Lobectomy

So aweome they found it early!

So chemo is not as scary as the movies make it out to be. However the medications that are prescried to go along with your treatment to help with th side effects are a must. I am going to assume you are from the US? Do you have a good medical plan?

Some tips:

- First and foremost drink tonnes and i mean tonnes of water. Very importrant you stay hydrated

- Eat well, especially now as you may lose your appetite but I kinda doubt it with only that many treatments. I think my husband had 38 treatments and the beam eded up burning his esphoagus so eating became a real problem.

- Dress in layers, people often tend to get cold during the treatment

- Take something to do, you may be there a while

- make sure you have a ride the first time until you know how you react to it. My husband got "drunk' on chemo and would not have been safe to drive afterwards so I always had to drive him.

- It may make you drowsy - nap if you need to, don't push it

Check out this link to CSN's info on chemo. It should help too. Remember they caught it early and the goal is a cure. Fcus on that ok?

https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy.html

ksk1226 said:

Thank you Jorola for all your

Thank you Jorola for all your advise.  And yes I am from the US we do have pretty ok Insurane.  Have a 5,000 deduct, met that and have a 10,000 out of pocket getting close to meeting that.  Tomorrow I get the port put in, did your husband have that?  I do feel lucky that it was caught early, and purely by accident.  Went in to have a coronary CT done for my cholestrial, an they found a spot on my lung that then sent me for a CT of that area.

Alittle nervous about Chemo which starts next week, from what I'm hearing it doesn't sound like its going to be too bad...I HOPE

It is ok to be nervous. Who wouldn't be? I was nervous for my husband. LOL I was more nervous than him! It worked out in the end. He knew he was going to beat it. He settled that in his heart, mind and soul from the begining. I truly believe that mind set made a diffierence. So believe hun. BELIEVE with all you got that you are going to whoop this things butt ok?

As for the port, he did have one in his arm. Was no big deal at all. Some get one up high on the chest. A little more to getting that one but not much. Trust me the port makes your life much easier although showering is annoying. Just use LOTS of seran/cling wrap.

ksk1226 said:

Thank you Jorola, next Thurs.

Thank you Jorola, next Thurs. I start Chemo. Do you know anything as far as the side effects.  I will be taking the Carboplatin and the Pemetrexed (Alimta).

I am planning on going back to work the following Monday, do you think I will be ok.  I am a receptionist, so mostly sitting but having to have to get up and down alot of the time.

What is it like to feel this fatigue that they talk about?

Sorry I did not see your message until now. Everyone, of course, reacts differently. I can tell you that my husband Mick is his name btw, who never napped before, was ok the first couple of rounds. After that he showed signs of fatigue to the point of pure exhaustion. As in he fell asleep anytime, any where and for long periods. It was not just physical fatigue but mental as well. And it built. The more chemo sessions he had the more he felt the side effects.

Now you also have to take in account the types of chemo - he was on etoposide and cisplatin - the dosages, which I have no clue of. The doctor did say he was going to give it as strong as Mick could take as this was a last shot to save him. Probably the best people to ask are the RN's who administer your chemo or of course your Dr. Your RN's though see the people daily who are receiving the chemo. They may be better able to give you an idea.

Just please, if you have the insurance, sick time or whatever, use it if you need to. If you have limited amount then yes now is the time to return to work if you can. Explore your options there.

ksk1226 said:

Chemo

Ok just found out I will getting 4 to 6 treatments of Chemo..Any Advice

I prefer chemo to radiation. I had 6 treatments and it was not as bad as I had thought in my mind. After each infusion I had a few good days with a couple of not so good days to follow but they weren't that bad just not good. I went to work every day except the day I had my infusion and work helped me a great deal, gave me something to do to occupy my mind instead of the thoughts of cancer and treatments. God luck, stay busy, and keep your good attitude and you will be fine.

Terry - Atlanta

ksk1226 said:

Hi Blessme,

Hi Blessme,

I know exactly how you are feeling, because when they told me all this, I was also super scared and in shock.  My Dad passed away 16 years ago from lung cancer, then just recently I lost my Aunt, my Mom and my sister to lung cancer.  The worst was my sister, when she got diagnosed she was already stage 4 but she had no hope for life and became extremely negative and did not last very long.  

I feel lucky that mine was caught early only because I went in for a CT for my cholestrial and they saw the spot.  3 weeks ago I had a lobectomy where they removed part of my lung and some lymph noids that were tested and were negative for any cancer cells.  They will be starting chemo next week but they say it is only precautionary because they  got all the cancer and want to prevent it from coming back eleswhere.

Are they planning on surgery for you to remove the mass?  Have you had a pet scan yet?  If the mass is just in the one place and they suggest surgery although the recoup is painful for a couple of weeks, but if they can get it out then they can treat with some chemo, this is what I am having and hopefully this is the right thing to do.  Good Luck and keep me posted.

I am having surgery on the 10th to remove lower left lobe.I have no cancer any where else. I am glad it was found early stage 1. I have never been in hospital I am just really scared and  don,t know what to expect. Hope you or feeling good and Chemo hasn't been hard for you. Thank you for being here for me 

ksk1226 said:

Thank you Terry.  No

Thank you Terry.  No radiation due to that they said they got all the cancer and there is nothing to radiate, so just chemo for preventative measures.  

Thanks again,

Karen

Sorry I am late to the party. I am ever so happy for you Karen! 

Jodie

ksk1226 said:

Hoping you made out well with

Hoping you made out well with your surgery. The pain sucks for a while but that does let up.  Glad to hear no other cells found.  Had 1 treatment of chemo.  Was good untill today, feelling the nausea and fatigue, buut if it only lasts a day or 2 I can handle this.  Good luck and feel better real soon.

I am home feeling really good,I do have metal stitches that or causing some discomfort. I had no chemo or radiation go see my surgeon on the 21st. Got you in my prayers you get to feeling better and take care. Thank you for being here for me.

ksk1226 said:

Thank you glad to hear your

Thank you glad to hear your doing well.  Had 1 round of chemo and getting ready for my second round this week.. First couple days not bad then 3 days later boom, it hits only lasted about 3 to 4 days then back to normal.  Only have 2 more after this week.  I can handle it.  Thank you for being there for me and stay feeling good.

You are taking this fight like a champ.