Recovering from treatments

AnnaGraham

I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer with the EGFR mutation in July of 2025, the same month I turned 57. I had mets to my back, liver, lymph nodes, and brain. I take Tagrisso daily. I had four rounds of chemo with Alimta and Carboplatin, then another two with just Alimta. I had 10 radiation sessions on my back and, because of Tagrisso, was able to avoid brain radiation.

My most recent scan showed the metastases are no longer active and the main tumor in my right lung has decreased significantly. I'm still figuring out what this means overall. I had just found a sense of peace about having a terminal illness, and now I'm trying to think through how to recover enough to return to work.

I was on the steroid Dexamethasone for about four months, which caused pronounced muscle weakness, especially in my legs, and facial swelling to the point of pain. I've been off the steroids for almost a month and the swelling has gone down, but I still need a walker and, for anything more than about 100 feet, I need a wheelchair.

Has anyone else here experienced something similar - recovering from the treatments and finding a good quality of life after?

AnnaGraham

P.s. I recognize what a miracle it is that the treatments worked so well. Yay, science! I'm just still in the early stages of "now what?" I see my oncologist next week.

eDivebuddy

It's Christmas so I can't help my self. Just put one foot in front of the other! :) I was diagnosed in 2020 stage IV. Land bfrom the treatments of my brain tumorive goes on and if it were not for the side effects from the treatments to my brain tumor life would be 100% normal. I'm not 100% but I still enjoy life . you can read about the begining of my story here. no need to join https://forums.lungevity.org/topic/53203-the-real-new-normal/

Just keep the faith that there is a tomorrow.

AnnaGraham

I read your story on the other forum. Thank you for sharing. You have been through so much, and your heart is still big enough to get a stranger to sing a song from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" on repeat. My story is not nearly as dramatic as yours, but you remind me that no matter what the story is, we need to just keep going through it. No reading the last page first in this situation. I appreciate the encouragement. Blessings to you and yours.

eDivebuddy

I hope the holidays treated you well and it's not too cold for you. the begining of treatment is so hard and you realy need to push to stay active. I would walk around the dining room table a couple times every time i went to go pee or to the kitchen. i do remember being so exhausted and sitting in my chair and just sleeping. but eventually it felt like i was near normal. I walked 4 miles the other day. probably too much but the fact that i could made me feel better. Hoping 2026 is more kind than 2025

eDivebuddy

BattleStar

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329879/recovering-from-treatments

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329879/recovering-from-treatments

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/329879/recovering-from-treatments

Hello Anna, it is good you have beaten the cancer back well. sounds like the main tumor is stabilized and not growing at the moment. recovery is hard, even when the cancer has been suppressed does not mean there won't be possible permanent damage from the treatment and cancer. my cancer had spread to hips and base of spine. even though the treatment shrank the tumors my bone is not the same any longer. I feel this on a daily basis so I do understand. I pray things work out well for you, God bless.