Need to vent.. but comments would be wonderful!
Question:
I am a 42yr old female (30 year smoker). I had a car accident in April, broke 7 ribs and Xrays should what looked like 2 large contusions on my R lung. I never got well, in fact the pain was getting unbareable to the point of not being able to get out of bed. I finally went back to my PCP with new Xrays of my lungs and he agreed there may be a problem. Had several tests, finally a needle biopsy diag’ed that I had non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma. I had two tumors, the surgeon said they were seperate incidents. I also had 2 lymp nodes involved. He explained the old staging would be 4, but a new staging has come out staging it 2 I had lung lobectomy and also had the 2 nodes removed. My prognosis was 80% recurrence.. love statistics <sigh My oncologist visited me the day after surgery (Oct 25,2000) and said 95% he would do chemo and 100% sure radiation. After getting over the surgery at the follow up visit he suddenly changed his mind to only radiation… on the lymp nodes along my bronc. My pain somewhat letup for 2 weeks then suddenly my pain level when sky high. I was nearly through with my radiation treatment last week, Jan. 22, 2001 when the radiation oncologist comes in and says "Im sorry but the pain isn’t post operative but another tumor!" WELL talk about falling into another deep depression. I just wonder if Chemo would of stopped yet another tumor to pop up. I truely feel my treatment was not agressive enough. I have read and heard that both chemo and radiation should be used… but my oncologist said the effects of chemo would not be helpful. That does not sound right to me.. or am I in denial? Anyways… thanks for listening 
Lucy
Response:
In article – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a 42yr old female (30 year smoker). I had a car accident in April, broke 7 ribs and Xrays should what looked like 2 large contusions on my R lung. I never got well, in fact the pain was getting unbareable to the point of not being able to get out of bed. I finally went back to my PCP with new Xrays of my lungs and he agreed there may be a problem. Had several tests, finally a needle biopsy diag’ed that I had non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma. I had two tumors, the surgeon said they were seperate incidents. I also had 2 lymp nodes involved. He explained the old staging would be 4, but a new staging has come out staging it 2 I had lung lobectomy and also had the 2 nodes removed. My prognosis was 80% recurrence.. love statistics <sigh My oncologist visited me the day after surgery (Oct 25,2000) and said 95% he would do chemo and 100% sure radiation. After getting over the surgery at the follow up visit he suddenly changed his mind to only radiation… on the lymp nodes along my bronc. My pain somewhat letup for 2 weeks then suddenly my pain level when sky high. I was nearly through with my radiation treatment last week, Jan. 22, 2001 when the radiation oncologist comes in and says "Im sorry but the pain isn’t post operative but another tumor!" WELL talk about falling into another deep depression. I just wonder if Chemo would of stopped yet another tumor to pop up. I truely feel my treatment was not agressive enough. I have read and heard that both chemo and radiation should be used… but my oncologist said the effects of chemo would not be helpful. That does not sound right to me.. or am I in denial? Anyways… thanks for listening Lucy
Lucy: I am sorry to hear about your tumor. I would recommend if you don’t feel right about your doctor’s advice that you seek a second opinion. I would also recommend if you are having difficulty coping emotionally a good counselor. If you have an HMO, call for authorization to see a social worker or psychologist. A lot of times people need extra support. Sending good wishes.
Response:
Lucy, I have a cousin with NSCLC and it mets all over. Radiation was given for her back and brain. She is also doing chemo. Surgery was not an option. She was diagnosed in June 2000. She went into partial remission (giving false hope) in Dec 2000. She has extreme pain in her back and had CTS done it had come back. (Reality). With surgery there is hope. With lung cancer you buy time. My mother has small cell. I am not trying to bring you down. I am just saying I don’t think it matters with lung cancers. I am so very sorry. If you need to vent it out write me. I do understand your frustrations. I live with them everyday. I have recurrent breast cancer so believe me I do understand your situation as do others in the NG. It use to be that chemo was not an option for NSCLC. They have found a couple of drugs to help buy time. I know you are going to get the crazies posting on miracles. Someone from the NG called this snatch and grab remedies. Look into clinical trials. There are a few going on. My prayers are with you. Debbie
Response:
The situation is complicated, I have not seen any records and I can only give some preliminary thoughts. I believe chemo is not routinely given for post-surgical stage 2 patients though it is for stage 4. Thus the staging is important. It is difficult to say that early chemo would have eradicated the second tumor also. Good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a 42yr old female (30 year smoker). I had a car accident in April, broke 7 ribs and Xrays should what looked like 2 large contusions on my R lung. I never got well, in fact the pain was getting unbareable to the point of not being able to get out of bed. I finally went back to my PCP with new Xrays of my lungs and he agreed there may be a problem. Had several tests, finally a needle biopsy diag’ed that I had non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma. I had two tumors, the surgeon said they were seperate incidents. I also had 2 lymp nodes involved. He explained the old staging would be 4, but a new staging has come out staging it 2 I had lung lobectomy and also had the 2 nodes removed. My prognosis was 80% recurrence.. love statistics <sigh My oncologist visited me the day after surgery (Oct 25,2000) and said 95% he would do chemo and 100% sure radiation. After getting over the surgery at the follow up visit he suddenly changed his mind to only radiation… on the lymp nodes along my bronc. My pain somewhat letup for 2 weeks then suddenly my pain level when sky high. I was nearly through with my radiation treatment last week, Jan. 22, 2001 when the radiation oncologist comes in and says "Im sorry but the pain isn’t post operative but another tumor!" WELL talk about falling into another deep depression. I just wonder if Chemo would of stopped yet another tumor to pop up. I truely feel my treatment was not agressive enough. I have read and heard that both chemo and radiation should be used… but my oncologist said the effects of chemo would not be helpful. That does not sound right to me.. or am I in denial? Anyways… thanks for listening Lucy
Response:
Lucy, your type of cancer does not really respond to chemotherapy;certainly not in a curative sense. Surgery and radiation are the only means of cure (in the early stages) and sometimes chemo can help with symptom control later on. What you need right now is a pain specialist (oncologists and GPs are not usually very good at symptom control. If there is a palliative care team in your area get in touch with them as soon as possible so that any symptoms you do get can be dealt with at an early stage. Anti inflammatory drugs like naproxen and voltaren can be very useful for lung cancer pain but you may well need a combination of drugs to deal with it effectively. If you choose to push your oncologist for aggressive chemotherapy then get all the information you can off him and go in with a plan. Set a target e.g. if the cancer is not in remission or well on it’s way after three treatments give it up, especially if the side effects are making your life miserable. Some people cope well with chemo others not so well. You don’t know till you try it. Whatever you decide Good Luck. MIKE
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am a 42yr old female (30 year smoker). I had a car accident in April, broke 7 ribs and Xrays should what looked like 2 large contusions on my R lung. I never got well, in fact the pain was getting unbareable to the point of not being able to get out of bed. I finally went back to my PCP with new Xrays of my lungs and he agreed there may be a problem. Had several tests, finally a needle biopsy diag’ed that I had non-small cell lung cancer, adenocarcinoma. I had two tumors, the surgeon said they were seperate incidents. I also had 2 lymp nodes involved. He explained the old staging would be 4, but a new staging has come out staging it 2 I had lung lobectomy and also had the 2 nodes removed. My prognosis was 80% recurrence.. love statistics <sigh My oncologist visited me the day after surgery (Oct 25,2000) and said 95% he would do chemo and 100% sure radiation. After getting over the surgery at the follow up visit he suddenly changed his mind to only radiation… on the lymp nodes along my bronc. My pain somewhat letup for 2 weeks then suddenly my pain level when sky high. I was nearly through with my radiation treatment last week, Jan. 22, 2001 when the radiation oncologist comes in and says "Im sorry but the pain isn’t post operative but another tumor!" WELL talk about falling into another deep depression. I just wonder if Chemo would of stopped yet another tumor to pop up. I truely feel my treatment was not agressive enough. I have read and heard that both chemo and radiation should be used… but my oncologist said the effects of chemo would not be helpful. That does not sound right to me.. or am I in denial? Anyways… thanks for listening Lucy
