Update on my dads NSCLC STAGE 3a/squamous cell

kado4
kado4 Member Posts: 80
in Lung Cancer #1
Hello all, I haven't been on in a while, my dad has completed 6 treatments of carboplatin and taxol and 39 radiation treatments concurrently with the chemo.His radiation was completed on Aug 29th.He started is adjuvant chemo on Sept 21st.He has agreed to 3 treatments of chemo,which are in much higher dosing,because he is not on radiation anymore,I guess thats the way they do it.He is tolerating the chemo well. He has never been nauseated or vomitted.He is tired,he does turn red in the face/neck after the taxol treatments.He is eating very well,iron rich foods,beans,beats,liver,etc..he is very strong that way,he is 77.5 yrs old.I am proud of him.He is though,at times, grumpy,irritable,stubborn.My mom does endure quite a bit.She is an understanding woman.

He is scheduled for his PET on Oct 12,2011. Please pray for him that his results will be NED.He will be appx 6 weeks out from radiation treament. His last chemo treatament is on Oct 5th.The medical oncologist said he should have a total of 6
adjuvant chemo treatments, but my dad feels he can only endure 3 treatments.I guess he knows himself,and what he can/cannot handle.

I am an only child.I am doing my best to maintain my life,work,home...my house is a holy mess...I just cant get things together like i used to do.My mom has her issues too.

I just wanted to say that you are all brave and I wish for you all health and peace.Take care and God Bless You All.........Sincerely,Kado

Comments

  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #2
    Kado
    Will be praying for your dad that his scan comes back clean and for you and your mother to have some peace of mind so you can relax and get your life back to normal.

    I was happy to read that your dad tolerated the chemo so nicely with no nausea, I am supposed to start on 6 treatments of carboplatin and taxol on the 20th for a recurrence with possible mets. It relieves some of my concerns to see how well your dad tolerated it, he sounds like an incredibly strong man and with you and your mom as his support team he will do well.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna
  • deltafun
    deltafun Member Posts: 50
    #3
    NSCLC 3a/ squamous cell
    I had the same treatments as your Dad. I had 6 treatments of Carbo/taxol along with 37 treatments of radiation. I had no problem with the first 6 treatments of chemo and radiation and had a pet scan done appx two months after treatment. My tumor did shrink from 9.6 cm down to 4.2 cm but showed it was still active. My oncologist put me on two more cycles of full dose carbo/taxol. The first two treatments were not that bad. I was very fatigued and started a bad case of Neuropathy. I did the 3rd treatment and the neuropathy really got bad so the oncologist held off on giving me the final treatment of chemo and will do another pet scan on the 16th of this month.

    If the tumor shows it's still active he will start the chemo again if not he wants me to schedule the surgery. I was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer.

    Good luck to you Dad
  • kado4
    kado4 Member Posts: 80
    #4
    Glenna M said:

    Kado
    Will be praying for your dad that his scan comes back clean and for you and your mother to have some peace of mind so you can relax and get your life back to normal.

    I was happy to read that your dad tolerated the chemo so nicely with no nausea, I am supposed to start on 6 treatments of carboplatin and taxol on the 20th for a recurrence with possible mets. It relieves some of my concerns to see how well your dad tolerated it, he sounds like an incredibly strong man and with you and your mom as his support team he will do well.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna

    Carboplatin/Taxol treatments
    Hello,Glenna...the carbo/taxol treatments were, I have to say very tolerable for my father.He only experienced some fatigue,mostly in the afternoons, then he also has had some change of taste, and very mild loss of appetite.Initially they give,right before the chemotharapy a dose of IV Zantac,to help with not getting nauseaed, also dose of Dexamethazone, a steroid to also help with anti-nausea, and also with IV Kytril-anti-nausea medication.I really believe you will not get ill.No one in the chemo sessions I have been with my father has complained of nausea/vomitting.Remember to drink water,quite a bit of it after chemo, to flush it out of your system. I think about 8oz every 1h or so. Look online, thats where Ive been for the last few months.Stay positive, and pray. I will pray for you ,Glenna.I wish you well.....

    Stay Strong,Kado.
  • kado4
    kado4 Member Posts: 80
    #5
    deltafun said:

    NSCLC 3a/ squamous cell
    I had the same treatments as your Dad. I had 6 treatments of Carbo/taxol along with 37 treatments of radiation. I had no problem with the first 6 treatments of chemo and radiation and had a pet scan done appx two months after treatment. My tumor did shrink from 9.6 cm down to 4.2 cm but showed it was still active. My oncologist put me on two more cycles of full dose carbo/taxol. The first two treatments were not that bad. I was very fatigued and started a bad case of Neuropathy. I did the 3rd treatment and the neuropathy really got bad so the oncologist held off on giving me the final treatment of chemo and will do another pet scan on the 16th of this month.

    If the tumor shows it's still active he will start the chemo again if not he wants me to schedule the surgery. I was diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer.

    Good luck to you Dad

    chemo with possible surgery
    Hello Deltafun.....I am concerned with your situation...it is very good news that the tumor did shrink from 9.6cm to 4.2cm.My question is, why was surgery not considered first.I have to ask..do you have mediastinal lymphnode involvement,and where is your tumor located.I thought if you are stage 3b, with lymph node involvment,surgery is not an option.Please clarify for me...I am sorry to hear of your peripheral neuropathy problems. Are you on some neurontin,aka gabapentin.this is a med for neuropathy.Maybe there is something better out there for this problem...I hope it goes away soon for you. I will pray for you...your profile picture is a pretty one!....

    Stay Strong,Kado.
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #6
    kado4 said:

    Carboplatin/Taxol treatments
    Hello,Glenna...the carbo/taxol treatments were, I have to say very tolerable for my father.He only experienced some fatigue,mostly in the afternoons, then he also has had some change of taste, and very mild loss of appetite.Initially they give,right before the chemotharapy a dose of IV Zantac,to help with not getting nauseaed, also dose of Dexamethazone, a steroid to also help with anti-nausea, and also with IV Kytril-anti-nausea medication.I really believe you will not get ill.No one in the chemo sessions I have been with my father has complained of nausea/vomitting.Remember to drink water,quite a bit of it after chemo, to flush it out of your system. I think about 8oz every 1h or so. Look online, thats where Ive been for the last few months.Stay positive, and pray. I will pray for you ,Glenna.I wish you well.....

    Stay Strong,Kado.

    Thank you Kado
    Thank you for all the encouraging news about carbo/taxol. I am praying that I will be able to start this on the 20th, right now they are still trying to get rid of an infection that causes my temp to go up to 101/102 occasionally. They have been doing x-rays of my right lung because they think I might have pneumonia in that lung. I've been on Augmentin for 3 weeks and now clindamycin for 2 weeks trying to get it cleared up.

    Thank you for your prayers, I will keep you in mine also.

    My best,
    Glenna
  • deltafun
    deltafun Member Posts: 50
    #7
    kado4 said:

    chemo with possible surgery
    Hello Deltafun.....I am concerned with your situation...it is very good news that the tumor did shrink from 9.6cm to 4.2cm.My question is, why was surgery not considered first.I have to ask..do you have mediastinal lymphnode involvement,and where is your tumor located.I thought if you are stage 3b, with lymph node involvment,surgery is not an option.Please clarify for me...I am sorry to hear of your peripheral neuropathy problems. Are you on some neurontin,aka gabapentin.this is a med for neuropathy.Maybe there is something better out there for this problem...I hope it goes away soon for you. I will pray for you...your profile picture is a pretty one!....

    Stay Strong,Kado.

    Chemo whith possible surgery
    At first my oncologist ruled out the surgery but when I seen a surgeon he thought it may be possible but wanted to see me again after I finished my radiation and chemo treatments.

    When I went back to him on the 9th of Sept he wanted to do the surgery but my oncoloigets wanted to give me two more cycles of Carbo/Taxol. I am waiting for my pet scan which is scheduled for the 16th of this month then go back to the surgeon and see what he thinks.

    Your question as to the Lymph Node involvment yes ther is on the same side. I also had Nonspecofoc mild metabolism in the left hiler region. What ever that means.

    Thanks for the compliment on our pic. My wife has all the looks LOL

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