Stage IV NSCLC, Radiation + Chemo experience?

To address a ~4cm nodule in my LUL, I am scheduled to start a 6 week rado and chemo plan next week and wondered if anyone has been through this and the risk or experience feedback?

 

Comments

  • Katmar
    Katmar Member Posts: 55
    Sorry no one has addressed

    Sorry no one has addressed this. I suggest you go to Inspire.com. There are MANY people over there who will be happy to help. Wishing you all the best.

    How do they know this is a Stage IV? If it is only 1 4cm, it should be a lower stage. Have you been biopsied?

  • Charcoal14
    Charcoal14 Member Posts: 6
    My experience

    In 2013 I went through Chemo and rad treatment for stage 3b rt lung cancer. They attempted surgery but when the surgeon got in there, they found it had wrapped itself around a main vein. Both treatments went well, my only side effects were the loss of my hair and tireness. I went into remission. In April 2017 had a MRI done on my back for another medical issue and the found a mass on left aldrenal gland. July 2017 had surgery to remove the mass and aldrenal gland. In Nov. 2017 was scheduled for chemo treatment. I went for two sessions and opted out of doing it any further because I had really bad side effects from the chemo. Not sure what the difference was between 2013 and 2017. I wish you the best.

  • kathy cady
    kathy cady Member Posts: 2
    i just finished radiation and

    i just finished radiation and have 3 chemos getting one nore ande then 10 rad to the brain. 

  • kathy cady
    kathy cady Member Posts: 2
    after radiation

    noted thidk mucus dark with blood scared me but i have spoken to others and they had it too from the radiatioj had my doctor order me anti biotics but the mucus is thick and hard to spit up at times

     just hand in there

     

     

  • Gregory_Luka
    Gregory_Luka Member Posts: 2
    Feedback

    Thanks everyone for the feedback, I just started a 32 session radiation to the chest and 7 times chemo once per week program.  SO I will have to see how it d=goes.  I already cannot sleep and have some sores in the mouth as welll as cramps in feet and hands.  I am hopeing to improve over time....

     

    Thanks again

  • Mom3Boys
    Mom3Boys Member Posts: 1

    Feedback

    Thanks everyone for the feedback, I just started a 32 session radiation to the chest and 7 times chemo once per week program.  SO I will have to see how it d=goes.  I already cannot sleep and have some sores in the mouth as welll as cramps in feet and hands.  I am hopeing to improve over time....

     

    Thanks again

    Hi, Your post caught my eye

    Hi, Your post caught my eye as you seem to be going through the exact thing my mom is getting ready to start. She is 82 years old and was diagnosed with stage 2B non small cell Adenocarcinoma. Her suggested treatment plan is radiation 5 days a week for 6 weeks along with chemo 1 time per week for 6 weeks (paclitaxel and carboplatin). We’re really concerned out how someone her ago will handle such aggressive treatment. I wondered if you would mind sharing your experience so far, and your thoughts on someone 82 yrs old facing what you’ve dealt with. Any thoughts and info would be so appreciated. Wishing you the very best,

    Kim

  • CrazyH
    CrazyH Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2018 #8
    My second time around

    Hey Gregory -  Good luck with your ongoing treatments. I was diagnosed with squamous non small cell lung cancer on 3/20/2017 in my right lung. Tumor was only 2x3 cent in size but by the time they did surgery it had grown to almost 7x6.5 cent in size. Had a upper right lobectomy 6/17 followed with six weeks of daily radiation tretments because a lymph node in the center on my chest had some of the SNSC in it. Radiation was five days a week with chemo on Fridays. Having a bad reaction to chemo (103 temp on a Friday after chemo put me into the hospital for five days) and Hurricane Harvey set me back two weeks before everything was done. So after almost eight weeks of treatment after surgery I was done. Had a PET scan in 10/2017 and it came back clean. No cancer ANYWHERE!!!! I had a great two and a half months.

    On the 26th of Dec. 2017 I had a cat scan and guess what, it was back!! It found a spot in my right lung. Had a PET scan in Jan and there was a spot on my right lower lung. Here we go again. It really brought me to a real low spot because I used all I had to get through it the first time and HERE we go again. Had a needle biopsy to confirm it in Feb. Started what they call SBRT radiation tratments in late Feb. Only five treaments but each treatment is as strong as what you would get in six or seven days of normal radiation. Finished it last week and they are letting me kinda rest for three weeks before they start the chemotherapy treatments. They say it will be once a month for six or more months. Well, thats what I am going through. Onward through the fog.

    For the sores in your mouth try sucking on some ice during the chemo. I am told it may help. For the cramps try and keep active if you can. I know its hard, believe me I know. I used an old stationary bicycle to keep the muscles active and moving. A lot of times I couldn't ride so I hooked up my pup and we went for as long a walk as I could go. Sometimes a block, sometimes longer. My pup didn't care at all. In fact my pups (we have three of them from seventeen years to two years) are my care team. They keep me up lifted more than anything, really. They just love you no matter what. 

    Good luck Gregory as you fight this battle, good luck.