Diagnosed stage 4 lung cancer with a very small tumor on my lung, small mets in my brain, and a tumor in my spine in the L5 region on June 1 2012. I fell at work in January 2012 and was having pain in my L5 region. I thought it was the fall. I asked for an exray and was sent to a sports medicine doctor who recommended a left hip replacement. I could see the mass in the L5 region but silly me I didn't ask what it was or bring any attention to the spine area. After that I tried to utilize my brain to lower any pain or discomfort. After about a week in mid April I began to have sciatica pain in my right leg. This had no connection with the fall or the right hip. I eventually went to PCP when the pain was limiting my mobility and sleep. He told me I had a pinched nerve and sent me home telling me it would heal in 4-6 weeks. After three days of continue pain I went home from work in tears and called asking for an MRI. I had an MRI and my PCP called wanting me to come into his office. I couldn't walk, my pain would not allow me to do anything and riding in a car was out of the question. I asked to be admitted to the hospital to see what was wrong. At this point I was afraid I would do damage to my spine. (This was mid May) My PCP wanted me to go to a hospital that was not in my insurance plan. He stated he would get it approved through my insurance and call me back. (this Friday morning). He ordered me some pain pills. The pain pills got me through the weekend. By the evening of Monday my PCP had not called with a hospital admit. I researched on the internet when was the best time to go the E.R. (Tuesday or Wednesday 8-10 am) Tuesday morning we went to my preferred hospital at 9am. There was no one there and I was seen right away. I was admitted to the hospital where I stayed for 3 days. They ran tests, did a biopsy, and informed me I had
a compression fracture in the L5 region which they believe was caused by the mass on my spine. I was diagnosed, saw an oncologist and started radiation treatment for 10 days on 6/18/12. Now with radiation done I start Chemo on 7/9/2012. I will have an injection for three hours and will return again in 3 weeks. They will scan to determine if the cancer is shrinking or gone. All my tumors are small. I had no symptoms in- dicating I was ill except the pain in my spine and the compression fracture. The fall at work brought this to a head. I spend my days imaging the eradication of the tumors and the development of clean healthy cells. I feel pretty good but I can't walk on own yet and have back brace. I agree the world is different for me now.
Thank you all for your inspiring journeys.

Welcome and glad you found us. Sorry, your post was overlooked for two days, but sometimes if a first post isn't in the Introduce Yourself Forum it gets overlooked. The good news is that now we know you are here.

Reading over your history, it sounds like you are well on your way into a treatment plan . The preliminary tests seem to take forever until you finally reach the place where something is being done, but you are there now and I want to be among the first to send you lots of support, well wishes and prayers to help along the way. Please keep us updated and know that you are among people who understand and care.

Hugs, (because we can all use them )

Sue

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[size=84]husband, Mike, 59 years old
**2-01 dx'd Stage 1 nsclc-9cm tumor to right lung-no lymph node involvement...
**4-30-01 pneumonectomy right lung removed. No followup chemo or radiation , but scans and xrays were done
**1-28-04 dx w/recurrent stage IV nsclc tumor on stump of where right lung had been removed , lymph node involvement, tumor adrenal gland -lft side, **02-04-04- taxol & carboplatin 3 treatments-didn't work
**02-12-04- radiation 10 to lung for bleeding
**04-2--04-taxotere had 4 treatments. shrinkage had occured in all after 3.. continuing taxotere. making him very tired ... upper body swelling ..
** 08-01-04-in hospital
latest..
**08-02-04 had stent put in .. superior vena cava.. the vein was being blocked by pressure tumor.
**08-05-04-started 10 radiation treatments,
**08-30-04- started Navelbine on 3 weeks and off 1 Scan after 5 treatments show chemo Navelbine not working -slight decrease to lung mass, but slight increase to adrenal ....
**11-01-04-starting Gemzar ... had 3 treatments... too many side effects... Ct of chest and upper abdomen done on Dec. 2nd -results some shrinkage
**12-06-04-started Alimta Dec. 6th- first treatment went well Had 2nd treatment Dec. 27th ... developed a rash and is tired, but otherwise ok Scan Feb 7th, 2005 STABLE doing good continuing Alimta April 18th scans showed stable disease (after 6 Alimta treatments), but he now has pneumonitis... no more treatments until much better.. on prednisone and oxygen..
**05-31-05 Ct scan of chest showed pneumonitis resolved and stable cancer
**06-06-05-our 35th wedding anniversary... onc confirms everything resolving and stable -reccommends break continued til August
**6-15-05 to 6-18-05 in hospital due to mental confusion ..
had MRI-member empty head club

8-3-2005-Ct scans chest , abdomen and pelvic....Waiting and praying...
**8-8-2005-Ct results were that the chest area looked improved, but the adrenal area had increased and involved some lymph nodes.
Started Tarceva 150mg 8-16-2005-8-20-2005 stopped 2 weeks due to severe rash on 9-8-2005 started back on Tarceva at 100 mg now.. stopped again on 9-19-2005
9-30-2005 scans slight progression to nodes behind adrenal..
10-10-2005-Camptosar- CPT-11 started
10-31-2005- CPT-11
refused more CPT-11 made him extremely fatigued and nauseated
Dec. 6th -CTscans chest, abdomen & pelvic. shows stable but tumor compressing the esophagus..
Dec. 19th- had stent to trachea put in
Dec. 21st- he had stent to esophagus and feeding tube put in
Dec. 22nd.. he will ill put in hospital... vomiting and also coughing and congestion in for 4 days... home for Christmas Dec. 25th... still recouperating with antibiotics etc.
Continuing cough and numerous doctor visits.
*Jan 30th-Feb 4th- hospitalized again with cough ..
Still has cough , but controlled most of the time Hasn't been able to resume chemo

**My "prince charming", best friend, husband and soul mate,, Mike passed away March 2, 2006 after being a 5 year survivor and fighting a very courageous battle**
______________________
Mom- 78 yrs old..
nsclc diag May 2nd, 2007-surgery 2sm tumors removed in wedge section... lymph nodes clear
Tarceva as adjuvant started on June 23rd..quit July2nd.. side effects numerous... am waiting now til next appt. July 13th
July 20th... Mom NED.PET clear and normal .. will go back on half 75mg Tarceva... see how that works..
Stop Tarceva 8-25 too many side effects
Oct. 22nd- Mom surgeon visit, chest xray and results .. all clear, no sign of cancer...
Feb. 18th Mom's PET Scan
March 7th Mom's PET Scan results.. NED
Sept. 22, 08 Mom PET Scan
Sept. 29, 08 Mom PET results new nodule 3/4 "...here we go again.... :-(
*Updated*- Mom surgery- Oct. 30th.. surgeon removed top part of upper right lobe. Nothing showed malignant. She had pneumonia after surgery and a 3 week hospital stay, but she is slowly regaining her strength and is currently NED..

March 3, 2009 CT scan.... results showed some little things along suture line that the doctor believed was healing.. will wait til next scan and compare.

June 2, 2009- CT Scan.. results there is an area along suture line that has increased in size and thickening.. doctor thinks could be cancer... a needle biopsy will be done..

A quick update.. the results of the needle biopsy did confirm that it was cancer...

Cyberknife was done the first week in November..

Pet scan .. Dec. 8th...
Dec. 11th -results .. cyberknife worked and the rest of the scan is clean... YAY!!! Happy Birthday (Dec. 19th.. 81st) and Merry Xmas Mom!
Dec. 2010 NED!!!
June 2, 2011.. Pet Scan results .. NED!!!
Nov 3, 2011.. CT scan results.. NED!!!
Sept. 18, 2012 .. our loving mom has passed on ..Heaven received a most precious angel.


graphic by
http://www.maryslittlelamb.com[/size]

I am so glad you found this site, there are so many people here that understand and can answer questions for you.
I sounds like you had an (unfortunately) pretty typical start with this, Lung Cancer seems to be one of the last things doctors look for, especially if there is no cough involved. my story was similar to yours, although I did not have to wait as long to be seen and diagnosed. I had bad back pain, but I was a preschool teacher and a student jumped on my back (playfully) when I was sitting on the floor, so I figured that I had a pulled muscle. When It didn't go away, I figured it was kidney stones again, when I could no longer walk, my doctor said it was a herniated disc. But unfortunately we were all wrong. Like you It had spread to my spine and brain.
The good news is that your treatments have started. Once you have a treatment plan, things start to settle down and you can spend less time in the "confused and scared state of mind" and more time in the "healing and hope state of mind". I love that you are using imagery to eradicate the cancer, I do the same thing, positive thoughts are healing thoughts.
keep us posted on how the chemo is doing, if you have any side effects people here who used the same chemo can help you with suggestions.
Prayers and peace!

_________________
Diagnosed at 47 years old - never smoked
3 amazing children, now 27, 25, and 24
Married 30 years

12/22/06 Diagnosed NSCLC Stage IV - Adnocarcinoma
Tumor in Rt Lung, 3 on Spine, one on the Pons of the brain
Radiation to the spine
Fractionated Linac Stereotactic Radiotherapy to the Pons of the brain

2/15/07 Start Tarceva 150 mg
4 1/2 years of "no progression of disease"

4/11/11 New mets on brain, Gamma Knife Radiation
Probable Leptomeningeal Disease.
Start "pulsing Tarceva" 1500mg 1xweek

7/11 - Brain mets swelling as an after effect of Gamma Knife, put on anti seizure meds, steroids.
New mets on spine and lung - watching.

9/11 - No new growth in Brain - more growth on spine and ribs. Back to Tarceva 100mg daily, adding Avastin every 3 weeks.

12/11 - Scans show no new growth, some mets stable, others have shrunk!

12/22/11 - 5 year survivor!!!!!

7/20/12 - scans show new growth in lungs and spine. Staying on Tarceva and Avastin and adding Alimta and Carboplatin.

10/12 Taken off Alimta and Carboplatin due to extreme side effects, continuing on Tarceva and Avastin - scans stable

Winter/13. Scans show growth again. Bones, lungs, lymph nodes, spleen. Time to look into clinical trials

4/13. Started clinical trial at Yale AP26113 by ARIAD, a "second generation Tarceva", side effects so far, diarrhea and nausea.

My story - http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=46162

Sorry to be so late to welcome you, but I am glad you found us. I'm glad you have gotten your treatment plan in place and I hope that it is helping. Please let us know how things are going.

Diane

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3/98 Dx squamous cell NSCLC 2a at 50 yrs
4/98 Left lung removed, no chemo/rad
8/08 Persistent cough and shortness of breath, first appt. with pulmonary doc 11/4/08
11/08 X-ray and CT show tumor in right lung. PET scan confirms tumor, shows no apparent spread
12/08 CT/needle biopsy shows squamous cell NSCLC IIIB, doctors don't seem to agree if its a new cancer or recurrence - but onc believes it is a new one
12/08 Start concurrent radiation/chemo, Cisplatin/Etoposide
1/09 Chemo switched to Carbo/Taxol due to intolerance of Cisplatin
2/09 Radiation completed
3/09 Chemo completed
5/09 CT shows spot where tumor was likely/hopefully scar tissue
6/09 Begin Lucanix trial
9/09 CT scan - stable
12/07/09 CT scan - stable
3/1/10 CT scan - stable
6/1/10 CT scan - stable - begin 2nd year of trial
8/23/10 CT scan - stable
10/25/10 CT scan - stable
1/20/11 CT scan - stable
4/25/11 CT scan - stable - completed drug portion of trial, now follow-up with 3-mo scans
8/1/11 CT scan - stable
10/24/11 CT scan - stable. At my request, switching to 6 mo scans.
4/24/12 CT scan - stable.
10/30/12 CT scan - stable.
2/26/13 CT scan - stable

Avatar is with 10-mo-old grandson Ethan at Xmas

Welcome to the lung cancer support community. This is an incredible place for support, inspiration, information and hope. Please keep posting. I look forward to getting to know you better!

Sorry to hear of that difficult news, ywmeku.

What specific type of lung cancer is it? Adenocarcinoma? Squamous cell? Large cell? Small cell? something else? (BTW, "non-small cell lung cancer" is just a category, which isn't useful enough.)

Best hopes,

Craig

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- Stage IV never-smoker ROS1-driven m-BAC indolent adenocarcinoma
- Xalkori (crizotinib)-for-ROS1 trial at MGH, Boston
- from PA/NJ area, USA
- Unaffiliated patient advocate of educating and empowering patients to seek the best available treatments for their specific lung cancer based on current clinical research.

How are you doing ywmeku? Have you had some relief?
-CindyA

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Lung Cancer Advocate, Volunteer Moderator
Lost a perfect Grandfather & Grandmother. Honoring my friend Esther who's conquering LC.