What does Nonpulmonary visceral metastasis include?

[Jason]

Does spread to the lungs mean you have 'Nonpulmonary visceral metastasis'?

Just something im wondering... because i read on another website that Nonpulmonary matastasis includes spread to brain, liver, bone etc. It didnt say lungs.

Anybody got any idea

[Karen]

Jason,
Non-pulmonary specifically excludes the lungs. Pulmonary means having to do with he lungs, so spread to the lungs would be "pulmonary metastasis".

[Jason]

Oh. Thanks Karen.

My situation is ive got spread to the lungs, got a few enlarged lymph nodes but no markers. They are perfectly normal.

Where would i be placed? Good or Intermediate risk?

[mk6439]

Jason,
Except for the enlarged nodes, my husband is in the same situation as you and his doctor at Sloan told us he is good risk

[Scott]

Sounds like good risk to me.

[dadmo]

With normal markers you are defiantly a good risk patient. The lung involvement sounds bad but it’s quite common.

[Jason]

Ah ok thanks guys.

I dont know though... im feeling a bit low at the moment. It being spread to my lungs isnt the best of news. I was optimistic i would have only had it spread to my lymph nodes because i caught it quite early.

Has anyone here had spread to the lungs and survived and been cancer free? It would be nice to hear surviver stories of people whove had lung spread.

I know i got no markers but im quite worried and thinking of the worst (we all know what that is). Why me?

[Karen]

Jason,
Coming to grips with this is very hard, but you will be fine. What was your pathology and staging? If you read Lance Armstrong's book you'll see that lung and brain metastisis can be beaten and you can do more than just "survive". http://tcrc.acor.org is a great site for definitions, and background as well as references.

[IowaBrian]

Don't get too worked up, I know it is hard but my Doc stated to let him worry about the treatment (yeah right ) In his 2 hour talk he stated that one of the first places they find it is in the lungs (that why they Xray the chest every month) and they are still able to kill the cancer. All the Docs always bring up Lance and he was hacking up blood and it was all over and he is now the Poster Child for all of us with TC.
Took me over a week after the Right Orch to not keep thinking why me why me... I still think that from time to time but after talking to the Cancer Doc he put me at ease as this will be OK and I will live a long life.. Just like you.

[mk6439]

Jason, have you seen your oncologist yet? He or she may be able to allay your fears. When we found out that my husband's cancer had spread to his lungs, it freaked us out, but the oncologist really eased our minds when he told us the odds of a total cure were still overwhelmingly (90-95%) in our favor.

[Alucard]

Hey, I also have lung metastasis and my markers were very high.. I am having 4xBEP, second cycle is almost over and everything regarding bHCG levels is going fine so far, this bHCG thing went from 300.000 to 600 and I think that means improvement so hang in there, chemotherapy can cure this type of cancer. Feel free to PM if you want.

-Al

[Jason]

Thanks guys for the encouragement. Ive been reading a bit over the last few days and have realised lung spread aint the worst news. I found out from my doc the lung spread aint a severe case, theres only one small nodule. So im a bit more positive now

I also read Lance Armstrongs story and its quite inspiring to say the least. I just hope ill be in his position this time next year. This going to be hard 6 months... with the possibility of RPLND being after chemo. Its going to be the longest and quickest 6 months of my life, thats for sure.

2007 is my light

[rlhawk]

Jason: Stay positive; you will get through this.

I was in a similar situation: several enlarged lymph nodes, spread to the lungs, and my markers were barely elevated. A PET scan after the second cycle of EP showed that the tumors were gone. Follow-up scans have been all clear.

You'll be fine. Just stay focused on the goal.