Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

Good idea Its been awhile since I've been on here at least posting on here I read it from time to time . Diagnosed adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 2A 2015, I had surgery resection and chemo following . Months later lymph nodes in the mid chest were enlarged due to cancer . The doctor said she believed that that it was there earlier but never showed on any scans they called it a local reoccurrence . I then had radiation x30 and chemo . My last scan was in January and everything was stable some nodules are being watched but are very small , too small to biopsy . I constantly worry ..especially right before scan which is coming up mid April I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and praying that all is good . The doctor said this was caught fairly early which I believe is a good thing . They did mutation testing and from what I understand all checked were negative .. i don't know if that's good or bad but that's all I know . It seems your life kind of stops once you're diagnosed and everything is put on hold at least mine has.. I lived with my son through the treatment and I'm thinking about getting my own place again and possibly even working part-time ,I can no longer hide behind a diagnosis .Online support groups have helped me in many ways . But I am looking for a face-to-face support group also . Will keep reading and try to post more often. I'm
from Milwaukee Wisconsin... . If anyone else is .but if so would like to hear from you. Hope all are doing well .....Thanks

@bestcare
Welcome to connect. Thank you for sharing your story with such openness. I am a 9 year lung cancer survivor. I have an understanding about what you may feel. You are not alone. I hope by sharing I can help you find a way to rise above the fear.May I share a little about my story ?
Jan 2008most of my left lung and a 3cm tumor was removed just days after Mayo Clinic properly diagnosed my shoulder pain, annoying cough, night sweats...I have a feeling you understand?

I had these symptoms for at least two years, but my local docs found nothing. That was in the year 2008, when most everyone thought, Ih you got lung cancer? You smoked! Well I never smoked.
Now I can continue to "thank Mayo Clinic Teams", at all of my follow up apts for saving my life!...I am equally, deeply grateful to the Lung Cancer researchers who answered my question, Why did I get lung cancer?"
About three years ago I jumped at the chance to have my 3cm tumor tested. I had a mutated EGFR gene! I did not pass lung cancer to my children & I did not get this gene from my parents! Whew!
So I cannot wait for researchers to find what's behind the EGFR and other mutation, and one day find a cure.

Because of this cancer roller coaster,I have learned the importance of rising above the fear that may bring depression. So I go for walks, even in the rain & cold! I tell my body to relax when I breath deep! And I continue to blow cancer away! I've even found relief with complimentary medicine.
Now we have Connect! Great to meet you.
Linda
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Good idea Its been awhile since I've been on here at least posting on here I read it from time to time . Diagnosed adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 2A 2015, I had surgery resection and chemo following . Months later lymph nodes in the mid chest were enlarged due to cancer . The doctor said she believed that that it was there earlier but never showed on any scans they called it a local reoccurrence . I then had radiation x30 and chemo . My last scan was in January and everything was stable some nodules are being watched but are very small , too small to biopsy . I constantly worry ..especially right before scan which is coming up mid April I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and praying that all is good . The doctor said this was caught fairly early which I believe is a good thing . They did mutation testing and from what I understand all checked were negative .. i don't know if that's good or bad but that's all I know . It seems your life kind of stops once you're diagnosed and everything is put on hold at least mine has.. I lived with my son through the treatment and I'm thinking about getting my own place again and possibly even working part-time ,I can no longer hide behind a diagnosis .Online support groups have helped me in many ways . But I am looking for a face-to-face support group also . Will keep reading and try to post more often. I'm
from Milwaukee Wisconsin... . If anyone else is .but if so would like to hear from you. Hope all are doing well .....Thanks

Good idea Its been awhile since I've been on here at least posting on here I read it from time to time . Diagnosed adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 2A 2015, I had surgery resection and chemo following . Months later lymph nodes in the mid chest were enlarged due to cancer . The doctor said she believed that that it was there earlier but never showed on any scans they called it a local reoccurrence . I then had radiation x30 and chemo . My last scan was in January and everything was stable some nodules are being watched but are very small , too small to biopsy . I constantly worry ..especially right before scan which is coming up mid April I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and praying that all is good . The doctor said this was caught fairly early which I believe is a good thing . They did mutation testing and from what I understand all checked were negative .. i don't know if that's good or bad but that's all I know . It seems your life kind of stops once you're diagnosed and everything is put on hold at least mine has.. I lived with my son through the treatment and I'm thinking about getting my own place again and possibly even working part-time ,I can no longer hide behind a diagnosis .Online support groups have helped me in many ways . But I am looking for a face-to-face support group also . Will keep reading and try to post more often. I'm
from Milwaukee Wisconsin... . If anyone else is .but if so would like to hear from you. Hope all are doing well .....Thanks

Good idea Its been awhile since I've been on here at least posting on here I read it from time to time . Diagnosed adenocarcinoma non small cell stage 2A 2015, I had surgery resection and chemo following . Months later lymph nodes in the mid chest were enlarged due to cancer . The doctor said she believed that that it was there earlier but never showed on any scans they called it a local reoccurrence . I then had radiation x30 and chemo . My last scan was in January and everything was stable some nodules are being watched but are very small , too small to biopsy . I constantly worry ..especially right before scan which is coming up mid April I'm just keeping my fingers crossed and praying that all is good . The doctor said this was caught fairly early which I believe is a good thing . They did mutation testing and from what I understand all checked were negative .. i don't know if that's good or bad but that's all I know . It seems your life kind of stops once you're diagnosed and everything is put on hold at least mine has.. I lived with my son through the treatment and I'm thinking about getting my own place again and possibly even working part-time ,I can no longer hide behind a diagnosis .Online support groups have helped me in many ways . But I am looking for a face-to-face support group also . Will keep reading and try to post more often. I'm
from Milwaukee Wisconsin... . If anyone else is .but if so would like to hear from you. Hope all are doing well .....Thanks

It's been awhile! Thank you Colleen for moderating and Linda for participating as an amazing survivor of NSCLC!
My wife continues with her treatment of the trial doublet herceptin/perjeta (sponsored by Genetech); which was recommended by Mayo for her unusual stage IV lung cancer with the HERR2 mutation. She has now had 4 infusions and just today had a scan and echo gram to check her progress before continuing with her treatment next week.
As you know, her non small cell lung cancer was diagnosed in April, 2015 and she underwent a VATS bi-lobectimy of her right lung Mother's Day that year. After having previously had Cisplatin chemo and nine rounds of Opdivo, she now amazingly tolerates the new doublet well.
We pray for good reports next week.
If there is one thing we have learned from all this, it's that we now live "one day at a time"! Not planning too far out, we have booked a cruise in May with the hopes that she can tolerate being spoiled for two weeks before returning for more infusions!
God bless all the cancer patients/survivors, and God bless the good people at Mayo- Rochesrer and Mayo-Jacksonville. And God bless our local oncologist and staff here in South Carolina for ther very professional on-going care.