Need to hear from stage IV survivors

amberg

My dad has stage IV lung cancer. I'm needing something to uplift my spirits. His oncologist says that they have 3 ways to treat with chemo. If plan A doesn't work, then go to plan b, if that doesn't then to c, if that doesn't work, then he will be very sick. Right now he is on plan c. His blood count keeps dropping, that's why he keeps changing the chemo. This does not sound right to me for some reason. I understand that the blood count needs to be high but to switch from one that was working sounds stupid. His tumor count was at 4 now it is at 9. So it's starting to come back.

Somebody please give me some advice about this, thinking this dr. is a quack for switching from the first chemo. Thanks for your time.

TxLadyS

Sorry to hear about your Dad. My husband found out he had cancer in Dec 2000 and went through 3 different kinds of chemotherapy as well as radiation. His counts would get better, then worse. The Doctor changing the treatments is normal. When my husband gave up and decided not to take any more chemo (it was making him feel very bad) we found out about Iressa. It is still in the trial stages but he has been on it since June and his CEA count went from 89 to 29 in less than six months. Keep your spirits up - there is always hope (and possibly a miracle)out there to try. Good luck to you and your father.

betty2

Sorry about your dad. hummingbyrd has a new websight, come on over and we can talk, I'll bet you can talk to some one who will give you some good info.
The web sight is www.conqueringcancerthrough jesuschrist.com
Hope to see you there. betty2

amberg

Thank you for your replys. My dad seems to have no energy lately. I don't know if he is depressed or just plain tired. Probably both. Thanks for your time.

yazmene

amberg said:

Thank you for your replys. My dad seems to have no energy lately. I don't know if he is depressed or just plain tired. Probably both. Thanks for your time.

Hey sweetie!
It is so nice to know that a family member cares so much; you don't even know how much that means...I am a former Hodgkins Lymphoma patient...I was stage IV ab; which is pretty serious; i went through 6 mnths or chemo and 1 1/2 or rad. It sucked but I don't feel sick anymore; however, i was through with treatment in Feb. 2002 and I still feel i don't have my full energy back; i also feel very depressed sometimes; this is crazy to me because i am normally a very happy person; i almost believe chemo beat the cancer but messed me up mentally by making me sad all the time; what do you think?

amberg

Hey,

I think your right! From the way my dad acts, it sounds kinds like chemo causes mood swings. I hope you continue to fell better. I will keep you in my thoughts!