So new...

wenchW
wenchW Member Posts: 4
Just discovered last week I have lung cancer, dont even have complete pathology info, just know its a 4 cm large...then my pulmonary surgeon ordered a brain MRI and found 2 "concerning" spots there, and cancelled the futher diagnostic stuff for my lungs. I dont even have an oncologist yet, they were supposed to call me back yesterday. Of course its the weekend now and I'm left nhot knowing...

Comments

  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    not knowing
    I know where you are coming from. When I was waiting to hear if I had breast cancer was over 4th of July and then my doctor went on vacation, so I waited almost 2 weeks...that almost pushed me over the edge. Then 4 years later to present date dx with lung cancer and had path reports on 2 different dates one over christmas holiday and then over the new year. The fear of the unknown. It is easy for someone to tell you not to fret over it, since nothing can be done until Monday...but that does not help! I am sorry you had to come to this site. Here you will find a great deal of support and help. Keep us informed and will keep you in my prayers!
  • wenchW
    wenchW Member Posts: 4
    ellenm4 said:

    not knowing
    I know where you are coming from. When I was waiting to hear if I had breast cancer was over 4th of July and then my doctor went on vacation, so I waited almost 2 weeks...that almost pushed me over the edge. Then 4 years later to present date dx with lung cancer and had path reports on 2 different dates one over christmas holiday and then over the new year. The fear of the unknown. It is easy for someone to tell you not to fret over it, since nothing can be done until Monday...but that does not help! I am sorry you had to come to this site. Here you will find a great deal of support and help. Keep us informed and will keep you in my prayers!

    not knowing
    @ ellenm4. Thank you so much for responding. I'm not sleeping very well at all, and constantly thinking about everything. But I have some wonderful supporters off line, and now I found people to reach out to online who can relate.

    The weekend will pass...hopefully I'll at least be scheduled very soon to find out more
  • ellenm4
    ellenm4 Member Posts: 124
    wenchW said:

    not knowing
    @ ellenm4. Thank you so much for responding. I'm not sleeping very well at all, and constantly thinking about everything. But I have some wonderful supporters off line, and now I found people to reach out to online who can relate.

    The weekend will pass...hopefully I'll at least be scheduled very soon to find out more

    You are not alone in your
    You are not alone in your journey. We are here to help, give advice and even just lend an ear if you need to vent. I am just starting my second journey and on the 20th I will be having another surgery to remove the upper left lobe of my lung. After which I am not sure if I am doing chemo or not until the path comes back again. Whatever your results, please do not let any doctor put an expiration date on your head.....I have read so many post here that Dr.'s have done just that and several years later they are still here, Thank God! You will soon get use to the "New Normal" and remember that everyone responds to treatment and or surgery differently. What will carry you and help you the most if your faith, your will and your support system. It sounds like you have that....so if you get down, tell yourself that you have a time limit to be down and then that is it. Please keep me informed and try to have a good day today with your family, for tomorrow brings another day!
    Ellen
    In Peace you will find Love....with both you will find Eternity! Blessings!
  • kado4
    kado4 Member Posts: 80
    ellenm4 said:

    You are not alone in your
    You are not alone in your journey. We are here to help, give advice and even just lend an ear if you need to vent. I am just starting my second journey and on the 20th I will be having another surgery to remove the upper left lobe of my lung. After which I am not sure if I am doing chemo or not until the path comes back again. Whatever your results, please do not let any doctor put an expiration date on your head.....I have read so many post here that Dr.'s have done just that and several years later they are still here, Thank God! You will soon get use to the "New Normal" and remember that everyone responds to treatment and or surgery differently. What will carry you and help you the most if your faith, your will and your support system. It sounds like you have that....so if you get down, tell yourself that you have a time limit to be down and then that is it. Please keep me informed and try to have a good day today with your family, for tomorrow brings another day!
    Ellen
    In Peace you will find Love....with both you will find Eternity! Blessings!

    You are so comforting, Ellen
    Hello,Ellen

    I just wanted to say that I find your concern with the people on this board so comforting and truely caring.You are so eloquent with your writing...I say this because I have read many of your posts...you also have responded to mine about about dad and you have made me think some better about things.Of course I still worry about my dad, but you have mentioned the "new normal" in the past, and it is true.Life is different now...but somehow we all try to adjust.Everyday is a new day...My dad started his Gemzar/Carboplatin on Wednesday,because there is a 8mm lesion on his left sacral bone.He isn't having any pain.but its still there.The pet/ct of his lungs wasn't clear either. Could be something new in the rt lower lung too.Worrisome.He is very tired the past 2 days.Sleeping on/off throughout the day.

    Anyway,I pray you are doing well.Keep on the sunny side of life!

    Stay strong,Cathy
  • ColoradoDani
    ColoradoDani Member Posts: 65
    kado4 said:

    You are so comforting, Ellen
    Hello,Ellen

    I just wanted to say that I find your concern with the people on this board so comforting and truely caring.You are so eloquent with your writing...I say this because I have read many of your posts...you also have responded to mine about about dad and you have made me think some better about things.Of course I still worry about my dad, but you have mentioned the "new normal" in the past, and it is true.Life is different now...but somehow we all try to adjust.Everyday is a new day...My dad started his Gemzar/Carboplatin on Wednesday,because there is a 8mm lesion on his left sacral bone.He isn't having any pain.but its still there.The pet/ct of his lungs wasn't clear either. Could be something new in the rt lower lung too.Worrisome.He is very tired the past 2 days.Sleeping on/off throughout the day.

    Anyway,I pray you are doing well.Keep on the sunny side of life!

    Stay strong,Cathy

    The terror does diminish...
    Ditto what Kathy said; Ellen, you are a comforting soul.

    The intial diagnosis is terrifying, and as the others said, don't let doctors give you a time frame. Ours went out of their way to explain why they could never do that and explain how statistics work and that applying one individual case to a group of stats doesn't work because they encompass a large population. Please remember that--the median length of time survival for a given stage of cancer might be x months, but that was 5ish years ago, and there are so many factors that play a role in those numbers. There are many people on this board, including my husband, who do not fit those stats and are living full lives after a lung cancer diagnosis. Stats reflect trends of large groups, not individual cases.

    Also, treatment options have come a long way. There are many anti-nausea drugs available to help with chemo if that's part of your treatment, as well as radiation that can be used to either with palliative or curative intent depending on the stage and type of cancer.

    It may be easier to settle down with this information and get into some kind of "new normal" that Cathy describes once you have more details and a clear plan--my husband and I found this was the case once we had a concrete treatment plan that we began implementing. You will probably have a ton of questions as you learn about treatment and options, and you'll find a lot of support here and the ability to hear the "human" side of a treatment (not a replacement for the doctor's explanations, but it's so wonderful to hear how real people are coping). I'll be thinking of you this week.
  • grannylove
    grannylove Member Posts: 183
    wenchW
    So sorry to hear of your diagnosis but welcome you to this board with open arms. There are many caring people and I am sure you will find great comfort here. Even though everyone's journey is their own, we encourage one another with words, thoughts and/or prayers. We are in the same boat, so to speak. I am glad to hear that you have a great support group with you, as that is indeed important. I hope that they are able to go with you to doctor visits also. Make sure you write down any questions you might have so that you can remember to ask the doc/onc. Your thought process is in a whirlwind right now. Stay strong! You can do this! One step at a time! Remember to take care of yourself in body and spirit. Blessings to you and yours. Cheryl
  • fathersson
    fathersson Member Posts: 121
    Good luck
    Will keep you in my thoughts.