Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Welcome! Anyone who has had cancer fears recurrences. It seems to come with the territory. Please don't read statistics because there is really no way to tell who will have one and who won't.

I am a 24+ survivor. I have had many recurrences and I'm here to answer your question. You will drive yourself nuts thinking about it. Think about what you are going to do tomorrow or next week!

What do you think?

Hi Merry,
Thank you and yes, I do think positively and am fortunate enough to be planning on traveling soon. Is your cancer adenocarcinoma also? And, it seems your recurrences are all within the lungs, is that correct? I also have a 4mm in upper right lobe (looks like may be scar tissue) and 6mm in center right lobe, to be scanned at 6 mth post surgery appointment. Curious as to people's experiences in how quickly or not so quickly, their recurrences happened and in what area of the body. I enjoy your posts as you are always so positive and also appreciate others' experiences. Take good care!

Thirty years ago, I had my first cancer. When Mayo-Jax told me that I had cancer again, I said that was impossible because people don't get cancer again and certainly not in a different part of their body. I little research told me that it is quite common for people to develop more tumors in another part of the body.

You mentioned that you have a 4mm in your upper right lobe that looks like scar tissue. I had two masses in my right lung that also looked like scar tissue but the biopsy proved that they were active tumors. Surgery took care of that for me with followup radiation/chemo but I still have a sub-microscopic metatastic tumor that is butting up against my heart.

Of course, your situation may be different.

Good morning- Multifocal is an adenocarcinoma. I was surprised when I found out about all the different types of lung cancers. Being self-absorbed when I found out that I did have lung cancer I didn't think of anything other than "my type". Actually, adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, and invasive adenocarcinoma of the lung have replaced the now-defunct term bronchoalveolar carcinoma (BAC). Then 10 years later my second cancer was what I have now.

Since then my recurrences have been 6 years, 3 years, and 5 years (now).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3369269/
I know the negative stuff about lung cancers, shortness of breath, pain, depression and so many more. And I do address them with people who need or want to know about them. I also address death. But to harp on those doesn't get on with life. As survivors (either someone in remission, cured, or still fighting cancer) I feel that it is our mission to help others. I would have loved to have had my own Mentor.

Thank you for your compliment. I'm honored to help in any way that I can. And just by being part of this group, I thank you for your support and help. This isn't a one-way road!

Merry

Thirty year survivor is quite encouraging. Have your tumors all been within your lungs and did they perform a lobectomy? How are they going to treat the tumor up against your heart? Thank you for sharing your experiences and I wish you all the best!

The first cancer was in another part of my body. As I said, it is surprisingly common that people get cancer at least twice in different parts of their bodies.

Yes, the larger tumors were all in my right lung. Directed surgery was successful for the two in the lung but the surgeon couldn't get all of the other tumor adjacent to my heart. For that, they tried intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a radiation which is targeted at the cancer cells.

I was supposed to do this every weekday for six weeks but I had some complications midway through the treatment. Bottom line, they know it is still there but because it is so small, it won't show up on a CT. Protocol now for me is CT every three months. So far, it is good news because if they can see it, that means it is growing.

If that happens, I will deal with it just as I have in the past. It is so important to remain as positive as possible. I admit I had some days where it got the best of me but most of the time, I worked hard to stay positive. I am also blessed that I have a very supportive wife who has been my caretaker through all of this. On those days where I was falling down, she was always there to help pick me up. I can't say enough how helpful it is to have someone by your side as you go through this.

@sierracharlie- Good morning and thank you for sharing your wonderfully LONGGGGGGG story! What a journey you have had! I understand the need to be positive and yes, there can be big tumbles on the way. But what choice is there?

Cancer often, nowadays, doesn't mean the end to everything in a person's life. Everyone will have some bane to their life. Lung cancer happens to be ours. Those of us on here have to know that there is life after lung cancer, and sometimes a much better life. My life is better because I changed. Changing doesn't mean losing yourself, it means that you grow and become a more experienced person.

I find that helping others keeps me humble and gives me hope. I am honored that I can touch someone and hopefully give them a better road to travel on their journey. I was sure that I would die when I got my first cancer lesion. I had 2 loving women doctors who saw me through that phase. But neither woman had had cancer.

I love the people on here, and in the whole Cancer Group. We are very special and it makes my heart sing when you help each other if I'm not around. Thank you.

Is the multifocal adenocarcinoma group defunct ???

Meka-Not at all! And we have expanded! How are you? I've missed you!
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multiple-lung-nodules/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multifocal-adenocarcinoma-of-the-lung-continual-recurrences/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/multiple-lung-nodules/
Are you well?

Merry

Forth stage lung cancer,took kimo,lost 40 pounds and 2 blood transfusions,no more for 7 months now having hard time breathing,can’t eat or drink or walk and headaches ,chest pain for 4days feel like Im dieing, do have oxygen on.Dr. Won’t see me told me to go to hospital ,now on my 6 year.