Radiation to the mediastinal lymph nodes - 1289943

larryw
Posts:3

Is radiation possible to the lymph nodes in stations 5 and 6 (nodes located on and around the aortic arch).
I have nodal Lung Cancer metastasis to node stations 3, 4L, 5, 6, 7.

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Reply # - January 31, 2017, 09:18 AM

catdander
Posts:

Hi Larry,

Welcome to Grace. I'm very sorry to know you under these circumstances but glad you're asking questions about your case. I'm not going to try to answer your question but will refer it to a faculty. I hope you do very well moving forward.

Janine

Reply # - February 1, 2017, 03:58 AM

larryw
Posts: 3

Thank you for the prompt responses
After a ct scan in feb 2016 showed 3 tumors in my left lower lobe I had a lobectomy to remove the lobe in May 2016.
Surgeons report showed all margins clean and nodes that were removed were cancer free.
I had a post ct on Jun 27 that showed one enlarged 4L node.
Follow up CT and PET SCAN in Sept showed 4L node had doubled in size and a subcarinal node was enlarged.
My oncologist recommended radiation with light chemo and sent me for a bronchoscopy with EBUS.
The ebus found that all nodes that were accessible were actually cancerous and I was told I was stage 4 and radiation was no longer an option.
Now my oncologist is pushing for the radiation/chemo treatment once again.
I am confused and not sure what to do at this point.
Thanks again for your replies.

Reply # - February 1, 2017, 03:50 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi larryw,

If the staging is based only upon the original tumors and the enlarged nodes it doesn't seem as though this is stage IV, in which there is distant rather than merely local spread. In stage IV, local therapy such as surgery or radiation is usually used only to relieve pain or other symptoms, prevent bone fractures, etc. In lower stages, radiation would certainly be an option.

Since this is a significant treatment decision point, you may wish to obtain a second opinion, preferably a dedicated lung cancer specialist at a teaching hospital. Dr. Weiss shared some helpful thoughts on second opinions here: http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2011/11/13/an-insiders-guide-to-the-s…

JimC
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Reply # - February 4, 2017, 07:09 AM

larryw
Posts: 3

Thank you for the reply JimC
I read the article and I am searching for an academic oncologist in Nashville

Reply # - February 4, 2017, 08:15 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi larryw,

Two oncologists who have contributed content to GRACE are in Nashville: Dr. Leora Horn is at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Dr. David Spigel is at Sarah Cannon Research Institute/Tennessee Oncology.

JimC
Forum moderator

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