Hi All
My 37 yr old niece has been diagnosed with a Pancoast Tumor 4wks ago after receiving physio for 6mths for a sore arm. Following the PET results today she has been given a 6mths to a year and is only been offered radiotherapy as a method of pain control to the main tumor and lymphnodes, chemo has been ruled out as it would only give her an extra 3mths. I asked the oncologist if she would treat the tiny tumors on the adrenal glands and she said no they were not causing any problems...........................
Her PET scan results 6.5 cm apical mass (PancoastT3) with right hilar, mediastinal lymphadenopathy and increased uptake in keeping with N2 disease. Both adrenal glands are affected (M1b). According to CT scan 1mth ago the adrenals were clear, i know PET shows up more.
My question is as she is only 37 is chemo really not an option, or a clinical trial? She doesnt have the gene for Tarveca. I have prints of the biopsy reports and scan reports i do intend to get a second opinion, once i find out how too.
Thanks
Michelle
Reply # - July 15, 2013, 03:34 PM
Reply To: Pancost Tumor, Lymph Nodes and Adrenal Glands
Hello Michelle, I'm very sorry your young niece is going through this but I'm glad she will get a second opinion. From what you've said there doesn't seem to be a reason she wouldn't take anti cancer treatment as well as further mutation testing to test for an ALK mutation.
You may want to find an oncologist who specializes in lung cancer at a large teaching hospital. This is an excellent primer on all the very good reasons to get a second opinion. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insider%E2%80%99s-guide…
Please let us know how else we may help you help your niece. When using the search feature you may need to log off, depending on the browser you use. You can access a lot of info through the FAQ and "Cancer Info" tabs.
Here's a start, http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/09/18/lung-faq-ive-just-been-diagnosed…
To the good aunt,
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - July 15, 2013, 03:53 PM
Reply To: Pancost Tumor, Lymph Nodes and Adrenal Glands
I want to add a personal note. My husband had a pancoast tumor and went through pt before a CT found the tumor. Take a look at my signature under my posts it describes his cancer history. We're extra lucky in that he's quite the outlier but there's no need to think she shouldn't try treatment.
Reply # - July 15, 2013, 06:19 PM
Reply To: Pancost Tumor, Lymph Nodes and Adrenal Glands
It may be that radiation is the higher priority because it's more reliable for shrinking a cancer quickly, which may be needed for a symptom management of a bulky tumor, but chemotherapy is almost always going to be recommended for this situation by a lung cancer specialist. It's true that chemotherapy provides a benefit on the order of months, but some patients experience a benefit far greater.
-Dr. West
Reply # - July 15, 2013, 06:43 PM
Reply To: Pancost Tumor, Lymph Nodes and Adrenal Glands
Radiation should be the start of treatment due to location then chemo to follow. They have no idea if she'll respond to treatment and could live much longer than what they're stating. Make sure you go to a major cancer center and she see's someone that deals with lung cancer. Not sure if your in the US or not, but there are many top-notch cancer centers. I will hope she's had a biopsy and you know the type of NSCLC she has, as Pancoast just means location. Wishing her the best. Take care, Judy