Recently diagnosed

hi there... Lj1101... stay cool, calm and collected as much as you can. It's such a massively difficult time and like you i've put on several pairs of big boy pants :) .. I'm about 4 weeks further down the line than you so know what you're going through... If you've had a CT scan, the radiologist should know the staging of it TNM (worth researching) , but ultimately they can't really tell you that much more until they do a biopsy which  will hopefully tell you the type and importantly whether you have any markers called PD-L1. With high PD-L1 (over 50%) you may be eligible for Immunotherapy type treatments. They also check whether you have any molecular markers that may make you eligible for Targeted Therapies  - all this info will help them figure out the best treatment plan for you.

There's a lot of waiting around with this, but roughly speaking according to NICE guidelines you should be starting treatment within 62 days of referral. I'm just waiting to start treatment, but at times over the last 2 months I really felt like things were dragging...It's a feeling worth getting used to as they confirm what you're dealing with and what the best treatment is. 

It's really difficult telling people... if it's any help I did mine in stages to help soften the blow. Firstly telling them they've found something they think is cancerous and telling them what the next steps would be and later telling them the diagnosis and likely treatment plan. I think we need all the love and support we can get so I think it's good to share - people instinctively want to help or send you a big hug and they're going to find out sooner or later :) 

It's hard to stay off google, but just be cautious about which sites you trust....This site is good and so is the Roy Castle Lung Cancer site - both have very supportive forums and good info.

sending you lots of positive thoughts - we're all in this together :) 

Thanks tallbee, it's just a lot to take in and that your life kind if changes in such a short time. Patience is definitely not one of my strong points neither is something controlling my life. The only time I feel I have cancer is at 2am in the morning when I'm on my own, alone with my own thoughts, but have to say rhe meds I have do help thank you for your support

Hi Lj1101, welcome to the club no one wants to be a part of. Big girl knickers are required! Especially while you wait for them to do their Frankenstein science to figure out how to treat you. My whirlwind came out of the blue in October 22, with a phone call about an X ray. Then all the tests - further X ray, CT scan, full lung function test, PET scan, VATs surgery and then a very long wait - nearly 6 weeks for them to tell me the Friday before Christmas. I felt like a lab rat! I got my treatment plan in January of this year, and I am just about to go for my last chemo and immunotherapy session before a CT scan to see what's going on now. If I can be of any use to you in terms of helping you to navigate what to expect, then message me. There is hope - I was expecting treatment to be a nightmare, but feel that I've coped relatively well. And somehow you manage. But stay away from Dr Google, it is not your friend! Helen xx

Hi Helen

Thank you for your support had a ct guided biopsy today, and wow that was a toe curler, anyhow just wait for the results, I appreciateit takes time, it just feels like forever , I'll keep in touch if that's OK and it's good to know my thoughts are similar to others 

Kindest regards Lisa xx 

And yes Helen Google is for recipes and maps not for cancer treatments xx

I know, it's a nightmare waiting to find out. Keep in touch, I'll send you a private message. It's good to support each other. Keep positive and keep going, you've come this far.