Just found out I have stage 3b lung cancer

jim1234
jim1234 Member Posts: 4
in Lung Cancer #1
Not sure if I want to go through the chemo or not. Dr told me 6 months w/o and 12-14 with. I saw what chemo did to a sister and what it's doing to another one.

Comments

  • medi_2
    medi_2 Member Posts: 505 Member
    #2
    welcome Jim
    Everyone reacts to chemo differently; please don't listen to those numbers your Doc is giving you. They are generic and as we say here: You don't have an expiration date stamped on your head ;). I would go for it (which I did in my case 3 years ago).
    Take care and good luck
    Keep us informed
    Cheers!
    Medi
  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #3
    Welcome to the club of which nobody wants to be a member, and ..
    ... what Medi said. Coming up on two years since staging at IIIB. I got through simultaneous chemo and rads in very good style, and have felt great since. Major-league worth it. Don't assume you can't do this.

    If you're in pretty good physical shape otherwise, and will also be getting radiation, I would recommend going for it. My attitude at the time was no better than "I'll try anything once." Having done it, I'm a lot more strongly in favor.

    Best of luck, Jim.
  • jim1234
    jim1234 Member Posts: 4
    #4
    medi_2 said:

    welcome Jim
    Everyone reacts to chemo differently; please don't listen to those numbers your Doc is giving you. They are generic and as we say here: You don't have an expiration date stamped on your head ;). I would go for it (which I did in my case 3 years ago).
    Take care and good luck
    Keep us informed
    Cheers!
    Medi

    Cancer has hit every member
    Cancer has hit every member of my family, 1 sister died, 1 sister getting chemo and radiation now, 1 sister had thyroid removed and doing good. Dad had a lobectomy and is doing ok. I have HIV (undetectable) and emphysema. My cancer has spread from lung to lymph nodes. Worried that chemo will damage my immune system more. I have until Wednesday to decide for or against chemo. So much to think about!!
  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #5
    jim1234 said:

    Cancer has hit every member
    Cancer has hit every member of my family, 1 sister died, 1 sister getting chemo and radiation now, 1 sister had thyroid removed and doing good. Dad had a lobectomy and is doing ok. I have HIV (undetectable) and emphysema. My cancer has spread from lung to lymph nodes. Worried that chemo will damage my immune system more. I have until Wednesday to decide for or against chemo. So much to think about!!

    You're out of my depth
    You definitely have complications that few of us have to deal with, so I suspect most of us aren't qualified to comment even based on personal experience. Foremost in my mind would be weighing the HIV vs. LC. If the HIV has not yet manifested itself in active disease, maybe it's less of a consideration than it seems on the surface, because the stats probably argue in favor of the LC taking you out before the HIV becomes significant. If so, maybe it's still mainly a question of "Can I tolerate this."

    I guess I'd be leaning in the direction of giving it a try in the knowledge that I could stop, but I'd certainly be consulting as many docs as possible. Quality of life and comfort care are nothing to sneeze at.

    Tough one, man.
  • jim1234
    jim1234 Member Posts: 4
    #6
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    You're out of my depth
    You definitely have complications that few of us have to deal with, so I suspect most of us aren't qualified to comment even based on personal experience. Foremost in my mind would be weighing the HIV vs. LC. If the HIV has not yet manifested itself in active disease, maybe it's less of a consideration than it seems on the surface, because the stats probably argue in favor of the LC taking you out before the HIV becomes significant. If so, maybe it's still mainly a question of "Can I tolerate this."

    I guess I'd be leaning in the direction of giving it a try in the knowledge that I could stop, but I'd certainly be consulting as many docs as possible. Quality of life and comfort care are nothing to sneeze at.

    Tough one, man.

    Thanks for your views on
    Thanks for your views on this. I have until Tuesday to decide. Like you said, I can always stop the chemo if I can't tolerate it. Thanks again.

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