1. < Lung Cancer

Newly diagnosed with lung cancer. Never smoked. In shock....

Posted by aksinspringfield @aksinspringfield, May 29, 2022

hi all. my name is Amy. i am 56, non smoker, former triathlete, eat healthy.. etc..
had a high heart rate working out starting over a year ago. ignored it, as i thought i was just not in normal shape and i had reduced hard workouts because of hip pain. I developed a cough about 4 months ago. finally got a chest xray in late April... fast forward to now. stage 4.

first, i had no idea there was a "non smokers" lung cancer and that is could present with little or general symptoms.

i appreciate all of the advice on here about being patient- waiting is the worst! i have an A team of docs that i trust but they encouraged a second opinion, which isnt scheduled for 4 weeks.

any ideas on how to best prepare my body for chemo/immuno treatments? i am still working out and still eat pretty healthy. are there supplements , etc?

thank you
Amy

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 12, 2022
In reply to @corgimenow "In response to the care question his questions on the portal are not seen by the..." + (show)
@corgimenow

In response to the care question his questions on the portal are not seen by the people he is communicating with. He did get a direct email to communicate with his PA so that helps with questions. But the portal ones have gotten lost or the response takes so long that it is nerve wracking because more questions come up and the others are left unanswered. Even a quick response to a message that says “are you getting my messages “ is not answered.

He has accepted the diagnosis and surgery but was initially led to believe there would be a much less drastic outcome.

Last year he literally skied a million vertical at Vail. He’s an avid road biker and sailor. With disciplined attention to recovery instructions will this kind of cardio be possible in the future?

Thank you. Mara

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@corgimenow I'm thinking of you as you and your husband prepare for surgery tomorrow.

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1 reply
corgimenow | @corgimenow | Jun 12, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "@corgimenow I'm thinking of you as you and your husband prepare for surgery tomorrow." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@corgimenow I'm thinking of you as you and your husband prepare for surgery tomorrow.

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That is so nice of you! We are waiting for our call in time to know when we go in.
We have had so many calls and messages from family and friends. So grateful for technology and being connected to loved ones. Also for this amazing place.

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 13, 2022
In reply to @corgimenow "That is so nice of you! We are waiting for our call in time to know..." + (show)
@corgimenow

That is so nice of you! We are waiting for our call in time to know when we go in.
We have had so many calls and messages from family and friends. So grateful for technology and being connected to loved ones. Also for this amazing place.

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Best of luck!

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aksinspringfield | @aksinspringfield | Jun 16, 2022

Hi all
Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast- docs were going to do chemo first but abruptly reversed course on friday and set me for a monday surgery.
It went well- they got out the tumor with clean margins!
It was bigger than a softball- unbelievable.
Now on to chemo…

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3 replies
Mentor
Lisa, Volunteer Mentor | @lls8000 | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @aksinspringfield "Hi all Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast-..." + (show)
@aksinspringfield

Hi all
Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast- docs were going to do chemo first but abruptly reversed course on friday and set me for a monday surgery.
It went well- they got out the tumor with clean margins!
It was bigger than a softball- unbelievable.
Now on to chemo…

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Wishing you an uneventful recovery! Yes, they removed your lower lobe, but look at all you’ve been doing while growing a softball in your lung!? Endure through the chemo, and you’ll hopefully bounce back from this ok. Hugs, take care.

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1 reply
aksinspringfield | @aksinspringfield | Jun 17, 2022
In reply to @lls8000 "Wishing you an uneventful recovery! Yes, they removed your lower lobe, but look at all you’ve..." + (show)
@lls8000

Wishing you an uneventful recovery! Yes, they removed your lower lobe, but look at all you’ve been doing while growing a softball in your lung!? Endure through the chemo, and you’ll hopefully bounce back from this ok. Hugs, take care.

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Thank you! Keeping the faith!

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oldkarl | @oldkarl | Jun 18, 2022
In reply to @aksinspringfield "Hi all Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast-..." + (show)
@aksinspringfield

Hi all
Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast- docs were going to do chemo first but abruptly reversed course on friday and set me for a monday surgery.
It went well- they got out the tumor with clean margins!
It was bigger than a softball- unbelievable.
Now on to chemo…

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Great job, for both you and the doctors to recognize the problem and deal with it. I had a melanoma on my spine, and the doc said "Oh, just ignore it. It will go away on its own." He was right. So I took my whole body, including that melanoma, and went to another oncologist. He said the first doctor was correct. This would go away on it's own when I die. oldkarl

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1 reply
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 18, 2022
In reply to @oldkarl "Great job, for both you and the doctors to recognize the problem and deal with it...." + (show)
@oldkarl

Great job, for both you and the doctors to recognize the problem and deal with it. I had a melanoma on my spine, and the doc said "Oh, just ignore it. It will go away on its own." He was right. So I took my whole body, including that melanoma, and went to another oncologist. He said the first doctor was correct. This would go away on it's own when I die. oldkarl

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KARL!

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dedehans | @dedehans | Jun 19, 2022
In reply to @aksinspringfield "Hi all Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast-..." + (show)
@aksinspringfield

Hi all
Update- i had left lower lobe removed with VATS last week. It happened fast- docs were going to do chemo first but abruptly reversed course on friday and set me for a monday surgery.
It went well- they got out the tumor with clean margins!
It was bigger than a softball- unbelievable.
Now on to chemo…

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I am not sure if this has been asked here....Did the surgeon take a sample of your tumor for pathology testing? To identify it's genetic make up? As you are stage IV you should qualify for a targeted therapy if you have the right markers. The medicine will only go after the genetic material that is left and keep it in check. Sorry if this question already answered....

Me and my theraputic Margarita during the tough summer of 16.
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2 replies
Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 19, 2022
In reply to @dedehans "I am not sure if this has been asked here....Did the surgeon take a sample of..." + (show)
@dedehans

I am not sure if this has been asked here....Did the surgeon take a sample of your tumor for pathology testing? To identify it's genetic make up? As you are stage IV you should qualify for a targeted therapy if you have the right markers. The medicine will only go after the genetic material that is left and keep it in check. Sorry if this question already answered....

Me and my theraputic Margarita during the tough summer of 16.

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Dee- This looks delicious but any alcohol drinking during cancer treatments should be checked with your oncologist. I do have to confess that way back when I had chemo (there were no directed treatments at that time) I had a glass of wine at night. But as I got further into chemo I could only take a few sips. I don't think that wine would be my forte right now though.

Merry

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