1. < Lung Cancer

Adenocarcinoma - newly diagnosed

Posted by Sandy @pixiedust, Feb 26, 2023

Hello. I am new to this group. Thank you in advance for any guidance and or support you have to offer. I have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the upper right lung. Have had a bronchocoscopy, x-rays, CT and lung biopsy - which determined the diagnosis. I have an appointment this Tuesday for a PET scan to determine staging, and a breathing test will follow. The only symptom I have had is hoarseness in my voice. Otherwise I feel fine. I am simply terrified and still in shock.
Pixiedust

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bpb | @bpb | Jul 9, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My first lung cancer was in 1981, and I have Multi-focal adenocarcinoma. I have met some of you before. It is an adenocarcinoma, and many of the treatments can be tough. I've had two lobotomies and 3 SBRTs, the last one last October. My chemo wasn't as bad as the previous radiation that I had last October.

I had a horrible time as I also, it seems, have sensitive lungs and wound up on prednisone and oxygen for many months. But I did heal and am no longer on either of them! This Tuesday, I have my first follow-up CT since the radiation. Since I live in the North East, I go to Mass General in Boston.

It's been a very long haul for me, and this year I also lost my caretaker and husband of 45 years. It was the first time that I had to care for myself. It was hard and miserable. And tomorrow will mark 3 months since I lost my husband. I'm bringing my younger sister with me in case...I surely don't want to be alone.

There's no way around it, Cancer sucks, and treatments can be awful. I've read that some of you use Omeprazole. I was on it for many years but had to get off of it because it wasn't advisable to take it with Prednisone. I was switched to Pantoprazole. I find that it is much better and have heard many people say that. I rarely have breakthrough GERD now. Or, maybe I've had GERD so long I don't have a stomach either? lol

I'll try to catch up and get to know you all as much as possible. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will try and match your names to your cancer-but no promises!

Merry

Jump to this post

Hi Merry,

I am so sorry for your loss.

Sending you love and hugs,
BPB13

REPLY
2 replies
dianemb | @dianemb | Jul 10, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello Surajit- Good afternoon. I wish it were as simple as selecting food to help live..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello Surajit- Good afternoon. I wish it were as simple as selecting food to help live a long life. It isn't. I wish that I had a magic wand for you, but I don't. It's just luck, plain ole boring luck.

Actually, my very first cancer was a very fast-growing adenocarcinoma and because it was found early enough - well, maybe that was the reason that it didn't return. I just don't know. Since you know that after 10 years lung cancer came back - but in a different form. Who knows why it changed? And why has it returned only a few times rather than much more? I do not know.

I don't even take "cancer" medications, just an inhaler to help open up my tubes to breathe more easily.

I'm very sorry you must watch your wife suffer from lung cancer. It must be very difficult. The medication that she is on is a good one. I suggest that your wife eat what she wants as she is the one who must be comfortable. Try and purchase clean, organic foods, and if she can, let her eat from a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits, and legumes. There is no sense in asking her to eat something not in your normal diet because then she might not like it and not eat.

Is your wife up and around? Does she get up and walk outside? With you?

Jump to this post

Bless you! Thank you for your well written words and sharing your experiences. I was diagnosed with n s c c IV September 2022. Adenocarcinoma I am so sorry for your loss.
Diane

REPLY
1 reply
vic83 | @vic83 | Jul 10, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My first lung cancer was in 1981, and I have Multi-focal adenocarcinoma. I have met some of you before. It is an adenocarcinoma, and many of the treatments can be tough. I've had two lobotomies and 3 SBRTs, the last one last October. My chemo wasn't as bad as the previous radiation that I had last October.

I had a horrible time as I also, it seems, have sensitive lungs and wound up on prednisone and oxygen for many months. But I did heal and am no longer on either of them! This Tuesday, I have my first follow-up CT since the radiation. Since I live in the North East, I go to Mass General in Boston.

It's been a very long haul for me, and this year I also lost my caretaker and husband of 45 years. It was the first time that I had to care for myself. It was hard and miserable. And tomorrow will mark 3 months since I lost my husband. I'm bringing my younger sister with me in case...I surely don't want to be alone.

There's no way around it, Cancer sucks, and treatments can be awful. I've read that some of you use Omeprazole. I was on it for many years but had to get off of it because it wasn't advisable to take it with Prednisone. I was switched to Pantoprazole. I find that it is much better and have heard many people say that. I rarely have breakthrough GERD now. Or, maybe I've had GERD so long I don't have a stomach either? lol

I'll try to catch up and get to know you all as much as possible. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will try and match your names to your cancer-but no promises!

Merry

Jump to this post

Merry, I am so sorry for your loss. It leaves a big hole in one's life. Know that you have given many of us help.

REPLY
Sandy | @pixiedust | Jul 10, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My first lung cancer was in 1981, and I have Multi-focal adenocarcinoma. I have met some of you before. It is an adenocarcinoma, and many of the treatments can be tough. I've had two lobotomies and 3 SBRTs, the last one last October. My chemo wasn't as bad as the previous radiation that I had last October.

I had a horrible time as I also, it seems, have sensitive lungs and wound up on prednisone and oxygen for many months. But I did heal and am no longer on either of them! This Tuesday, I have my first follow-up CT since the radiation. Since I live in the North East, I go to Mass General in Boston.

It's been a very long haul for me, and this year I also lost my caretaker and husband of 45 years. It was the first time that I had to care for myself. It was hard and miserable. And tomorrow will mark 3 months since I lost my husband. I'm bringing my younger sister with me in case...I surely don't want to be alone.

There's no way around it, Cancer sucks, and treatments can be awful. I've read that some of you use Omeprazole. I was on it for many years but had to get off of it because it wasn't advisable to take it with Prednisone. I was switched to Pantoprazole. I find that it is much better and have heard many people say that. I rarely have breakthrough GERD now. Or, maybe I've had GERD so long I don't have a stomach either? lol

I'll try to catch up and get to know you all as much as possible. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will try and match your names to your cancer-but no promises!

Merry

Jump to this post

Merry, you are so brave and I too am so sorry for the loss of your husband. I have been married 45 years as well and I'm certain if I lost my caretaker it would be devastating. We already go through so much. I'm happy you have your sister to help you. I have a dear friend who took me to my chemo appointments and she has also offered to bring me to my immunotherapy appointments once a month for a year - starting in August. I will surely ask about Pantoprazole as I don't think the Omeprazole and the Sucralfate do much...I still have GERD, perhaps not as bad since the radiation treatments ended, but I can still notice it.

Good luck on your CT scan (tomorrow??). Please let us know how you make out. I will get mine at the end of this month.

Best wishes your way..
Sandy

REPLY
1 reply
surajit2004 | @surajit2004 | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello Surajit- Good afternoon. I wish it were as simple as selecting food to help live..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello Surajit- Good afternoon. I wish it were as simple as selecting food to help live a long life. It isn't. I wish that I had a magic wand for you, but I don't. It's just luck, plain ole boring luck.

Actually, my very first cancer was a very fast-growing adenocarcinoma and because it was found early enough - well, maybe that was the reason that it didn't return. I just don't know. Since you know that after 10 years lung cancer came back - but in a different form. Who knows why it changed? And why has it returned only a few times rather than much more? I do not know.

I don't even take "cancer" medications, just an inhaler to help open up my tubes to breathe more easily.

I'm very sorry you must watch your wife suffer from lung cancer. It must be very difficult. The medication that she is on is a good one. I suggest that your wife eat what she wants as she is the one who must be comfortable. Try and purchase clean, organic foods, and if she can, let her eat from a variety of colorful vegetables and fruits, and legumes. There is no sense in asking her to eat something not in your normal diet because then she might not like it and not eat.

Is your wife up and around? Does she get up and walk outside? With you?

Jump to this post

Hello Merry
My wife is now normal and walk outside with me.

REPLY
2 replies
cmcguire10 | @cmcguire10 | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @surajit2004 "Hello Merry My wife is now normal and walk outside with me." + (show)
@surajit2004

Hello Merry
My wife is now normal and walk outside with me.

Jump to this post

Hello Surajit! That is great news about your wife! God has blessed you both! I pray he continues to bless you both and gives her continued recovery.
Cindy

REPLY
Matthew K | @flusshund | Jul 11, 2023
In reply to @merpreb "Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My..." + (show)
@merpreb

Hello- My name is Merry, and I am one of the Mentors for this group. My first lung cancer was in 1981, and I have Multi-focal adenocarcinoma. I have met some of you before. It is an adenocarcinoma, and many of the treatments can be tough. I've had two lobotomies and 3 SBRTs, the last one last October. My chemo wasn't as bad as the previous radiation that I had last October.

I had a horrible time as I also, it seems, have sensitive lungs and wound up on prednisone and oxygen for many months. But I did heal and am no longer on either of them! This Tuesday, I have my first follow-up CT since the radiation. Since I live in the North East, I go to Mass General in Boston.

It's been a very long haul for me, and this year I also lost my caretaker and husband of 45 years. It was the first time that I had to care for myself. It was hard and miserable. And tomorrow will mark 3 months since I lost my husband. I'm bringing my younger sister with me in case...I surely don't want to be alone.

There's no way around it, Cancer sucks, and treatments can be awful. I've read that some of you use Omeprazole. I was on it for many years but had to get off of it because it wasn't advisable to take it with Prednisone. I was switched to Pantoprazole. I find that it is much better and have heard many people say that. I rarely have breakthrough GERD now. Or, maybe I've had GERD so long I don't have a stomach either? lol

I'll try to catch up and get to know you all as much as possible. Please feel free to ask me questions. I will try and match your names to your cancer-but no promises!

Merry

Jump to this post

Merry,

I've seen your posts since my first round of cancer in 2018. My deepest condolences for your loss.

If I don't have someone with me, I ask my doctors if I can record the meeting and just use my phone's Note app. Nowadays, the majority of them agree. They know we can't remember everything.

My lastest upper GI revealed that I have Barrett's syndrome, which means some of my esophageal cells have tried to turn themselves into stomach cells because of long-term GERD. In my case, about 30 cm or 12 inches of my esophagus! Of course, those cells can develop their own form of cancer, so now I'll get an upper GI every year to check. I'll add it to the list!

I take 40 mg Esomeprazole in a pill every morning at least an hour before eating or drinking anything else. I've also gone Gluten-free and start every morning with a tablespoon of psyllium (Metamucil). The gluten-free idea came from my primary care as he speculated that my Tagrisso-suppressed immune system may have led to mild IBS. These three actions have kept my GI tract quietly normal for a few months now. I hope this helps you and others.

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @surajit2004 "Hello Merry My wife is now normal and walk outside with me." + (show)
@surajit2004

Hello Merry
My wife is now normal and walk outside with me.

Jump to this post

That's wonderful that she can walk outside with you. So, what is her status? When you say normal, does this mean that she's finished with treatments?

REPLY
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @pixiedust "Merry, you are so brave and I too am so sorry for the loss of your..." + (show)
@pixiedust

Merry, you are so brave and I too am so sorry for the loss of your husband. I have been married 45 years as well and I'm certain if I lost my caretaker it would be devastating. We already go through so much. I'm happy you have your sister to help you. I have a dear friend who took me to my chemo appointments and she has also offered to bring me to my immunotherapy appointments once a month for a year - starting in August. I will surely ask about Pantoprazole as I don't think the Omeprazole and the Sucralfate do much...I still have GERD, perhaps not as bad since the radiation treatments ended, but I can still notice it.

Good luck on your CT scan (tomorrow??). Please let us know how you make out. I will get mine at the end of this month.

Best wishes your way..
Sandy

Jump to this post

Hi Sandy- It's so nice to meet you. Forty-Five is a long time. I wouldn't have traded for all the tea in the world.

So, I had my CT scan, and right now, I have to wait for the written report to be published, but things look stable for now! But, look at you too. Who is the brave one?

Thank you for asking.

REPLY
1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 12, 2023
In reply to @bpb "Hi Merry, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending you love and hugs, BPB13" + (show)
@bpb

Hi Merry,

I am so sorry for your loss.

Sending you love and hugs,
BPB13

Jump to this post

Thank you!

REPLY
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