Hey, there’s something I want you to know.

There’s no easy way to say this, so I will be direct. On 6 August 2024 I had a CT scan to investigate a gastro-intestinal issue that resulted in me vomiting. The scan gave no answers about the gastro issue but if found a spot on my right lung that looked suspiciously like malignant cancer.

Since then I have had a PET scan, biopsy of the tumour tissue, and heaps of diagnostic tests for the cancer and other tests assessing my fitness for treatments. The current state of play is that I have confirmed early Stage 2 cancer in the right lung. There is a primary tumour (23mm), intense activity in one lymph node, and possible activity in another lymph node. All contained within the right lung and no evidence of activity elsewhere.

Treatment options will be discussed at a Medical Review Committee at Prince of Wales Hospital on Tuesday 10 September, 2024. The respiratory specialist and radiologist think that surgery (removal of right lung) is not necessary, and that combination radiation and chemo therapies will do the job as well but with less trauma. Immunotherapy likely to be added if molecular pathology comes back indicating that the cancer that I have is of the type that can be treated by lung cancer immunotherapy drugs that are currently available.

The good news is that the cancer was miraculously caught early, the treatments are targeted to cure the cancer, there is no sign of cancer anywhere but in the right lung, and that all other organs and systems of my body are functioning normally (even my liver!).  

Once treatment starts, (maybe as soon as 13 September) it is likely to be daily radiation sessions and 3 weekly cycles of intravenous chemotherapy. And possibly popping pills of immunotherapy drugs. That is the state of play right now.

I am in good spirits. A little apprehensive about the potential side effects of treatments, but the radiologist gave me some hope when he said that they will be attempting to keep me well and going about my normal activities as usual. Much depends on how this old body responds to the treatments – we are all unique!

PS – Treatment started 23 September, 2024. You can find out more info from the updates.

Regards

Dennis