CAV - Questions

littlelady4220
littlelady4220 Member Posts: 15
in Lung Cancer #1
I've been on this board before and everyone has given me great feedback. So, here I am again, hoping for help.

My husband is starting his third line of chemo on Monday - CAV. Second line of Topotecan was ineffective, so now he has three new tumors. If anyone has had CAV, could you please tell me whatever you can - side effects, effectiveness, use as third line. I had never heard of it before.

He feels great, is still working full-time. I don't know what to think anymore.

Thanking everyone in advance who can give info.

Comments

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #2
    Hi Littlelady,
    I had to do
    Hi Littlelady,
    I had to do some digging but this is what I learned from earlier posts than yours at cancergrace.org: "Unfortunately, the likely benefit from third line therapy for SCLC is typically very small, if any. And any further therapy would not only be quite unusual but couldn’t be offered with any realistic expectation of it helping." http://cancergrace.org/lung/topic/third-line-chemotherapy-for-ex-sclc/ I do not know if your husband has limited or extensive sclc, but everything I read pretty much agrees with that statement.

    This website: http://cav.cancertreatment.net/ lists the following side effects: mouth sores, nausea and/or vomiting, susceptibility to infections, hair loss, fatigue, peripheral neuropathy. The side effects should all subside when the treatment is finished.

    A study done at University Hospital in Maylasia (http://smj.sma.org.sg/3104/3104a4.pdf) found that this protocol was best considered a palliative treatment and was successful at reducing shortness of breath, coughing up blood, weight loss and preventing blockage of the superior vena cava. Further, it suggests that the benefits out weigh the side effects. One of the participants with extensive sclc survived for 17 months after treatment.

    Hope some of this info helped.

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