Living with lung cancer - Introduce yourself & come say hi

@merpreb It is all new to me. Don't see my Onco until the following week. See the surgeon next week and will bing it up with him. At least the carcinoid was removed along with the Adeno. No further treatment was suggested since my team was only aware of the Adeno. No, this carcinoid appeared in the path report as an additional finding when testing the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues for spread fo the Adenocarcinoma--there was none and the carcinoid celet showed no spread either. I thank you for your referral to other sites here and will read and learn as much as I can.I look forward to hearing what my Onco has to say and what measures he will take to follow and/or treat possible recurrences of either and any of such cancers. It is so wonderful to have access to this site.

@alamogal635- I know that it's all new to you. I'm sorry that you have to learn about this at all. Your lesions are small so you might not need any treatments. Fingers crossed! I'll look forward to hearing what he has to say! This site is terrific!

@merpreb what a fast response! I am sorry that anyone has to go through any kind of cancer, or similar disease. I will keep you posted. Also will see a pulmonologist. Anyway, the waiting is tough and underneath Ivam frightened of the possible unknowns, but such is life. Couldn’t get comfortable last night mentally, or physically. Going to lue here on my favorite couch acdoze/sleep some. Taking today off😀

@alamogal635- I am so glad that you are taking care of your self! This is a big deal because too many people push too hard or they don't take care at all. I know the fear that you are feeling. As you get more active you will spend less time being afraid, but I think that you said that it's there, always lurking. And it will, always be there lurking. But as all things, you get use to it. But you are still very new to this threat so try and roll with it. I urge you to write your journey down. Later you will be amazed at how you truly feel. You don't have to share it like I chose to do. Can you take something to make yourself more comfortable at night? A good night's sleep is very important.

@alamogal635 - check out this magazine There's a wonderful magazine called CURE magazine. https://www.curetoday.com/ It is absolutely the best in up to date news, research and spend a lot of time with each different cancer. And a lot of time with lung cancer stories. I believe that it's free.

I found multiple published articles by NIH and the American Cancer Society. The most recent NIH article was published in 2017 and is the most promising, stating that "Pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets are rare, benign lesions". In the papers spanning the previous 10 years, there is more uncertainty, generally concluding sometimes they develop into tumors but most times they remain small. By definition, a tumorlet is defined by size - less than 0.5 cm or 5 mm in diameter. Overall, nothing to worry about and you should focus on being happy the tumor is gone!

I was pretty open about my cancer, so when I sent to my 40th high school reunion last year, most of the guys already knew. (I attended an all male, Jesuit high school.) I heard a lot of stories about guys that had gone through pancreatic cancer. But most relevant to this thread is the one friend who pulled me aside and confided that he has survived 3 types of cancer and currently has one that will eventually kill him. By profession, he is a Psychiatrist who has worked with numerous cancer patients prior to and during his own experiences. He kept in touch after the reunion and helped me as I was going through chemo and radiation. The most important lesson he shared with me was "You have to give yourself permission to rest." I've found this to be good advice.

Keeping you in my prayers.

@flusshund Thank you fro that encouraging information. That is the most information I've heard about the aneroid tumor lets. I am glad they got it along with the other one when both were so small. That is good advice from your psychiatrist friend from whom you got support. It is often easier said than done! I will be working on it however. I think it is wise to be open about our cancer--don't mean buttonhole people and regale them with our stories, but not shy away from talking about our cancer if it is appropriate. I am learning also to do this. At first I felt like it was a dirty secret--like in the Biblical days of being a leper. Thank you for your payers. I will be praying for you as well. Have taken this day off to rest and just be. It feels good. Remember a disc jokey who always opened his show with "Let us thank the Lord fro he has given us another day." That was years ago, but it is still a good way to approach each day.

@alamogal635, I found information about carcinoid tumorlets as @flusshund did. Pulmonary carcinoid tumorlets (benign) are not the same as neuroendocrine tumors of the lung (cancerous).

I think this is the 2017 NIH paper that Flusshund referred to https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389108/

This paper (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5389108/) states: "Carcinoid tumorlets (PCTs) are rare, benign and usually constitute incidental findings. ... They often coexist with diffuse bronchiectasis, emphysema and interstitial fibrosis."

When you meet with your doctor, you might wish to ask more about your specific situation. Here a few things I would want to know:
- What is the difference between a carcinoid tumorlet and a pulmonary adenocarcinoma lesion or tumor?
- Do I have any other underlying lung conditions?
- What else do I need to know?

I'd be very interested in hearing what you learn.

@colleenyoung Thank you! Will see my oncologist and will ask him about the difference between these two as well as his experience with Aden carcinomas occurring with them. My PCP just called to reassure me. She did not want me worrying until seeing the oncologist. She talks with oncologist and he said that these tumorlets are often found when surgery is don't to remove another cancerous nodule and he is not concerned about it. He thinks there is no follow up treatment regarding the tumorlet and he will discuss this with me in detail when I see him a week from this coming Tuesday. My previous PCP retired and I really lucked out with this PCP--she truly cares about one's emotional and physical well-being. Certainly will keep you posted as I find out more. In the meantime, will be reading these posts. I look forward to reading these papers that you and flusshund supplied.

@alamogal635 Knowledge is power, however, the information in the research papers is probably information overload. While it is good to prepare your questions, I wouldn't obsess about this (easier said than done). Write your questions down and then get on with enjoying your weekend activities. Your oncologist isn't concerned and your PCP called to reassure you. How incredibly understanding of your PCP that seeing the report might worry you unnecessarily. She sounds amazing.