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I had stage 1 lung cancer and they took out the nodule but never said if it were a mutation. How do you know if the cancer is a mutation?

July 21, 2024
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Answer Summary

Members shared deeply personal stories about living with stage 1 lung cancer, with several describing multiple recurrences over spans of 20+... Read more

Members shared deeply personal stories about living with stage 1 lung cancer, with several describing multiple recurrences over spans of 20+ years and emphasizing the importance of lifelong screening even after successful treatment. Several members discussed genetic testing and mutations like KRAS and EGFR, explaining that mutation testing is typically done to guide treatment options such as targeted pill therapies (like Tagrisso/Osimertinib) or immunotherapy, and may not be performed for early-stage cases where surgery alone is curative. A recurring theme was the connection between Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam veterans and lung cancer development, with members expressing curiosity about whether this environmental factor influences treatment approaches while offering each other hope and practical information about managing recurrences.

A MyLungCancerTeam Member

If it's that low stage and they are sure they got it all, they usually don't do gene typing. Gene typing is only used to choose drugs for treatment like chemo or immunotherapy. I have seen that there is a chance of recurring of about 30% (depending on article). You will need lifelong screening but usually only the once a year they recommend for everyone now. Your doc can give you specifics on your case in particular.

July 21, 2024
A MyLungCancerTeam Member

I was a helicopter pilot in Nam and flew while Agent Orange was being sprayed, so my doctors think it is related.

July 25, 2024
A MyLungCancerTeam Member

Thank you for your response

July 21, 2024
A MyLungCancerTeam Member

GwenJagde, I had LC 3 times. A 10 cm tumor in right lung in 2000 at age 46, then a 2cm tumor in left lung in 2021 and then a 1.5cm tumor in right lung in 2024. I turned 70 this year.

July 25, 2024
A MyLungCancerTeam Member

The prembolizumab…. Is Keytruda, (immunotherapy) but that would be for his PD-L1 (22c3) protein in the Geno testing. I believe it the mutation? Hard to understand all the lingo! But he also has a a more serious one EGFR DNA-tumor. There are six meds listed for that. One being Osimertinib and that’s a pill. Hoping after his 4-6 chemotherapy treatments he can begin that. It was suggested from the Dr that took over while Larrys Dr is on vacation.
On that EGFR, looking that up it said higher percentage are non-smoking Asian women. Ok, is that because of agent orange exposure? My hubby was exposed in Vietnam.

July 25, 2024

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