Lung cancer with unrelated pancreatic cancer

Posted by kakalena @kakalena, Jan 31, 2025

In January 2023 I was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell adenocarcinoma of the lungs. They did a mediastinoscopy and took samples of the lymph nodes in the mediastinum. There were two "masses" seen in both lungs which had previously been called scar tissue from breast cancer radiation (both mucinous in each breast, but not the same cancer in 2006 and 2016). There were no samples taken from the lungs. Since February 2023, I have been treated with Yervoy and Opdivo infusions every 3 weeks until July of 2024, when they discontinued the Yervoy due to side effects. In October of 2024, after one of my quarterly CT scans, they saw a possible mass on the head of my pancreas so I had an MRI which confirmed it. In December I had a biopsy of the mass and it was confirmed that it was acinar cell carcinoma, 4 cm. in size. I have now had 3 different cancers, none of them related. So, here is my question: Is it possible that there was no lung cancer and that the lymph node involvement seen on the PET scan was from the pancreas? I am no scientist, but some of the markers for non small cell adenocarcinoma seem similar to those of the acinar cell carcinoma.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for kakalena @kakalena

I'm sorry to hear that about your husband and the lung cancer vs.
pancreatic cancer. I'm still in the process of finding out if that's the
case with me. I agree. I think all oncologists should order a ca19-9 test
for their patients with any kind of abdominal cancer. There is also the
issue of certain immuno. drugs for lung cancer causing pancreatitis. I keep
telling my doctors that I am one of the 2% group. Not financially, but side
effect wise. Miracles do happen. Don't give up.

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Just learned today that the drug company and FDA have approved Dan for this trial drug. So, definitely not giving up hope!

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Profile picture for sheridanb @sheridanb

Just learned today that the drug company and FDA have approved Dan for this trial drug. So, definitely not giving up hope!

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That makes me 😃

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Profile picture for kakalena @kakalena

That makes me 😃

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Thank you. No guarantee of anything, but at least it provides some hope when we have exhausted the use of chemo drugs.

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