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Stage 1B Adenocarcenoma NSCLC: Odds of recurrence?
Lung Cancer | Last Active: May 26, 2023 | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
Hi @whahoo, welcome to Connect! It sounds like they found your cancer in an early stage, and that's great news. I'm sure your oncologist will have recommendations for treatment plans going forward. Many others struggle with these decisions, to further treat or not to treat. They are never easy decisions, but it helps to have a team that you can trust. A second opinion can help too.
You mention in your profile that you haven't smoked in years, do you know if there was biomarker/molecular testing done on the tumor that was removed? If you're not sure, you may want to ask the oncologist about that. Knowing exactly what is driving the cancer can have a significant impact on the treatment plan. Did they find your cancer from routine screening, or were you experiencing symptoms?
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Hi. Yes, biomarkers were tested. My tumor came back EGFR positive. It also came back PDL1 positive, but it’s not advanced enough to treat it for that.
The EGFR “treatment” is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It’s not chemo or immune therapy apparently. The inhibitor that was mentioned is not covered on my Medicare Part D (prescription plan). And its cost prohibitive. Not sure what my other options might be.
I did have symptoms. Pain in my upper right shoulder behind the shoulder blade. Had a raspy voice. The spot was noticed in a routine X-ray in January. Then CT scan, PET/CT scan, then biopsy confirmed it.
I have an appointment with a Mayo oncologist in May 15.