BAC-bronchioalveolar carcinoma

I am a 61-year-old male who was diagnosed with Bronchoalveolar Carcinoma after a right thoracotomy and lower lobectomy. I feel very lucky in that I had just the one known tumor although I did have one lymph node outside the lobe. For that reason I underwent 28 radiation treatments as well. I feel quite positive about my physicians. The surgeon is put on a pedestal by his colleagues (most of whom he taught). My medical oncologist, who is highly recommended by other members of the medical profession, shares an office with my primary care physician, whom I consider the best with whom I have ever dealt. My medical oncologist sent me to the radiation oncologist at the regional care center in a neighboring hospital where he works. He also requested bone, brain, and abdominal scans to make certain the cancer had not advanced before the radiation began. Another medical oncologist recommended only a chest x-ray. Need I say which med oncologist we chose. We also went to the hospital at the University of Wisconsin (one of 50 cancer centers in the U.S.) for a second opinion on the radiation. The radioncologist there not only concurred with the local doctor but called him to confer on my case. That was comforting to say the least.
This is my second trip thru the big "C". I had melanoma surgery on my left arm in 1983. This was done at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., which I later learned is among the top 10 cancer institutes in the country. I found it difficult to be going from Dr. to Dr. rather than one clinic, but learned to believe in the people with whom I was working here.
I hope I can be of some help in any questions you might have.
Chuck Dalkert

Seeker said:

I am a 6 year survivor - two separate instances of BAC. Have your friend contact me via email s_meksvanh@excite.com - I'd be happy to answer her questions / concerns.

My 76 year old mother was diagnosed with Bronchoalveolar Carcinoma last November. She had upper right lung removed and was then told it was already spread to middle and low right side lung. This put her into stage IV. Soon after the surgery, she had lung infection and stayed in hospital 2 month. She recovered from that. Now we are waiting to see the result of bone scan at Stanford Hospital then to decide either to have Chemo or Iressa pill. My mother does not cough, no pain. She just feels no energy. Can you recommend food, drink, and anything that you feel is good to BAC patient? I also heard that BAC has no good response rate to chemo, do you know anything about chemo? If so, what medicine used for your chemo?

Thanks in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Lynn