5 year CT scan results ~ this is an incredibly special day.
Five and a half years ago I had a Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) nodule (invasive), and one other removed from my lung. More to the point my prognosis at that time was not for the long-term so, for me, it has been a miraculous 5 years and today was an unimaginable day.
The Past
During this time it has not all been smooth flying but I am amazed with what I have been able to do. In hindsight, the lung cancer surgery and two years that followed have been the most difficult in my life, both from a physical and mental health aspect. It is a radical change of life to go from a full and active, basically healthy lifestyle to many medical appointments, etc. associated with two primary cancers and other surgeries; which became a way of life, but that is what many cancer survivors deal with.
The Future ~ is now
As mentioned often, I try to be the best I can be for my all-over health and welfare including the following activities:
- Spend all the time I can with my wonderful family and friends
- Walk in the sunshine ~ still my #1 favourite exercise followed by gardening as well as many other fun pastimes including fishing, swimming and camping
- Follow a balanced diet based on mostly organic vegetables and fruit avoiding those with high pesticide residual, fish and seafood, nuts, seeds & beans
- Limit added sugars and all processed food
- Stay interested in many and varied subjects, which is obvious from my Twitter feed
Advice:
- Stay healthy. If you become ill, being fit and healthy helps you cope when fighting disease and rate of recovery and there are often less complications. For example a ” … study also found that less-healthy patients are more prone to recovery room complications … ” after surgery
- Cherish and enjoy every moment you can!
The Results: 5 year CT scan
I am absolutely overjoyed to simply be writing about the results of my 5 year lung cancer CT scan and here they are briefly :
- Multiple small nodules unchanged
- Other nodules stable
- Several nodules “diminished in size”
- Post surgical changes unaltered
- No pleural fluid
- No new suspicious lesions
Recommendations
- CT Scan & follow-up With Respirologist in one year
Notes:
- I consider myself fortunate to have, and had such excellent surgeons and physicians care for me. My eternal thanks to them and their kind and caring staffs
- A legacy from what I will call my decreased immune function is that I seem to get every flu & virus going and the past few years of wildfire haze has created a few medical concerns with my lungs, asthma, etc
- During these years there have been incredible advances in lung cancer treatment, surgery and immunotherapy. These changes will hopefully benefit those who follow who have the misfortune to have lung cancer
- My faith is a comfort & strength ~ Psalm 39: 4-7
I hope you have found information in my website articles, or tweets, to encourage or help you. Enjoy each day to the best of your ability. I am looking forward to the simple pleasure of being able to spend time with my family and friends over the coming holidays. Very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and health and happiness in the New Year, and future years.
Warmest wishes ~ with joy, Liz
Links:
- Whats new in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer research
- World Cancer Fund Lung Cancer Statistics (2016)
- Time Like the Wind
- Spring 2012 – Lung Cancer surgery. Information from American Cancer Society
