Not what I wanted to hear...

lmliess

Well we are leaving Houston and I did not get the news I wanted to hear. Apparently I have some lung nodules now and will need to do chemotherapy for about 3 months. UGH! I am so down right now! I thought I had this thing beat but I guess tat was kind of foolish to think that so early. My DR said this is highy treatable so that is good news. I feel so down right now because I feel like maybe I didn't do something right or eat enough green veggies or something. Has anyone had metastasis to the lungs after the liver and if so what did you go through?

Thanks!

Linda

mom_2_3

Linda
Linda,

I am sorry that you didn't get the news you were hoping for. It looks like you will need to do just a bit more in treatment to whoop the cancer for good. I know that missjv and betsydoglover and schmurikova (sp?) all had liver involvement (2 had liver resections and betsydoglover had complete response from chemo alone) and found at a later scan to have had lung mets. Each had lung surgery and missjv has been NED for about 2 years since that surgery and Susan (schmurikova) has been clean for more than 5 or 6 years. Betsydoglover just recently had her surgery. I am sure they might post here but if not, try to PM them via colonclub.com.

I keep you and your family in my prayers. This is just a blip in the road. You will be ok.

Love to you,
Amy

pf78248

Not expected results
Linda,

I am so sorry you didn't get the results you were expecting. Don't blame yourself for anything! You are doing all you can to beat this cancer and you can continue to do so. Lots of survivors have had lung nodules that are kept under control and I am sure you will hear from many of them.

We are headed for scans tomorrow at MDA and David and I are having scanxiety, too. Have a safe trip home and know you are amazing and can kick that cancer to the curb!

Hugs,
Priscilla

Sundanceh

Hi Linda
Don't beat yourself
Hi Linda

Don't beat yourself up over this - it's not your fault.

Recurrence is always where the battle with cancer is ultimately fought. That's what makes it so formidable.

Colon type of cancers normal migration is from the colon to the liver - liver to the lung - lung to the brain and/or bone.

You did your protocol correctly and there were some strays that looks they were not gotten to during your initial round of treatment.

A year ago when I joined, I had 2 spots in my pleura of my right lung - all CTs and PETs gave good indication that it was cancerous - the DaVinci surgery I did revealed that tests can be misleading and the biopsies were benign.

Just a couple of months later, I've got a new spot further down in my lung (about the size of a ping-pong ball now and growing). My CEAs are slightly higher, but I'm thinking that this tumor will also be benign, but we won't know until after the surgery and the biopsy.

I'm assuming your CTs and PETs also showed uptake to your new nodules? I know you've got a good onc, so if he is recommending 3 more months, it must be his opinion that this will knock these spots down or out and not require surgery.

In the event that you needed lung surgery, I've got a great thoracic surgeon up here at UTSW. I worked with him in Oct2009 and together, we were the very 1st Team to do the DaVinci robot surgery system on the lung - we made medical history here in Texas - even beat MD Anderson to it. The story made the internet, newspaper, and the news station here in the metroplex.

And by being the 1st patient and the 1st surgeon to do the procedure, we opened the door so that other patients who needed lung surgery could follow us, as he was given his certification from this surgery. It also garnered such attention for him, that they just bought him a brand new, latest and greatest DaVinci robot - I'll be having my new surgery done with this one.

So, if it comes to that, the door is wide open a little further south up I-45.

I'm sorry for your latest setback. I know everyone wants to get it done and over with. I've been off and on starting year 6 now, so believe me I understand how you feel.

Get yourself one of those good Dr. Peppers and have a safe trip back.

Bye for now - Craig

robinvan

I am so sorry!
Linda,

I am so sorry to hear this. I know how discouraging the news of a recurrence can be.

Don't beat yourself up over this. Metastatic cancer is a very slippery disease. It has this horrible tendency to recur, despite our best efforts to prevent it.

There are many here with lung involvement who will be helpful to you.

Rob; in Vancouver

“You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” Margaret Thatcher

geotina

Linda
My hubby had lung mets at diagnosis and so far so good with the chemo. Many have disappeared and the rest considerably smaller. Only chemo for us.

Quit beating yourself up that you did or did not do something. From reading your posts, you did everything you could and were vigilant. Even seeing a naturalpath. I still have your list of supplements in my folder so if George ever gets there, we will know what this stuff is. Your posts really do help.

I am so sorry for your disappointment. With your doc's guidance and your vigilance, you will beat those pesky nods down. There is a member here, Sherri (luv3jay I think is her sign in). Anyway, she has 3 kids and had liver resection and 2 lung surgeries and doing very well. If you need some info on her treatment look her up and send her a pm. She has my total admiration for her attitude, her fight, and her encouraging words to others.

Take a deep breath, have a good cry, heck have a full blow freak out then just move forward.

Take care - Tina

AnneCan

Hi Linda,
I am sorry you
Hi Linda,

I am sorry you didn't get better news, but I am glad your onc already has a plan. Don't blame yourself; aim your ager at the real culprit - this damned cancer!

dianetavegia

Linda
I'm so sorry to hear this news but believe you'll get these taken care of very quickly. I know you're a believer and I'll lift you in prayer.

Unknown

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

msccolon

cancer just sucks
As others have said, don't beat yourself up. You have done, and I'm sure will continue to do, everything you can to give your body the best fighting chance against the beast. One of my pet peeves is reading about how taking this supplement or that supplement, or juicing, etc has healed me and it can you too. What happens to those of us who also take those supplements, juice and do whatever we can and the beast returns? We feel as if we've failed in some way, when in truth, our bodies are just different and thus react differently to the beast as well as to the strengthening supplements. Studies have shown that some people at stage III just don't need anything other than surgery to "cure" their cancer. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a test that could predict recurrence, or the lack thereof, before we all went through this stuff? It certainly is a good thing that you are doing the supplements and juicing to strengthen your body; you don't know what the situation would be if you HADN'T chosen to go that path. Keep fighting and you will be ok. Hopefully this "down" time won't last long cause you need to get back into it!
mary

tootsie1

Sorry
Linda,

I'm so sorry! I know this news is very discouraging to you, but I pray they will be able to take care of all this very quickly. I'll be praying for you!

*hugs*
Gail

chicoturner

lung mets
Hi Linda, I was sorry to hear about the new development. I have mets to the lungs, have not had any liver issues, but one of the best drugs used with others is the Avastin. Have you used it yet? It blocks the blood vessels so they can feed the tumors. Ask you onc, I bet they have a great plan for you!! You can beat this too! Prayers are with you. Jean

lisa42

feeling for you
Hi Linda,

Oh man, I'm sorry! I know this is not the news you wanted to hear. It definitely is lousy. Just so you know, though, lung mets do not have to cause symptoms. My onc believes size and keeping them small is key to symptoms. I actually have what the radiologist reports always refer to as "innumerable subcentimeter lung nodules". I have so many, they can't even count them. That's horrifying for me to think of, but I just want you to know that, even with that, I have absolutely no symptoms from them- no pain, no heaviness in the chest, and no cough- nothing! I did have a kind of nagging ache at one point a couple of different times- I could actually stick my finger right on the spot- must have been when a particular nodule got bigger, but after doing chemo it went away and I feel nothing at all there. So, with that said, your situation in the lungs is much, much less than that- so I know you will be okay. Depending upon how many there are and the location, could they do cyberknife or something like that? Maybe they want to do the chemo first? There are always options to look into. It will take a few days to get over the initial shock and major disappointment of the new find. But when it all sinks in, I know you'll get back into that fighting mode. You have to!
You take care, Linda- I'll be thinking of you and saying prayers for you.

Hugs,
Lisa

Kathleen808

Dearest Linda
Dearest Linda,
I have been thinking of you and I am sorry that you did not get the news you were hoping for. I am sorry that you have to go through more treatment but I know you will and it is so good that your doc is giving you good options. You are a beautiful mommy and I know that part of what makes you sad is having to go through treatment with your darling little girl. You're a great mommy and you'll do it.

I'm praying for you right now Linda. I am praying for strength as you do through these next few months.

Aloha,
Kathleen

Joy1216

In my prayers
I'm sure sorry that you didn't get the news you wanted. I'll be praying that the chemo is successful.
Joy