Hi Luna!

I have NSCLC stage IV, no surgery as it ad spread to lymph nodes. Diagnosed Oct 2015. I am still here enjoying life. And if you get surgery and has not spread, you could be cured.

Talk to your doctor about it. Good luck, Pet

Hi thanks for replying. I'm up awake all night!!! I don't no what IV means? Sorry but tell m your story....I'm properly lost!!! X

Sorry i didn't explain...stage IV means terminal/not cureable. they did not operate as it had spread already.

But see, there are so many new and good treatments available now, and as i said if they operate, it is a good sign.

And it is normal to be affraid now, we all have been there and the waiting is horrible.

Hi, wow thats pretty amazing. 4 years at stage 4? I keep reading stats and all i come up with is stage  2 33% to 5 years limited life expectancy or stage 1 64% also limited. I.e. no retirement for me. Is that the case? I don't know and wont till post surgery tumour and lymph biopsy but I'm hoping??? Mine was caught by accident...lucky i believe....i was being tested fir stomach cancer!!! I'm very new to this and haven't "acclimated" so to speak. X

Yes mine was found the same way, i was 47 and then ...bang!!!!

Just a few tipps, if you go to app. then take someone with you, as you are excited you may don't hear all of forget things. Also to write down all questions you want to ask. I found that very helpful.

I will cross my figers for you that all ges well!!!

Yes that's a good suggestion. I took hubby as he could recall what i couldn't last time. Thankyou and glad you are well. I hope for a cure but still early days fir my head to truly get around it all. Not ready to give up on my retirement and grandma plan. Thats what sucks...not onowing and not being able to plan a future.....x

Hi Luna

I hope all goes well on Thursday. My story is similar to yours....

I was diagnosed in November 2019, aged 48 and had a lower left VATS Lobectomy in December and I am recovering well. I'd had no symptoms and the lesion on my lung was picked up by chance on a heart scan in October. Thankfully there was no sign of spread to lymph nodes but due to the size of the tumour removed (4.8cm, stage 2) I'm now having chemotherapy, hopefully as a 'belt and braces' as the intention of the surgery was curative.

I have spent hours/days googling and reading up on staging, TNM, prognosis etc but everyone is different and your surgeon/oncologist are best placed to advise on specifics for you rather than looking at averages.

If you have any questions I can help you with about the VATS procedure, recovery or anything else, please feel free to ask.

Best wishes

Ruth

Hi Luna

Re the title of your post have you tried contacting the various lung cancer charities in the UK (have a google, there's a few)?  I have breast cancer and one of the charities offers a "someone like me" service whereby you can talk to someone who has gone through what you are, you may find this useful, I do!

Good luck.

Sam

Hi Luna,

I am 51 and have stage 4 lung cancer. I'm also near the beginning, diagnosed November and operation.                     ( pneumonectomy) in December about the same time as Ruth's. Unfortunately cancer cells were found outside my lung after the operation so I ended up at stage 4 I hope your operation is curative. It sounds like there's a good chance of that.

Either way, best of luck for Thursday and your recovery. Let us know the outcome if you need support!
 

Joy x

Thankyou all, much appreciated. It's hard discussing it with those who aren't going through it so thankyou again. I'll just have to wait and see and ask the right questions once I've had the surgery. X