ctDNA and scan

[beach sunrise]

ctDNA draw happened today. Extended labs on Monday (usually about 15 vials or so). Scan April 4th.
It has been 5 1/2 yrs of all things cancer and one would think it gets easier but for me it does not. Anxiety is always present.

[utahgal7]

Gosh! Cancer anxiety is tough. I hope all labs come back within normal range and I hope you have clear scans.

Keeping fingers crossed for you!

[beach sunrise]

Thanks girl! Means so much...
I anxious about the cloudy spot in LRL turning into a met. If it does I will have to go to a whole new city in Germany for a month maybe as my surgeon is going to a new hospital. So ya, anxiety is pretty high.

[zephyr]

Thanks girl! Means so much...
I anxious about the cloudy spot in LRL turning into a met. If it does I will have to go to a whole new city in Germany for a month maybe as my surgeon is going to a new hospital. So ya, anxiety is pretty high.

Are you talking about Dr. Kern? If so, do you know where he is going? I just gave his contact info to another patient.

[beach sunrise]

Yes, he will be taking a position over the lung department in Cottbus University Hospital the first of April. He let me know since I am under 5 year surveillance with him. He will still be performing Rolles surgery at the new hospital plus robotic surgery.

[beach sunrise]

ctDNA came back positive .08
Scan was today. I know the scan tech aren't suppose to tell you anything but they do with me. We have great rapport. He sias he didn't notice anything so hopefully the radiologist gives a good finding. Expanded blood draw Monday then put the 3 together and see what it shows as a whole.

[beach sunrise]

Scan was disappointing. 3 ovoid nodules, small but there. One LLL and 2 URL. A few ground glass nodules scattered in ULL. We will see what Dr. Kerns opinion is. If I need to go back to Germany I'm going to have to set up a charity fund at the bqnk. I hope I don't have to go back.

[Markdale]

Sorry about the results, we were all hoping it would be a good scan. I’m guessing they’re small so you have a while before you have to get any surgery.

[beach sunrise]

Thanks, Markdale! I feel defeated for sure. The one in LLL they called small is 1.6cmx.8cm. To me that is not small. the other 2 are tiny thank goodness.

[Markdale]

True, Was the 1.6cm one there in a previous scan? 3 months or even 6 months is not enough time to grow to that size I think

[zephyr]

I'm so sorry, Beach. As Markdale wrote, we were all cheering for a good scan.

Let me start with a disclaimer: I probably don't know what I'm talking about, but here goes. Since the largest one is the LLL, and it's big enough but not too large for other options, have you considered SBRT? Speaking for myself, if given a choice between SBRT and Dr. Kern generally, I'd take Dr. Kern in a heartbeat, but maybe (?) you would be better off holding off on Germany until you see what happens with the smaller nodules? During Covid, I needed to do something with a single nodule and didn't want to travel internationally. I stumbled across a thoracic surgeon in the U.S. who did a procedure that was kind of similar to Germany but (according to Dr. Drewes) not the same. It seemed to be a kind of mix between the laser and a surgical SBRT (if there is/were such a thing). Anyway, I recall the surgeon saying something about there being a lot of scar tissue from the prior surgeries and there being some doubt about whether I could ever have lung surgery again on that side. It wasn't said directly, but that was my impression. Maybe I misunderstood but it might be worth asking Dr. Kern. Of course, whatever Dr. Kern advises overall is the best answer, no question about that. Making a right turn on this topic ... in terms of small nodules, he was able to remove a tiny one (less than 3mm) in my URR that surgeons here said they seriously doubted anyone could find and remove even by putting their hand inside and palpitating the lung. Dr. Kern got it. Hope that makes you feel better about small nodules. Sending you healing vibes.

[beach sunrise]

Markdale, report states it was on previous scan and unchanged. It didn't stand out to me then. This surgeon appt will be a good one. No mention of SUV, no mention of size back in Sept, smooth or ill defined, no nothing mentioned except a nodule found. Sept was when I was coming out of my mental breakdown but I'm on it now.
Dr. Kern said I had a cloudy spot to keep an eye on but that was all. Ordered scan and will mail it to him when it arrives.
ctDNA was .08, scan seems bad, bloodwork shoud be in by end of the week.
Yes Yes zypher, I would take Dr. Kern over any. True about scar tissue. Report noted tissue filling in previous cavity (ROLLES). SBRT is something not alot of data as to risk/benefit, long term outcomes, ect. I'm a lil leary of things that do not have high potential for sure.