My doctor told me that if my cancer comes back after treating this diagnosis that it would be hard t

MyLungCancer

Who has had a relapse or another type of cancer diagnosis after your first diagnosis? Has it been harder to treat this time? I'm not even done with this one and I'm already worrying about the next one.

Bloodproblems

Yes, I was told something similar but I was the one asking the question. I wanted to know how often MM comes back after treating for it. It never really goes away, but I wanted to know if I would have to be in harsh treatments again. I worry about it too.

Created07

I started out with endometrial cancer. While going through my annual check-ups, they found breast cancer. The plastic surgeon I was seeing found malignant melanoma. This was 2011 thru 2014. In 2015 they found non-hodgkins lymphoma. Now, in 2020, I am cancer-free. What I have found is that whatever I have to deal with....cancer or any other of the million things that hit us....God has always given me what I need to get thru. Fight this battle My Lung Cancer...this one battle....and know that you will never trust your body again, but the One who created it can always be trusted. He will always have your back. God bless.

Molly72

Many of us here have had many different types of cancer, some metastisized(sp.) from the original cancer, some brand new, some both.
I had one as a young woman, then never had problems until I was old & retired. Then new ones kept popping up & I am still having all sorts of cancers & other nasty diseases. Bad genes on my part I am sure.
Just be tough & find competent doctors, good luck.

po18guy

What a horrible thing to say, since it may never come to pass! Indeed, may it never come to pass! It is clear that some doctors treat the disease rather than the patient. Since prognosis applies to no one in particular, why even mention it? "Someone" survives every cancer. I would aim to be that someone. But, it is an active rather than a passive role.

It is an excellent idea to do some research about the enemy, becoming aware of new treatments and clinical trials. Staying a few steps ahead of it is the best way to fight it. Are you treated at a National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center? If not, I would think seriously about moving to one.

Every day, week, month that goes by reveals new treatment and strategies, so time is actually on your side. Like homeowner's insurance, best to have it even if you do not need it.

As to relapses, I had an unknown sub-type of Peripheral T-Cell non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Prognosis: poor. Immediate relapse after treatment dropped that prognosis to "extremely poor" with an overall survival of three months.

I relapsed immediately. Then I relapsed again. At second relapse, the Lymphoma split into two different sub types, the second one being Angioimmunoblastic T Cell Lymphoma.

From age and substantial treatment, i also developed a bone marrow cancer (MDS) that is a precursor to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. In 2014-2015, I had all three simultaneously. Point?

Having a sharp as nails doctor and a research facility saved my life several times. Next month, I will be 11 years into a three month expected survival. In my 12th year overall.

So, please consider working on getting better and staying better. Since relapse is a possibility - even if not a probability - perform your due diligence and be at the ready, even if the relapse never arrives.

And in the meantime, live your life and love your life, as each day is a blessing.

GregP_WN

The first oncologist that I had 32 years ago told me pretty much the same thing. My Hodgkins Disease had been treated and I was on monthly office call follow-ups. It was found to have returned less than a year after treatment had ended. After that second diagnosis was treated and he was ready to send me back out into the world of cancer survivorship he said: "if this ever comes back for the third time, it will be difficult to control". Those words stuck with me from that day on and I've always dreaded the day I would hear that I had cancer again, believing that this time would be tougher. Well, I heard it 11 years ago, then again last month. So I hope it's not true.

Paperpusher

My husband had surgery, told he was cured but it came back again. Went through treatment. Because my husband pushed for an answer, his oncologist told him that if his particular rare type of cancer cancer which is aggressive came back, the only thing left for him was a clinical trial. As of this spring, if his scans are clear, he will be declared in remission. Keeping fingers crossed!

LiveWithCancer

I have many friends with lung cancer who have been NED and then had a recurrence and go to NED again ... and repeat the cycle again and again. The answer seems to be the same as it is to so many questions, "it depends..."

I might be looking for a more optimistic doctor if I were you. I have a friend whose oncologist told her nothing more could be done. She changed to my oncologist and she's still here 4 or 5 years later. She has stage 4 lung cancer that has metastasized all over, including her bones, but is still doing reasonably well.

GregP_WN

I have told my doctors before that I need only those on the positive side of the curve on my team. No room for negative Nanneys or Dr. Gloom.

Teachertina

My doctor monitors me like a hawk to make sure if any new cancer pops up again it’s caught early when it can be treated more successfully. That’s been working for 14 years now. He talks about all the new advances in research and treatment. After 3 bouts of surgeries I am NED once again and hope buying time will pay off again in the future. I know it’s likely another recurrence will happen but I’ll cross that bridge when I have to. Until then I plan to love life to the fullest!