Hypothetical Question??? - 1289296

cards7up
Posts:635

This is as I titled, a hypothetical question. What is the likelihood of having an "aggressive" undiagnosed cancer of any kind for more than 12 years? Then diagnosed and treated after all that time but supposedly seen on a scan more than 12 years before. Also, on the BAC post, is it unusual to have a pleural effusion?
Take care, Judy

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Reply # - November 30, 2016, 11:01 AM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Judy,

Although as it's often said that "cancer can do anything", I think it's pretty hard to imagine an "aggressive" cancer lying dormant for that many years. It would be much more likely that what was seen on the scan 12 years prior was a benign nodule and the eventual cancer showed up coincidentally in the same spot. It's extremely likely that something changed over the course of those 12 years, such that even if it was a very indolent cancer originally. later more aggressive cancer cells developed, probably not related to what was already there.

As far as your second question, if we're talking about pure (non-invasive) BAC, you're correct in that it would be unusual for it to enter the bloodstream and cause a malignant pleural effusion. On the other hand, there is a continuum of BAC types ranging from the least aggressive, non-invasive types to those which are much more aggressive. So if the BAC results in a pleural effusion, it's almost certainly not the indolent form of BAC that is typically over-treated.

JimC
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Reply # - December 4, 2016, 02:54 PM

cards7up
Posts: 635

But if it was indolent for years and then a pleural effusion, could it be adeno and not BAC?
Take care, Judy

Reply # - December 4, 2016, 04:34 PM

JimC
Posts: 2753

Hi Judy,

Yes, it could be, although since testing of the effusion cancer cells showed BAC, it might be what has historically been referred to as "adenocarcinoma with BAC features." Dr. West discusses this subtype in his "Basics of BAC" post.

JimC
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