a beautiful gift! I am only just realizing the debilitating effects of scents for sensitive people. My aversion to most must be a blessing!

Lilly- I haven't heard from you in a while. How are things going with you?

Hi, So I had my follow up post surgury and biopsy this past Tuesday.
My surgeon said regarding Stas that if he thought I needed a completion lobectomy he would be doing it. He also said yes some Drs will say if Stas is present you need a lobectomy. He said its still new and there is alot they dont know about Stas.
I also spoke to another surgeon who thought they had completed a lobectomy on me and said thats what you do.Then I explained that I didnt have a lobectomy.He went on to say that the team at the facility I was in is a great team. Otherwise Im feeling fine. Ty so much for thinking and checking back with me. Hope you are doing good.

Oh, boy, Lilly. I'm drawing a blank. What is Stas? Is this it?

Spread through air spaces (STAS) is a spreading phenomenon of lung cancers, which is defined as tumor cells within air spaces in the lung parenchyma beyond the edge of the main tumor

Yes thats it. Some surgeons will say if Stas is present you need a completion lobectomy, while others including mine does not. My surgeon said if he thought I needed a completion lobectomy ( to go back in and take out the remainder of the lobe) he would do it. In some trials there seems to be a significant chance of recurrence wiyh a wedge rescetion verses a lobectomy when Stas is present. My Dr said the trials never talk about those who go on to be fine. So I will be followed as I guess we all are. Thanks!

Believe it or not, we're just 2 weeks from Thanksgiving and all the seasonal gatherings and traditions!

Yesterday I was reminded of my sensitivity to the "smells of the season" as my friend got into my car reeking of the cologne someone in her office was wearing - not her.

Then I was thinking, about how, for 2 years, we didn't worry about big gatherings and people sharing their respiratory viruses and other bugs...but now everyone wants to be normal, even though our lungs still aren't. I am left to ponder "How are we going to gather this year?"

What do you plan to do to stay safe, but still be able to celebrate in some way?
Sue

I would really like to see people and I also would like to eat someone's else's cooking. So, I have decided to drop in on a family gathering. Everyone is vaccinated - I don't know if they are all up to date or not. I have had Covid twice and also had monoclonal antibody treatment 3 months ago so I should have max protection. I do plan on keeping my N95 mask on while I am there. And I will take my food home with me to eat so I don't have to take off my mask.
Thinking back, what a terrible thing this Covid has been for us......how much it has changed our lives.

I just had my second wedge resection - this time LUL (first time RUL). My Pathology report says Spread Through Air Spaces (STAS) Present - it did not for the first nodule resection. I know what that means (I researched it) and I am asking my doctors how they will adjust my treatment plan - I have multifocal so have another nodule which needs radiation in a different lobe.
I was wondering if they would consider going back in and taking out the lobe where resection was done. So I appreciated your comment on lobectomy. Where is your doctor located?
I also saw research paper about resection vs lobectomy. But there is little info available, so we are data points now. I read 15% to 50% small nodules are STAS present.
So how long has it been since your first identified STAS present? No new growths? What kind of observation schedule are you on now? No other therapy?
I know STAS present has negative impact on prognosis.