Best Friend w/ Stage IV NSLC

Geni

In October 2005, My best friend (42)lost her voice and found lump on her neck (was told it was a swollen gland)her doctor treated her with antibiotics (twice) no change. Dec.2005 went to hopsital for severe Pain in legs. Diagnosed with a pulled muscle after MRI . Jan. 2006 could barely walk went back to the hospital was told it was a torn muscle and the reason both of her legs hurt was because she was babying the one that was not hurt. Went to acupunturist ( felt she had some relief) Feb. 2006 I made her go to my doctor. He told her flat out without any testing that he believed she had throat cancer. He did all kinds of scans. The next week called her in and told her she had Cancer stage IV. They were not sure where it had originated. She was admitted to the hospital and they determined that it had started in the lungs and spread to just about everywhere except the brain. She had radiation to help with the pain in her legs. She had 3 rounds of chemo (Cisplatin/Etopicide)Had a cat scan to see where she was at 2 weeks ago.The doctors told us that "the cancer has shrunk signifigantly" He was pleased that she had gained 4lbs. She is currently on her 4th round of chemo. I was just wondering if anyone else used/using cisplatinum/Etopicide and what their results have been? Sincerely, Believing

Plymouthean

Hello. I'm a lung cancer survivor. I was dignosed with non-small cell lung cancer, stage 3a. I did not have widespread metastasis, but I was considered inoperable/incurable. I was treated with Cisplatin/Etoposide, concurrently with radiation. I was given three cycles of chemo treatments, consisting of one 7-hour treatment, followed by two consecutive 1 1/2 hour treatments (in three consecutive days). Then I had three weeks off from chemo, - then the same treatments, for the total of three cycles. While undergoing chemo, I was given 55 consecutive radiation treatments (5 days/week, with weekends off) for 11 weeks. The effect of these treatments, which were considered "aggressive", was that the tumor in my lung was shrunk by 75%, making it operable. It was removed sugically, and I have been cancer free for five years. That's is my experience with Cisplatin/Etoposide, for what it's worth.
I wish your friend the best, and he/she is in my prayers.

Plymouthean

Plymouthean said:

Hello. I'm a lung cancer survivor. I was dignosed with non-small cell lung cancer, stage 3a. I did not have widespread metastasis, but I was considered inoperable/incurable. I was treated with Cisplatin/Etoposide, concurrently with radiation. I was given three cycles of chemo treatments, consisting of one 7-hour treatment, followed by two consecutive 1 1/2 hour treatments (in three consecutive days). Then I had three weeks off from chemo, - then the same treatments, for the total of three cycles. While undergoing chemo, I was given 55 consecutive radiation treatments (5 days/week, with weekends off) for 11 weeks. The effect of these treatments, which were considered "aggressive", was that the tumor in my lung was shrunk by 75%, making it operable. It was removed sugically, and I have been cancer free for five years. That's is my experience with Cisplatin/Etoposide, for what it's worth.
I wish your friend the best, and he/she is in my prayers.

Please accept my apology for referring to you friend as "he/she". It was a typographical error. I wish her, and you, all the best.

janius

My best friend, my husband, was admitted to the hospital on May 18, diagnosed with limited small cell lung cancer and received his first radiation on May 19 and has had daily radiation M-F since then, plus cisplatin/etoposide for 3 consecutive days on May 20, 21, & 22 and then again on June 12, 13 and 14. His very large tumor has shrunk about 50%. He will have two more 3-day sessions of cisplatin/etoposide on July 5 and again July 26. On the fourth day he is given neulasta for his blood count. He also gets hydration since the first time he got quite dehydrated. He has two weeks of radiation left. He is quite nauseated for about a week after his chemo and works hard to quit losing weight. He started taking a prilosec OTC each morning before he eats and that seems to relieve some of his nausea. He also has anti-nausea pills but they don't seem to help a lot. His blood count is staying pretty much normal and all he takes as a daily supplement is potassium. We are pleased with his progress so far and are praying for eradication of the tumor. He will have to be watched carefully for recurrence. I wish you and your friend the best.