Breast cancer survivor now lung cancer , not lung mets.

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited March 2016

    Tthank you for the lovely pictures. So glad to hear all was clear. I am also 2 1/2 years after lung surgery. I have a nodule that is new and slowly growing, now 5 mm. I have my 6 month follow up CT next week. It is too small to biopsy ( or was at last CT at 5 mm). If is has grown I am sure it will have to be removed. I hope and pray ithas not grown.......

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2016

    Had CT this week and have good news. the 5mm nodule has not changed in the past 6 months since last CT. Will repeat the CT again in 6 months. I am so relieved

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2016

    good to hear there is no change, rest for another 6 months

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2016

    Thanks. It does feel like I live in 6 month increments. How are you doing

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited April 2016

    Afraid I need to have my hip/pelvis looked at for pain, I dread what the MRI might find. Ugh

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2016

    I had severe low back pain in the bones (not muscles), about a year ago. MO, of course, ordered CT due to concerns about bone met. CT was negative. Was inflammation of the SI joints (? Maybe due to the anastrazole?Still have the pain, but much improved over time. So there is always reason have hope!

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited April 2017

    Hi Pessa and all,

    Hope you are doing ok. I read about your back and hip pain. Me too. I finally went to neuro who sent me for a nerve block and steroid shot. It helps the pain a lot. I still have leg cramps though. CT scan coming in August....that six month cycle you mentioned.

    image

    image

    Happy Spring


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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2017

    Unfortunately, I had another lung cancer and underwent a right middle lobe removal 4 months ago. It was considered another primary lung cancer and stage 1a. I have a nodule on the left that is being watched and I have another CT in 6 months. CT of a couple of weeks ago showed that the left sided nodule had grown slightly, Never-ending and very scary.. What I am dealing with now , besides the concern about the left nodule, is significant shortness of breath. I now have had 2 lobes taken out. I am still working so don't have time for a formal pulmonary rehab program, as suggested by my doctor (2 hours a day, 3 days a week for 6 weeks), but will develop my own manageable rehb program at home. Wishing you well on your follow-up CT. Always a tense time as the date approaches. . Thanks for the lovely pictures.

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited April 2017

    Pessa, sorry to hear about the progression. 1a is a good stage to catch though. I will hold positive thoughts for you.

    I expect to hear the same news as time goes on. I have what they call foci in the right lung and they suspect in the left too. I did not have respiratory therapy after my surgery. I did use the exercises with the little balls that we push up with our breath...brought home from the hospital. Mostly it was walking, using the steps that eventually helped but never completely restored the capacity. I am much slower than I was four years ago....back and hips got worse too. Last week I had a nerve block and steroid injection that helped a lot. I am back in the garden. One day at a time...

    Best wishes as always,

    Marilyn

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited October 2017

    Hello my friend Pessa. It is the end of October already. Where did summer go? I am sending best wishes always. I know where our time goes. We are in constant repairs and recovery.

    My CAT in Sept was not the best news. A suspicious...grew since CAT in March. So another CAT in Dec to see if it grew from Sept. In the meantime I am on a diet Warburg and cannabis before the next CAT.

    I appreciate all that you said about this being scary. We are both doing the best that we can with this I have no doubt.

    Best wishes to al

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited October 2017

    Good to hear from you. So sorry to hear that there is a suspicious area. What kind of diet are you following? Had not heard of that name. At the beginning of the year I had a new suspicious area, had a repear CT and a PET but turned out to be changes from the most recent surgery, which is a year ago. On my CT in September the previously seen nodule on the left is slightly bigger. Plan is to repeat CT in 6 months. I am still quite short of breath, no worse but no better than previously. I am able to eventually do what I need to do but it’s never easy. Still working full time but am planning to retire at the end of next summer. Am running out of energy.

    Wishing you well and please keep me/us updated about the results of your next CT and how you are doing.

    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited November 2017

    Happy Thanksgiving All!

    Pessa, so good to hear from you too! Glad to hear too that your new sighting was from the old surgery. You give me hope. Thanks. Adjusting to new realities is always a transition. Retirement helps. I can not keep up with everything anymore either. My husband has his own age related issues topped with a rare disease that he is in clinical study at UCI, now open label. We drove back from OHSU in Portland yesterday. I think the next time we will fly.

    So the diet is not my friend. A no carbohydrate diet is not for humans! In fact, I am throwing it under the bus soon I think. I will say that it was great for weight loss. The cannabis is very helpful for sleeping and relief of pain. I take it before I go to sleep...a friend makes very good infused chocolates for this purpose. I wake rested and no side or after affects like the prescriptions leave...and non addictive, unless you count a good night's sleep addictive.

    Lots of doc things coming up. I'll let you know how the CT goes. Peace to you and wishes for continued respite from this disease.

    Best wishes to all as always,

    Marilyn


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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited November 2017

    The thought of a good night's sleep is so appealing. Haven't slept well since I started Arimidex 7 years ago. Because of that issue, and general aches, pains, weakness, my MO suggested a month or 2 drug holiday from Arimidex (anastrazole). I started that 3 weeks ago and have hardly felt any improvement in any of my symptoms. Interestingly, my shortness of breath is slightly improved! In any case, I will resume taking the drug in a few weeks.

    AS I say to people, I live from one CT scan to the next...........Wishing you a good result in Dev

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited January 2018

    Happy New Year with wishes of peace for all.

    Pessa, I had my Dec. CT. Doc saw no increase in size. I have an appointment in 4 mo for follow up. My liquid biopsy showed cancer DNA in my blood. The count decreased within on week and we are guessing that the edible cannabis may have helped. The problem is that my body is not happy with the dosage recommended. I'll know more soon after other exams. It is always something--tweak here, tweak there. Such is the life.

    Sending my wishes to friends on the East Coast. Stay warm. Wrap the pipes. Stock up. This too shall pass.

    Best wishes to all as always

    Marilyn

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited January 2018

    Marilyn,

    So happy to hear that there is no change on CT. Wonderful news!

    I will be restarting the anastrazole next week, after a 2month drug holiday. Experienced almost no effect, except better sleep and and actually some easier breathing, But, I do haveto restart!

    My next CT is in March.

    Wishing you a happy New Year!


    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited January 2019

    Hi Pessa! Best wishes for the New Year 2019!

    New Year's Eve I had a CT with doc appt. Jan 3 to discuss results. I am going for a biopsy on the 11th. August 2018 was the 5th anniversary of the lung surgery. Sept 2018 was the 12th anniversary of my breast cancer surgery. But who is counting? Me.

    Best wishes to all as always,

    Marilyn

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited January 2019

    Sonice to hear from you. It is also 5 yrs since my lung surg and 8 yrs since Breast surg. I have had a lung ca recurrance after my second lobe was removed. I am on a new medication, which has prevented new lesions and which caused one previous lesion to get smaller. Side effects are tolerable. Have been on it for about 8 months. Resistance develops around 18 months on average. I have a CT every 3 months. Next one this Tues.

    I am sorry to hear you are needing a biopsy. Wishing for you benign results and good health in the New Year.

    Let’s stay in touch. This will not be an easy week for either of us.........

    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited January 2019

    Pessa, I am very sorry to hear of your recurrence. Words escape me. So I will send you a picture I took today of a surprise bloom of two yellow roses on the trellis in my garden. We can take each day as a surprise and think to the roses. I will hold you in my prayers.

    Marilyn

    image


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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited January 2019

    Thank you for the lovely picture......Agree that each day is a surprise and a gift

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited January 2019

    Marilyn, Hope the bx went well and that you got neg results. My CT was stable, no change, no new growths. I am very happy. Another 3 month reprieve.

    I have been on anastrazole for 7 years and had a scan, which showed severe osteoporosis in my hip. Haven't spoken with the doctor yet, but I suspect she will recommend stopping the anastrazole. Not sure if I am comfortable with that. Will wait to discuss further with my MO.

    Take care. Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited January 2019

    Pessa, The Bx went relatively well. CT guided anterior mediastinal lesion--4 solid core biopsies obtained. Ouch! Still waiting for results 7-14 days! The incrementals are the worst to endure as we all know too well. Very glad to hear that your results were stable with a 3 month reprieve...Spring!!

    The treatments are very personal decisions. We can only trust ourselves with the best information available.

    My favorite 'treatments' is spending time with my adult children. We went sailing, watched sunsets, ate good food, had good chats. Sending wishes to you for some brighter moments during the incrementals.

    image

    Best wishes to all as always,

    Marilyn

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited January 2019

    Hoping for good results from your bx.......

    Lovely picture and sounds like lovely times with your children. I am planning on retiring, after 30 yrs with the Federal government, at the end of March. Looking forward to sleeping late in the AM ( I get up at 6am now to go to work!), and doing what I want to do when I want to do it. Still,of course, always on edge re: recurrence.......

    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited April 2019

    Dear Pessa! You are now retired and sleeping in! Congrats!

    So my bx in January showed no malignancy. They took 4 weeks to let me know because they continued to check. There is no explanation for the enlarged area that they have been watching for a year. So I am scheduled for a CAT scan in June to follow up. I wonder if the CBD that I take for sleep has anything to do with the mystery? I am now convinced that the interims are inevitable...the joys in the betweens

    Best wishes always

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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2019

    Marilyn, So happy to hear your biopsy was negative. I just had a CT this week and all is stable. No new nodules/nodes.

    I retired last week. I still keep waking up at 6AM out of habit but now am able to go back to sleep. It’s great! Have lots to catch up on and things to do so am quite busy so far. Will be taking a Tai chi class starting this week.

    Pessa

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  • Blundin2005
    Blundin2005 Member Posts: 1,167
    edited April 2019

    Pessa,

    Thank you. Living in the moment. Glad for you too!

    Tai chi is wonderful. I have not practiced that in years. My balance teeters. Enjoy!

    We've had weeks of rain but the sun is back today. The garden is thrilled with the rain though. I'm going to the hardware store to buy some metal bands to hold my tomato frame in place. This week is a trip to the Growers Market to buy the plants!

    Best wishes to all as always,

    Marilyn


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  • Pessa
    Pessa Member Posts: 519
    edited April 2019

    Enjoy your garden. Some years ago I grew tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans for a few seasons and really enjoyed it. Now, my back hurts too much when I bend over so cannot work much in a garden. Would love to get back to it, but it is not meant to be.......

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