Connect
Just scared: Cancer and scared leaving my daughter behind
My name is Heather, I am 38 years old. I had surgery/diagnosed on 10/9/24 with NSCLC adenoidcarcinoma EGFR 19. Non smoker. I have had multiple lung nodules for 15 years. We followed them for a few years, but due to how young I was and no smoking history, I was told they were benign, and follow up was stopped, unless I started having symptoms. I had bad chest pain before my surgery, which is how we found the cancer. During my surgery my largest nodule was 2.3cm with Visceral Pleural Invasion. I also had 3 tiny tumors around it, but all considered primary tumors. Therefore stage2b multifocal, I did not have lymph node involvement, no lymphovascular invasion, or airspace invasion. They believe the other nodules that have been stable for 15years are atypical adenomatous Hyperplasia. I am scared beyond belief. I have a 8year old daughter who is beautiful and she is autistic that I am scared of leaving behind. Chemo was not recommended. I went straight to Tagrisso. I don’t know what I am looking for my writing this.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.
Connect
Hello, yes I was sent to genetics. My EGFr 19 t790 was passed down to me. Not from somatic like most people. My parents are going to get tested, we have no clue where it came from.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionOh my. You’re so young. Please look into the Inherit Study. They’re studying inheriting lung cancer. Your onc maybe familiar. Sending positivity. Hoping for good outcomes.
https://inheritstudy.org/
Heather- First of all, I will pray for you! Second, the fear of our Cancer returning is natural. I had lung cancer surgery for adenocarcinoma 2 years ago. March 24, 2023. After recovering from a lung surgery, I felt fantastic that they got it out. But then started understanding that Cancer can rear its ugly head again. Every time I have my 6 month check up CT scan, I get scared. NO ONE wants it again! I have decided, first of all, to give my worries to God. Second, instead of concentrating on the “what if” I decided to make plans. More or less, get things in order. Figure out who will care for your daughter if needed. Don’t just talk about it, actually set it up. That’s one thing taken care of and off your worry list. Go down the list of worries and try to set things up that will then give you the freedom to know everything will be okay and you will see that you won’t worry about those things and you can start enjoying living in the present. Eat a Healthy diet so you will start feeling good about that. (If you don’t already) But definitely make yourself some “Me” time! I have found that to be very mentally beneficial! I have raised 6 children, one is high functioning Autistic. Now that they are all 21+, I realize how worn down I was worrying about them and caring for them, just being Mom. It’s like the airplane oxygen mask. Put yours on first or you wont be able to help anyone else. I pray that you will come to peace with your situation and I pray that God will put his healing hands on you! All my best, Cindy
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsThere is a Young Lung Cancer Group on Facebook. You would meet others with young children there. Consider joining. They're a private group.
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EH9Upn8uy/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Thank you so much. I’m struggling mentally. I work full time as a nurse and just exhausted. Scared the cancer will come back. Frequent thought.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi @hnreinhart12, Heather, I hope you don't mind, I expanded the title of your discussion. I'm glad you wrote here and that you have an appointment with a mental health specialist too. Don't forget about social workers who can be an additional help. At Mayo Clinic and other cancer centers, there is a specialized type of social worker specifically for cancer patients and families.
- How an Oncology Social Worker Can Help https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/how-an-oncology-social-worker-can-help/
I remember a post by @marshall8318 (Julliette) when she found herself in a similar situation just a few years ago that was helpful to many https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/712755/
Heather, how are you doing today?
I’m so sorry. Very frightening. But it will be watched. I am very glad you are taking care of your mental health, often goes hand-in-hand with a physical condition. Pls keep us posted on how you are doing, this forum is helpful.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThank you so much!
Thank you so much! I am praying for you!
Hi, I'm able to relate. I'm 39, non-smoker, found out last October as well. I'm stage 4 adenocarcinoma EGFR mutation. Caught my cancer pretty late, I dealt with headaches for a year and got diagnosed with chronic migraine until I went and saw a neurologist at Mayo in Rochester for a second opinion. So far the Tagrisso is working for me and seems to work for most people. They also have me on chemo with the Tagrisso, Carboplatin for 4 cycles and now just pemetrexed. A recent study showed that the Tagrisso worked longer with this chemo taken at the same time. Not sure if that would be overkill for you since hopefully they removed all of your cancer? For the stress management and being scared out of my mind, I recently started taking Prozac and that has helped a great deal in dealing with this. It doesn't make you numb or anything like that, which was my concern, but just seems to make dealing with all of this seem easier...
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
8 Reactions