Stage 1 to 4

[Ajane]

I saw Onc this morning and seventeen months after TEM and a pCR, it's back. It's in the left upper lobe and measures 10mm. Waiting to visit with Thoracic surgeon as I type. My Onc said best option is to do lobectomy or wedge. Guess will see what the surgeon says. Any advise? Any questions you who have "been there" have that I might ask. I've still no regrets. I knew it was possible, but still difficult to accept.

[localyokal]

I know how you feel. I was diagnosed with stage 2 T3 N0 M0 in 2013, went thru six weeks of Xeloda/radiation, surgery with around 18 inches of colon removed and was given a clean bill of health from my onc and surgeon. In 2014 I was having problems with a wheeze in my chest that wouldn't go away, I had a c scan and pet scan and they discovered a spot on my left lower lobe that turned out to be reoccurrence non small cell cancer. Once again I underwent surgery and they were able to remove all of the cancer with all margins clear. I just had a c scan today to basically rest my mind about some pain I am having in my left side so I am anxiously waiting the results. I am truly sorry you are going thru this again.

[lpas]

No advice, but just wanted to say I'm sorry. That really stinks.

[Kick'nAssCancer'sAss]

That really sucks it is my biggest fear I too had a pCR
Just curious did you do any aduvant chemo? If not were you offered any?

[Danieljt]

Sorry to hear such news. Good luck to you.
Jackie

[cathy123]

So sorry you are going through this again. We are told we are lucky to be stage 1 but doesn't help if you are the 1 in 10 or so that gets a recurrence. Hope the spot is small and treatable and you are Ned again soon.

[Ajane]

Thanks to everyone for all the kind words and well wishes.

Mike, I wasn't offered adjuvant chemo. I was told it could do more harm than good...but I was a stage one and choose a different route than the LAR/APR surgeries. Studies show pCR's have great odds not having to face cancer again, locally or distant. Take heart in that cause you've truly great odds of never being in my shoes. I know...not worrying is easier said than done. Afterall, we're all human.

Local, good luck to you. I hope and pray you get good news!

Having met with my thoracic surgeon this afternoon, we now have a plan. 1) The thoracic surgeon is having my colorectal surgeon take another precautionary visual look to be absolutely sure he doesn't see anything that appears to be a local recurrence 2) Pulmonary function test 3) Precautionary Brain MRI to rule out any mets 4) Proceed with VATS or lobectomy within the next two weeks.

[jvaime21]

So sorry you are going through this again. We are told we are lucky to be stage 1 but doesn't help if you are the 1 in 10 or so that gets a recurrence. Hope the spot is small and treatable and you are Ned again soon.

Hi, so sorry tO hear your bad news. in know it is very difficult to accept.. But stop for a minute and take a deep breath couple of times.

I think that is not measuring of stages .. Its what kind of cancer is it .. And poorly differentiated is a very difficult to cure it is a very aggressive one.. means that it will come back again..
My husband case., before the surgery . We are told that about the poorly diffirentiated and moderate.. Hoping that after the operation will not be poorly dif. But it is.. We'd been through a very aggressive treatment.. After surgery and 6 months of chemo ( OXI+Xeloda ) . two months off of chemo., hubby suffered bloating .. Cramping , and obstruction. and he's urination change., found out some big stiffed mass inside ., biopsy said., NED. But still the obstruction and bloating sometimes ON/OFF. Until the kidney
Was damage .. Acute kidney failure both kidneys..
CANCER is sucks.. And changes our lives forever. But we need to face it and take it slowly one at
a time.
We are all here for each other..

Retchel

[elise]

Push for surgery with a curative intent for sure! I had a wedge resection for a single liver met measuring around 4cm and (for me) it wasn't too bad.

Elise

[Ajane]

Elise, curative intent is the goal. My problem is I'm not sure since it's just over 1cm if a wedge is sufficient. My tumor was poorly differentiated so I'm leaning more toward asking for a lobectomy. I need to research it more. I just had to give myself a break today.

Edited to update visit with Colorectal Surgeon today (5/14): no visual or tactile evidence of local recurrence. Brain MRI and Pulmonary Function test scheduled for tomorrow. Barring any unforseen surprises there, surgery should take place sometime the week of the 25th.

Retchel, I'm sorry for all that your husband has had to go through. You're so right about having each other's backs and having a much needed support system here with folks who've been there and understand. Here's hoping you'll find bright sunnier days ahead. Jane

[rickker20]

Sorry to hear that it came back. Your doctors should have have giving you chemo in the beginning and then after but there is no use in looking back now you must get ready to fight again. Good luck.

[Ajane]

Rikker, I did have six weeks of neoadjuvant Xeloda/rad in the beginning which led to a complete pathological response. Even so, I wanted adjuvant chemo because of the grade 3 to err on the side of caution, but they said no need and it could do more harm than good. Having said that, no going back. No regrets. But there's that little part of me that said I should have listened to my gut and fought harder for it. Just moving forward now and working toward curative intent.

[cathy123]

You listened to your doctors advice, and chemo is not the standard for stage 1. So agreed, no looking back and what ifs.

[shade]

I am sorry you received this news. I also went from Stage 1 to 4, and I know how awful it feels. It sounds like you have a grip on the medical side of things. Like Elise, I had a wedge resection of a single met. With successful surgery, you have plenty of reason to hope for a cure.

[Ajane]

Shade, I'm hopeful I'm a candidate for the wedge resection, like Elise and you. With the confirmation from my Colorectal Surgeon that no local recurrence can be seen and no evidence of any Brain mets on the MRI, we got the phone call this afternoon it's a go. Ten days and counting down to May 28th at 7:30 AM. I've told anyone who'll listen, as far as I know, I'm a whimp! Guess I'm fixing to find out, for sure. I'll say again, I not afraid of dying, but just like everyone else here, I'm afraid of pain!
My Onc said because it was a tiny solitary met, we were proceeding with "curative intent." But I look at the stats, remembering my tumor was a poorly differentiated type, and question if that means I'll beat the odds? I guess only time will tell. 10....