Diagnosed Aug 2018 Adenocarcinoma Lung Cancer with EGFR Mutation

My cancer journey began when I went to my primary care doctor because the medication he gave me for osteoporosis was causing me to have a nagging cough. He took me off the medication and decided to do a chest X-ray also.

Concerning spots and diagnosis

The cough went away as soon as I stopped taking the medication but the X-ray came back with some concerning spots. I then went for a CT scan followed by a pet scan and then a biopsy. Results were Stage lll Adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations.

Treatment

I had surgery in Oct 2018 to remove my lower left lobe followed by Chemotherapy. I was hospitalized twice for pulmonary embolisms and also for Dyspnea (shortness of breath).

My scans were clear for a year after chemo ended, but in Aug 2020 after a routine CT Scan followed by another Pet scan it was discovered that the cancer has metastasized to my adrenal gland.

A second opinion and next steps

I had surgery to remove the gland and the plan was to begin Tagrisso. I decided to seek another opinion and went to MD Anderson in Houston Texas. They discovered that there were also cancerous lymph nodes in my abdomen and also in my other adrenal gland.

I qualified for a trial combining Tagrisso with radiation but as of now I am only on the Tagrisso. I will have another scan at the end of this month to see if the medication is slowing the progression. At some point I may be one of the patients that is selected to receive radiation.

After reading so many of these stories I am hoping for a good outcome. They have made me very hopeful.

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