Not what I wanted to hear but better than I expected...

Glenna M
Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
in Lung Cancer #1
As some of you know I had a CT scan in February and they saw "subtle changes" in my left lung so the scan was being sent to the Cancer Review Board. I finally heard from my rad onc yesterday and he said there was a lesion in my lung but the nodule didn't look the same as the one I had which was NSCLC adenocarcinoma. I went numb at first but after it all sank in I realized that just because there is a nodule in my lung it doesn't mean it's cancerous. Not all nodules are malignant and I was encouraged by the fact that it didn't look the same as the one I was treated for in 2009.

I'm sure you have all already guessed that I will now be playing the "watch and wait" game again. I will be having scans every 3 months to see if it grows. I was also relieved when he told me that the tumor I originally had was no where to be found, he said it appears to have disappeared completely.

I've been getting good reports lately from my ENT, the larynx still looks good and my voice is still strong. So all in all, I'd say I'm doing pretty good, until May when I go for my next scan - LOL - then I'm sure I will be a nervous wreck while I wait for the results. But that's okay, one week of worrying every 3 months isn't so bad :) Until May I intend to enjoy life and forget about everything else.

Hope everyone is doing well and improving daily.

My best to all of you,
Glenna

Comments

  • groundhog
    groundhog Member Posts: 44
    #2
    scans
    Hi Glenna,
    You probably already know that there are many things (nodules, lesions, histoplasms, Yes, histoplasms!, even tumors), calcified, non-calcified, and ever-changing injuries and healings within our lungs. Not all the tumors are even cancerous, but as survivors we tend to not count on anything except results. If you ask, I'm sure you will find that there are changes taking place from scan to scan and not all those changes are always brought to our attention, so when they are we dwell on it. I would like to think the "subtle" changes got their attention because you have a history and the board is looking at it again. Sounds like you're getting excellent care.

    Best wishes,
    gh
  • 3Mana
    3Mana Member Posts: 811
    #3
    Changes
    Hi Glenna,
    Glad to hear that your original tumor is gone! That's great news. Did they say if maybe what they saw could be scar tissue or something??? I'll keep my fingers crossed. Try not to think about May and live for today!!! Take care! Carole
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #4
    3Mana said:

    Changes
    Hi Glenna,
    Glad to hear that your original tumor is gone! That's great news. Did they say if maybe what they saw could be scar tissue or something??? I'll keep my fingers crossed. Try not to think about May and live for today!!! Take care! Carole

    Carole
    No, unfortunately it's not scar tissue. The doctor said it was a new lesion that wasn't there on the previous scan. Naturally I panicked when I heard the word lesion but once I thought about it I remembered all of the posts I have read about others who had similar problems and they turned out to be nothing. I'm not going to dwell on it, I am going to enjoy each day and not think about it, at least not until I have the scan and am awaiting news from the doctor - LOL.

    Yes, it is awesome to hear that the original tumor is gone!!! Never thought that would be possible when this all started 2 years ago but I have a great team of doctors who I have faith in.

    My best to you,
    Glenna
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #5
    groundhog said:

    scans
    Hi Glenna,
    You probably already know that there are many things (nodules, lesions, histoplasms, Yes, histoplasms!, even tumors), calcified, non-calcified, and ever-changing injuries and healings within our lungs. Not all the tumors are even cancerous, but as survivors we tend to not count on anything except results. If you ask, I'm sure you will find that there are changes taking place from scan to scan and not all those changes are always brought to our attention, so when they are we dwell on it. I would like to think the "subtle" changes got their attention because you have a history and the board is looking at it again. Sounds like you're getting excellent care.

    Best wishes,
    gh

    Thank you groundhog
    Yes, I know about all the things that can show up in your lungs but naturally my first thought was "it's back". Once I had a chance to think about it I realized it could be many different things and it would be a waste of my time to worry needlessly about it. My team of doctors have been great and they have always kept a close eye on everything.

    Thank you for the encouraging response.

    I wish you the best always,
    Glenna
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #6
    Hmmmm
    Given all of the possibilities, Glenna, I would say that things are not looking so bleak for you at the moment (and it seems you agree). The old tumor appears to have been vanquished, the head/neck aspect of this seems to be absolutely under control, and if there is a new lesion (as there appears to be) it may be something other than malignant, as you point out, or even a new primary, not such a bad choice when you think about it for awhile.

    I am hoping for the best, my friend, and am relieved that you are choosing not to let this latest news undermine your enjoyment of life.

    Live it to the fullest, Glenna.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #7
    soccerfreaks said:

    Hmmmm
    Given all of the possibilities, Glenna, I would say that things are not looking so bleak for you at the moment (and it seems you agree). The old tumor appears to have been vanquished, the head/neck aspect of this seems to be absolutely under control, and if there is a new lesion (as there appears to be) it may be something other than malignant, as you point out, or even a new primary, not such a bad choice when you think about it for awhile.

    I am hoping for the best, my friend, and am relieved that you are choosing not to let this latest news undermine your enjoyment of life.

    Live it to the fullest, Glenna.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Joe
    No, I'm not letting this bother me at all, that's today, yesterday was a completely different story - LOL. I usually panick first and then reason things out after the initial shock has worn off. As you said, there are so many different scenarios that I'm not even going to think about them, it wouldn't only give me a headache.

    If it has to be anything I am hoping for a new primary, I know that sounds strange but I feel, like you, that it would be the best choice. For now I am just telling myself it is nothing and will not grow. I was quite shocked, and pleased, when my doctor told me the other tumor was gone. That really impressed me because as you know I was fighting two different cancers at the same time. I am confident that IF this does turn out to be anything my doctors will be able to do the same thing for me again. I love my doctors and am very confident in their abilities.

    Yes, Joe, I will continue to enjoy life and live for the moment.

    Stay well my dear friend,
    Glenna
  • lekkerone
    lekkerone Member Posts: 199 Member
    #8
    Glenna
    Let's pray it isn't a cancer but some other anomaly in your lung. You have an awesome attitude.
  • JohnBinDC
    JohnBinDC Member Posts: 91 Member
    #9
    Hi Glenna!
    Glad to hear that your original tumor is gone and am prayting that what now shows is not cancerous. Between scans, I hope you have fun! The delays from scan to results are tough, but I hope your results continue to be great! Best wishes always!

    John
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #10
    JohnBinDC said:

    Hi Glenna!
    Glad to hear that your original tumor is gone and am prayting that what now shows is not cancerous. Between scans, I hope you have fun! The delays from scan to results are tough, but I hope your results continue to be great! Best wishes always!

    John

    John and lekkerone
    Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I'm doing great and I feel good so I'm sure this will all turn out well in the end.

    John, I do good at not worrying between scans and I'm finally doing better at waiting for the results. I had to wait 15 days to hear what the Review Board decided and I didn't worry until the very last day as I waited to talk to my doctor.

    Stay well and stay strong,
    Glenna
  • hope0310
    hope0310 Member Posts: 320
    #11
    Glenna M said:

    John and lekkerone
    Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I'm doing great and I feel good so I'm sure this will all turn out well in the end.

    John, I do good at not worrying between scans and I'm finally doing better at waiting for the results. I had to wait 15 days to hear what the Review Board decided and I didn't worry until the very last day as I waited to talk to my doctor.

    Stay well and stay strong,
    Glenna

    Wait and see sucks...
    However we all have to learn not to worry until there is something to worry about. How exactly is THAT DONE!!! No clue!!

    Good to hear that he sounds positive at this point!!

    Take care!
    Elysia
  • medi_2
    medi_2 Member Posts: 505 Member
    #12
    Glenna M said:

    John and lekkerone
    Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. I'm doing great and I feel good so I'm sure this will all turn out well in the end.

    John, I do good at not worrying between scans and I'm finally doing better at waiting for the results. I had to wait 15 days to hear what the Review Board decided and I didn't worry until the very last day as I waited to talk to my doctor.

    Stay well and stay strong,
    Glenna

    glenna
    Wishing you well! Keep up the good spirit! Am sending good thoughts your way...
    xoxoxo
    Medi
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #13
    medi_2 said:

    glenna
    Wishing you well! Keep up the good spirit! Am sending good thoughts your way...
    xoxoxo
    Medi

    Thank you Medi
    Thank you for the good thoughts, I can use all of them I can get. I am confident that all will be well in the end.

    Stay well and stay positive,
    Glenna
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #14
    hope0310 said:

    Wait and see sucks...
    However we all have to learn not to worry until there is something to worry about. How exactly is THAT DONE!!! No clue!!

    Good to hear that he sounds positive at this point!!

    Take care!
    Elysia

    Not worrying...
    That's a good question Elysia and one I'm sure all of us have tried to answer at some point in our lives. Unfortunately there is no answer that I can find, I just keep telling myself that it's okay, if it weren't I know my doctors would be doing something beside waiting and watching.

    Thank you for your kind words.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna

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