Likelihood of coming back

Hi Woz

I had an upper right lobectomy in 2022 and had the same option and decided not to go ahead with chemo. I too had done my research and decided that it wasn’t worth it. I had three years of clear scans but last year there was a small spread to my right adrenal gland. This could not be removed as it was considered too dangerous as other organs were close by. I’ve since had SABR on the adrenal gland and I’m now back to 3 monthly scans. I did have two rounds of chemo prior to the failed procedure.

If I had that time again I would probably have taken the chemo but I didn’t and don’t have any other underlying conditions. The chemo I had wasn’t too difficult to manage. Your Mum could always go ahead with it and see how she feels. I didn’t have any hair loss but some nausea and tiredness. Perhaps it would help your Mum to discuss it further with one of the MacMillan nurses that can be contacted by phone on this website. 

Wishing you both all the best love Daisy

Hello WOZ13,

I'm sorry to hear that your mum was diagnosed with NSCLC earlier this year.

It's very difficulat to get an idea of survival chances because this depends on many factors including the cancer's stage, treatment, general health and, yes, luck.

The good news for your mum is that surgery is the gold standard treatment if you're lucky enough to be able to have it.

I had my right lung removed following diagnosis of NSCLC stage T2N1M0 and it will be 12 years ago next week since I had my surgery. I was 58 years old at the time and had the same decision to make about adjuvant chemotherapy. Things haven't changed much since then as I was also quoted a possible extra 5 percentage points on the chance of long term survival.

To be honest I didn't really hesitate in taking the decision to have chemo because I wanted to throw everything at it to increase my chances. It was of course easier for me at the time because I was yonger and physically very fit.

My decision was influenced by the fact that, as Daisychain  has said I decided I could start it and, if it was intolerable, stop at any time I liked. Fortunately I did finish the complete course.

As Daisychain  says, it might be worth talking to one of the Macmillan nurses and a link to the info for these is below.

I wish your mum all the best whatever decision she takes.

Derek.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/get-help/macmillan-nurses

Thank you so much Daisy, I really appreciate the response.  Especially when you are going through your own.

She has a call with the nurse this week and has a list of questions

Wishing you the best also and thanks again.

Thank you very much Derek for replying.  I'm glad to hear you are 12 years next week

Hi WOZ13. 
As the others have said it’s impossible to judge how likely the cancer is to come back. With or without adjuvant chemo. 

I had an upper right lobectomy July 2023. They were confident they got it all and nothing was found in the lymph nodes. But the tumour had pushed through the pleural coating in a couple of places so possibility of stray cells heading off around the body.

I wanted to make sure I’d taken every opportunity to knock this thing on the head and had no doubts about having chemo. Pemetrexed and Carboplatin every three weeks. Some fatigue but very little nausea. No hair loss. Annoying I actually put on weight! 
I was 64 and had no other conditions. It sounds as if your Mum does have other health problems so it might not be the same for her.

Yesterday I went for results of latest PET scan. Three years and still all clear. 

Wishing  your mum good luck with whatever she decides. 

After having an upper left lobe lobectomy with 1 lymph node involvement in 2023, I was offered 4 rounds of chemo as there was a 50/50 chance of it returning, I went ahead but it didn't stop it from spreading  it travelled to my brain.  I had stereotactic radiotherapy and that tumour was destroyed. And because of my weakened immunity from the chemo I ended up back in hospital with pneumonia.  I was then offered 2 years of immunotherapy but I deciding that I had enough and would deal with it if or when it reared its ugly head again. That was 2 and a half years ago and my scans have been clear ever since and I am only now beginning to feel anywhere near normal.