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Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi
Lung Cancer | Last Active: Jan 22 8:18am | Replies (1013)Comment receiving replies
You mention multiple nodules needing treatment. That sounds like multifocal adenocarcinoma (multifocal lung cancer). Have they mentioned that to you? The nodules start out as "groundglass" on the CT scan and then eventually change to part solid and solid. They are considered to be primary independent cancers, but some may be metastasis of others - they can't tell on scan. This type of lung cancer is being studied for best way to treat, whether to be aggressive or not, etc. There are a few people on Connect with this cancer (Merry started thread).
I was diagnosed at age 80, and am now 82 and active. More than age, it is your overall health that matters. The idea is not to let the little suckers go outside the lung. And the goal is to preserve lung function, so treatment options are designed to provide you with the highest quality of life for as long as possible.
You don't mention a PET scan. Have you done one? That goes a long way in telling them what is going on with certain nodules. CT scan shows growth in size, but PET shows intensity indicative of cancer.
Replies to "You mention multiple nodules needing treatment. That sounds like multifocal adenocarcinoma (multifocal lung cancer). Have they..."
I have another question. Because I am close to your age and also active in life with no chronic medical conditions - tell me, have you had surgery? or any other treatment? Or are you on the repeat CT-scan watchful waiting path?
Thanks for whatever you want to add.
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it is indeed adenocarcinoma, in the non smallcell group. Yes there is debate about how these nodules are dealt with these days, with an emphasis placed on quality of life. I have read the staging and grading that is currently being used to assess treatment or waiting with repeated CT's., mine falls in the 'do nothing for now' range, relying on 7-month CT scans to assess changes and change course if need be. They are low-grade and primarily groundglass at this point. My doc indicates the nodules are too small to be picked up on a PET scan. l am 77, these nodules were first seen 7 years ago, they have doubled since then. I too am active, still working, involved. The docs do not want to change that at this point, so the protocol these days , confirmed by much of my sleuthing is to keep a close eye via CT scans - this is based on size of nodule, quality of nodule (groundglass versus solid, etc), that they are all contained at present and considered small in medical terms - 9mm, 11mm, 13mm.....I have no other chronic conditions. I know this would have been immediate surgery in earlier times, typically removing the entire lobe, not a wedge resection. I am appreciate we have come that far.....I will find the thread that Merry has begun. Thank you for your response and for letting me know about others with these same modules. And adding your knowledge. It is deeply appreciated..