My Stage 4 LUNG CANCER Symptoms: "It all Happened So Fast!" | The Patient Story

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My step mom had cancer over 20 years ago. She had a lung removed. She just turned 94. Don’t give up hope.

Hello I am a 21 year survivor, 57 bladder cancer, metastasized to lung. I was told that I may get two years, it has been 20 years since I was told that. I has been a very rough 21 years, but I will take it anyway I can get it. Miracles do happen. You will be in my prayers and positive thoughts. ❤ God bless

The more I read these stories, the more I realise life is a complete lottery. God bless everyone battling illness.

Going through it with my sis right now. The cancer has spread pretty much everywhere now in just a few months from discovery. Its just a matter of days. She at home with hospice currently. Bless those hospice workers. Edit...she passed 3 days ago. R.I.P sis.

I have a similar story, I was an ER nurse, working part time as a set medic on a movie location. I developed a weird cough that I knew wasn’t COVID because I had to take a test every 48 hours to work on the set. End of October 2020, start of COVID crisis. Had an X-ray, showed a change, ct showed a mass. Bronchoscope inconclusive , MRI, finally got an email on my hospital portal on Christmas eve. Lung cancer. Merry Christmas. January, r sided robotic bilobectomy in Denver. 4 months of chemotherapy included 4 critical care admits for sepsis (SIRS) including 2 emergency ambulance rides. Interstitial lung disease, A-fib. A year 2021 in the hospital or bed on O’s. Another year getting out of bed and working towards recovery. My wife and daughter wouldn’t let me die and neither would my colleagues, doc’s and fellow nurses. Now I’m in Mexico living on the beach, doing fine. 2 years clear. Wish you the best.

Im 68 and was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40. Stage 3, had chemo and radium but continued my daily life like i always did. My surgeon had free meditation classes for his patients so i learned how to meditate. I remember friends and family treating me like i was dieing. That made me more determined not to. Im cancer free and thank god for every day. Stay strong and stubborn. ❤

My brother-in-law was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer fourteen years ago. He has probably had every treatment available and is still going strong. There is real hope.

It blows my mind that in this day and age, medicine is so crazy slow when it comes to diagnosing cancer.

My husband just completed his third chemo session for small cell stage 4 lung cancer. He’s terminal but he’s doing great, we are praying for at least another year max 5 if anyone can beat it it’ll be him. Keep the hope alive. Miracles happen. Sending love and prayers.

I just got diagnosed with esophageal cancer that has spread to left lung...oncology next Monday...my prayers are with you...ps I never smoked either

Praying for you. My mother in law lived with Stage 4 for 26 years. Died at 86

the sudden world wide surge of cancer cases is disturbing .I wish you all well

My lung cancer stage 4 ( NSCLC ALK POSITIVE) journey started 8/2016. Pulmonary doc who performed procedure to remove fluid and thoracic surgeon who sealed the plural space and did biopsy, gave me a grim outlook. Maybe 6 months, go get your affairs in order. On my first on oncology appointment, I was offered palliative care, 😊to make me comfortable. I was in post procedure stage, tubes removed, and was functioning well on my own. I said thanks no thanks, I will let things evolve and I do not want to be numb, spacey from pain meds, I want to remain clear headed. I was 64, never smoked, non drinker, led clean life and exercised. I complained of symptoms to primary doctor year earlier. I had an chest X-ray. Both radiologist and primary missed it. At diagnosis year later, which started again at primary’s, another chest X-ray, there was a 10cm growth in between low and middle lobe, and so much fluid buildup, which was causing me to not be able to walk across a room without becoming short of breath. Primary called to give me the results of X-ray, told me to get myself to ER immediately, things can get very, very ugly real soon. That 10 cm growth did not happen in a year, it took years to grow. Anyway, I took no meds for 10 first months, and researched like mad. I read medical papers, journals, clinical trials, boy, I learned a lot. I got rid of the primary. At about 10-11 months no meds, I was doing well, able to take care of myself, and looked and felt better than anyone expected. At that time oncologist who has been doing monthly blood works, put me on meds for my type of mutation. I took full dose for about 2 weeks and it nearly killed my liver. So 6 -8 weeks to heal the liver and gave me next med for my mutation. By now I’ve had 3 meds, and am currently having symptoms and tested, have new mutations, current med is not working. But 6/2016 to date 1/2024, I am here, 7.5 yrs later. 72 yr old female, living alone, taking care of all my needs, active enough to garden, exercise hard, but only in the pool, can’t do it on land, get out of breath. I cook my meals, always tweak ingredients, add or subtract, and keep on researching. I fast 3 to 4.5 days before each month’s blood work. I tell my oncologist I am planting young fruit trees in pots, expecting to be here to enjoy the fruit. You are young, have a family and so much living to do. Don’t live in fear! Fear will kill you before the disease. Learn as much as you can about your type of cancer, mutations. I learned from listening to oncology lecture by a specialist on my type of lung cancer, that 2/3 of her patients can’t handle full dose of meds. I never took a full dose again(oral chemo). Most I would take was 1/2 and when I had sufficient improvement, held steady, I reduced dose to 1/4. I am my own advocate😊. I know how I feel, how I function, recognize when there I changes. I don’t agree to frequent scans. Too much unnecessary radiation. Trust your medical team, but do verify, read, listen to other medical specialists, plenty out there doing public service, via podcasts and recordings of medical lectures. I wish you the best. Be positive, mentally and physically active, be strong. Don’t let your immediate circle of loved ones and friends see you as “cancer” patient, always starting conversation with asking how you feel😊. You are still the same person you were before diagnosis. Do and talk with them about things other than cancer. Don’t let cancer dominate every minute of your day. I shared my diagnosis with only 3-4 immediate family members for almost 4 years. That helped me to not have to deal with everyone’s pity look on their faces and never ending questions of how I feel, plus everyone sharing who they knew that had cancer and who survived or who died. Every cell in your body is listening and reacting to your thoughts. Stay calm, get plenty of rest and sleep, outdoor time. Check vitamin D levels and supplement if below 50. I keep mine at 80-95. Was 17 at diagnosis. Research shows that large number of cancer diagnosed patients had low levels at diagnosis. Sending positive vibes your way. I know you can do this😊

don't quit fighting, i start ed my 6th year with stage 4 lung cancer. my doctors keep telling me i'm one for the record books. i was not suppose to be here, they gave 3 months. look at me now still here after 5 years. so, please dont ever give up keep fighting. god is with you. god bless you. i'll keep you in my prayers.

My Sweet Sister started having a cough in December 2023. Many test etc. to finally be told on January 23 2024 that she had stage 4 lung cancer, never smoked a day in her life. It was so very aggressive that she passed away on February 7 2024. She was 72. I will miss you forever Lillie my dear older Sister. See you again ❤😉🙏🏻

My friend is 7 years cancer free after stage 4 lung cancer.

My wife of 39 years said she was 15 lbs overweight .She decided to go to an exercise class to lose it. She did it in 2 months but kept loosing weight. Went to the Dr and they said she had stage 4 gallbladder cancer. They said she had six months, she made it 9 months .then passed.The woman was never sick a day in her life till this.

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m 34, I’ve got a wonderful 3 year-old son, I’ve never smocked and I’ve just been diagnosed with lung cancer as well. I started to have numerous lung infections back in 2021 : pneumonia, Covid, the flue and chronic fever. Last October, my left lung collapsed. I’m meeting my surgeon next week to have my lung removed. Wishing you all the best for your recovery, from France !

Too young. I wish this young mother a miracle.