Multifocal Adenocarcinoma of the lung, continual recurrences

Posted by Merry, Alumni Mentor @merpreb, Dec 11, 2018

We have multifocal adenocarcinoma of the lung. @linda10 and @sakota.- Please join me in this discussion.

For a short explanation of this tongue twister. Briefly, Multifocal Adenocarcinoma (MAC) of the lung is a clinical entity of multiple synchronous (less than 6 months) or metachronous (more than 6 months), often ground-glass opacities (GGO) on CT scan, typically indolent-behaving cancers. There is a scarce amt of clinical data to guide treatment decisions.
This came from http://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.e20041.

This means that more than one potential cancerous lesion, mostly ground glass, shows up at a time. For instance I had 3 cancerous lesions 10 years ago in my left lung and in the same area. They were all different sizes. They grow at different rates.

Multifocal adenocarcinoma is a very complex cancer because the medical profession doesn't know if the ground glass lesions are the primary cancer or small metastases of another primary cancer. They don't even know where they start..

Multifocal Adenocarcinoma has sub types and it's management is based on whether it's indolent or very virulent.

These are very simplistic explanations. Even doctors are confused by it and it's only been within the last twenty years that they have separated it from a Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma (BAC).

The constant recurrences are the buggers. Not only do we have to constantly face lots of CT scans but when lung cells change, which they often do, we are in terror of another virulent cancer. I presently have several ground glass lesions. And I have had many that have disappeared. It's enough to drive you nuts and PTSD is exacerbated by the frequency of these devils.

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

@meka

I just wish I knew anything for sure

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Aww. Feeling down Meka?

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I just wish I knew anything for sure

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Hi merry. I know. Thank you so much for your support. I just got to keep reminding myself and I know there are a lot of people who are whose off then I.

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@sakota

What I hate to hear is that things seem stable but yet we are watching this. It’s all just a waiting game because you know that it’s not always going to be stable. But guess Is like getting a box of chocolates. You just never know what’s in the middle. Lol. I really miss my parents when I do need their support and love.

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Hi sakota. That is the most disheartening news for us, but it doesn't have to be. It means, usually, that there are changes, yes, but it doesn't necessarily mean cancer. The nodules are very slow growing and if it's caught early, like ours are, that means our doctors are on top of it! It's like having a chronic disease.

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What I hate to hear is that things seem stable but yet we are watching this. It’s all just a waiting game because you know that it’s not always going to be stable. But guess Is like getting a box of chocolates. You just never know what’s in the middle. Lol. I really miss my parents when I do need their support and love.

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@linda10- You are more than welcome. Happy holidays to you.

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@merpreb

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a new year filled with love, peace and good health.

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Merry Christmas Merry! Thank You for all you do

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I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a new year filled with love, peace and good health.

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@sakota

@linda. Hope uypu had a good day Linda.

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Thank You-I did. Hope your day was fulfilling.

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I really need to proof read before sending

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