Need info quickly should I get radiation to my tumor on my lung?

lorisoto
lorisoto Member Posts: 14
I've been offered to get radiation to part of my lung where a tumor is growing and getting ready to block my air way on my left lung.Chemo is not working Should I or shouldn't I do it? I'm pretty healthy no issues. Please help. Any info would be appreciated.
Thank you
Lori

Comments

  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    lori
    I can't tell you whether or not to do something, but I can tell you that if it were my lung I would have the radiation. What does your doctor say?
    stayingcalm
  • shore_thing
    shore_thing Member Posts: 1
    Dear Lori,
    A year ago

    Dear Lori,
    A year ago October, 2009 I was diagnosed with lung cancer....it was pressing into my windpipe and was inoperable. I had radiation for six weeks along with chemo. The tumor not only shrunk but disappeared. I had a second round of chemo in the spring which ended last April, 2010. I just had my third 3-month petscan and there is still no evidence of the tumor. I am back to work and feeling great....the radiation saved my life.
  • mamacita5
    mamacita5 Member Posts: 254

    Dear Lori,
    A year ago

    Dear Lori,
    A year ago October, 2009 I was diagnosed with lung cancer....it was pressing into my windpipe and was inoperable. I had radiation for six weeks along with chemo. The tumor not only shrunk but disappeared. I had a second round of chemo in the spring which ended last April, 2010. I just had my third 3-month petscan and there is still no evidence of the tumor. I am back to work and feeling great....the radiation saved my life.

    If the chemo didn't work I
    If the chemo didn't work I think you should follow your doctor's advice and have the radiation. I would think doing nothing would be far worse. Good luck and let us know how things are going for you. I had both chemo and radiation, and did well through both.
  • lorisoto
    lorisoto Member Posts: 14

    lori
    I can't tell you whether or not to do something, but I can tell you that if it were my lung I would have the radiation. What does your doctor say?
    stayingcalm

    Staying Calm
    My doctors want me to do the radiation to my lung so I don't end up with pnemonia. I'm so confused because why wouldn't they not offer this to me once the tumors were located? I know they wanted to treat me with chemo first to see what that would do and now that we know chemo isn't working they want to radiate my lung tumor. By the way I have Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer with mets to the brain. If they radiated in the first place I feel it would of prevented all the cancer breaking off from my lung and spreading to my brain and other parts of my lungs?
  • lorisoto
    lorisoto Member Posts: 14

    Dear Lori,
    A year ago

    Dear Lori,
    A year ago October, 2009 I was diagnosed with lung cancer....it was pressing into my windpipe and was inoperable. I had radiation for six weeks along with chemo. The tumor not only shrunk but disappeared. I had a second round of chemo in the spring which ended last April, 2010. I just had my third 3-month petscan and there is still no evidence of the tumor. I am back to work and feeling great....the radiation saved my life.

    Shore_thing
    Dear Shore thing - Thank you for that I needed to hear the positive. When they radiated your lung what were your side effects? I read it burns your esphogus and could harm other area's? I have stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer with mets to the brain what was your diagnosis?
  • lorisoto
    lorisoto Member Posts: 14
    mamacita5 said:

    If the chemo didn't work I
    If the chemo didn't work I think you should follow your doctor's advice and have the radiation. I would think doing nothing would be far worse. Good luck and let us know how things are going for you. I had both chemo and radiation, and did well through both.

    Mamacita5
    I agree. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I will keep you updated. I've had radiation to my brain did you have radiation to your lung and lymphnode?
  • dmcl11
    dmcl11 Member Posts: 22
    radiation
    lori i was dxed oct 09 had radiation and chemo at the same time ended in spring of 10 have had 4 cts since so far all clear. sept 10 had mets to brain had surgery to remove lesions then gamma knife for other lesions.i was warned about burning to esophogus it did not happen to me. my biggest side effect has been a lingering cough which they are blaming on scar tissue.mine was also left lung and obstructing bronchial tube.more ct scans and mri to brain this month
  • mamacita5
    mamacita5 Member Posts: 254
    lorisoto said:

    Mamacita5
    I agree. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I will keep you updated. I've had radiation to my brain did you have radiation to your lung and lymphnode?

    I did have lymph node
    I did have lymph node involvement near the tumor site. The tumor and lymph nodes were removed surgically. After I completed chemo I had 30 days of radiation to my chest area. No brain involvement. Some people have problems with a very sore esophagus and burns to the skin on the chest. I did not experience either of these things. Radiation did make me extremely tired at night after my late afternoon treatments, but I was able wake refreshed, and work every day during treatment.
  • mamacita5
    mamacita5 Member Posts: 254
    dmcl11 said:

    radiation
    lori i was dxed oct 09 had radiation and chemo at the same time ended in spring of 10 have had 4 cts since so far all clear. sept 10 had mets to brain had surgery to remove lesions then gamma knife for other lesions.i was warned about burning to esophogus it did not happen to me. my biggest side effect has been a lingering cough which they are blaming on scar tissue.mine was also left lung and obstructing bronchial tube.more ct scans and mri to brain this month

    One side effect of the
    One side effect of the radiation I just thought about... a couple of months after I had completed my radiation my ribs became very tender. Wearing a bra was VERY uncomfortable so I bought several new ones in the largest size around that I could wear. After a few weeks it just went away. I mentioned this to my doctor and he did not think this was caused by the radiation...but I have seen several posts from people who have experienced the same symptom.
  • lorisoto
    lorisoto Member Posts: 14
    mamacita5 said:

    One side effect of the
    One side effect of the radiation I just thought about... a couple of months after I had completed my radiation my ribs became very tender. Wearing a bra was VERY uncomfortable so I bought several new ones in the largest size around that I could wear. After a few weeks it just went away. I mentioned this to my doctor and he did not think this was caused by the radiation...but I have seen several posts from people who have experienced the same symptom.

    Radiation to lung Tumor Today
    Thank you everyone for all the info. I decided and I had my first treatment of radiation to my tumors in my lung yesterday. I feel alot better today. I have 14 treatments left. Gamma knife again on the 17th to the rest of the 6 mets in my brain. Things are looking up and I feel so relieved that I'm moving ahead instead of taking steps backwards. Thank you thank you you all really helped me with this. I'm so glad I have all of you to talk with and to get accurate actual true information. It's truly a blessing. Everyone have a great day. The best of luck to all of you.
  • lekkerone
    lekkerone Member Posts: 199
    lorisoto said:

    Radiation to lung Tumor Today
    Thank you everyone for all the info. I decided and I had my first treatment of radiation to my tumors in my lung yesterday. I feel alot better today. I have 14 treatments left. Gamma knife again on the 17th to the rest of the 6 mets in my brain. Things are looking up and I feel so relieved that I'm moving ahead instead of taking steps backwards. Thank you thank you you all really helped me with this. I'm so glad I have all of you to talk with and to get accurate actual true information. It's truly a blessing. Everyone have a great day. The best of luck to all of you.

    Lori
    It's good to hear you sounding so upbeat Lori and I wish you the best of luck.