angie59
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had a close friend who was diagnosed with broncho alveolar cancer, dec 2011. following bronchoscopy, needle biopsy and PET scan. was told tumour contained within lung with no spread. had lower right lobectomy in april 2012 and was given all clear. unfortunatley symptoms returned within four months, offered chemo which was delayed until november 2012. subsequently had severe reaction with sepsis. no futher chemo offered. developed superior vena cava obsruction in january and sadly passes away three weeks later. just wanting to know is this normal, for a slow growing tumour, to re occur and spread so rapidly in this type of cancer. and what sort of benefit has chemo. ?
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Reply # - February 23, 2013, 08:51 AM
Reply To: broncho alveolar cancer
Hi Angie, I am very sorry to hear of your friend's passing. No matter how or why his passing is in itself is so devastating. Second let me apologize for leaving your post unaddressed for so long.
I can't say how normal this is but it happens that BAC becomes more aggressive sometimes with features that look like a more normal adenocarcinoma. At first glance when reading about cancer one gets the idea that there may to a normal process. While that's technically true and there is an "average" experience, few people experience an average process. It's been my experience with reading daily on Grace that abnormal is more normal and to all but quote Dr. West,' almost anything can happen with cancer. '
I know that's not the technical answer you're looking for and I'll ask a faculty to give input. Many lung oncologists are in Santa Monica this weekend for conference and are immersed in meetings. You should hear back within the day.
I wish things had happened differently for your friend. I'm so sorry,
Janine
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Reply # - February 23, 2013, 11:36 AM
Reply To: broncho alveolar cancer
Unfortunately, BAC can become more aggressive,most typically, as Janine notes, by becoming invasive. Once invasive, it behaves essentially any other adenocarcinoma (NSCLC) in that it can be aggressive. It's chemo-responsiveness at that point is typically much like other adenocarcinoma. That is, it is variable with the average patient experiencing a rough doubling of survival. And, when chemo is well tolerated and effective, a quality of life advantage can be achieved as well.