ealec
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Posts:2
Hi I am new to this site and looking for any info that may help.my mum is a fit non smoking 66year old.she presented with a sinus tachycardia of 100-110bpm and a five week history of dry cough.a ct pa was done to outrule a clot which showed enlarged glands.she subsequently underwent a bronchoscopy and biopsy as dr thought she may have sarcoidosis. Unfortunately the biopsy showed a non small cell adenocarcinoma. Whilst very nice the dr was a little bleak about prognosis. I just wanted to know is it too early to feel this way or is she riggt.we do not have any other information available.
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Reply # - September 5, 2013, 08:10 PM
Reply To: node adenocarcinoma
HI ealec,
Welcome to GRACE. I am sorry to hear about your mum's diagnosis. Her prognosis depends on the staging of her cancer. You may want to begin by reading Dr. Weiss' very informative post "An Introduction to Lung Cancer" here: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/04/05/an-introduction-to-lung-cancer/
Once you have read this please let us assist you with any further questions you may have.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - September 5, 2013, 08:12 PM
Reply To: node adenocarcinoma
I'm very sorry to hear about her recent diagnosis.
It is most helpful to start with the basics, including the information in our reference library about lung cancer. Here's a link to a podcast about the workup and staging of lung cancer.
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/05/12/general-work-up-and-staging-of-l…
and here is a general introduction to lung cancer:
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2010/04/05/an-introduction-to-lung-cancer/
Once you know the stage, it becomes possible to consider the prognosis and optimal management strategy in more detail. We'd be happy to help point you in the direction of other core information once you have more information about her situation.
Good luck.
-Dr. West
Reply # - September 16, 2013, 02:24 PM
Reply To: node adenocarcinoma
Hi dr,since my last post my mum has met with oncologist.the ct scans show 2 small nodules in separate lobes on the same lung and disease in the mediastinal nodes.the primary is still unknown but they feel that it is in the region of the nodes.pelvic and abdominal scan is clear aswell as the bone scan.the oncologist says it is a stage 4 lung cancer and that surgery and radiotherapy are not options.she seems to be taking a wait and see approach because my mum is so well and doesn't have many symptoms. I am wondering if a more aggressive approach would be better now while my mum is well enough to tolerate it.A cancer diagnosis was a terrible shock but it nearly feels worse that dr is not very pro active.any advice would be appreciated.
Reply # - September 16, 2013, 08:20 PM
Reply To: node adenocarcinoma
It really depends on how aggressive the cancer is. If a patient has few or no cancer-related symptoms, a relatively indolent cancer may be very sensibly managed by not rushing in and over-treating it just for the sake of being on treatment. Here's a post that describes an approach to advanced bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, but as I mention in the post, this applies to any indolent cancer:
http://cancergrace.org/lung/2013/01/20/mf-bac-algorithm/
In short, it's reasonable to not rush into treatment if it's a slowly progressing and asymptomatic cancer.
-Dr. West