beckybyrd's Journey with Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma

Unresolved pneumonia and a series of CT scans revealed a mass in the lower lobe of my right lung. Didn't know for sure what it was until surgery because biopsy wasn't possible.

I'm still in the early stages of recovery, but I wish I had been a little better prepared for the realities of how weak I have been since surgery. I am five weeks out at this point, and I'm still exhausted most whenever I try to do anything.

It was caught early so no chemo or radiation. I wish the pain meds had been explained a little better before I left the hospital. Fear of the unknown contributes to the idea of pain, when in reality, sometimes what I experienced was just the weirdness of new sensations and I was afraid of what it meant.

Fatigue is the predominant side effect, but also I'm a mess emotionally. Other issues are hot flashes, minimal pain, numbness, and extreme tightness in my ribs just below the breast. Also I have a catch in my throat, especially when I talk.