just diagnosed stage2b sqamous cell lung cancer 1 positive lymph, looking for survivors

janetluvsron
janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
in Lung Cancer #1

husband ron has history of tonsilcancer in 2013, on anuual exam ct of neck they found lung cancer in right upper lobe.

had lobectomy 10 days ago , have to decide if chemo weekly for 4 months or nothing.

overwhelmed, need some survivor stories.

thankyou,'janet

Comments

  • Geetarman
    Geetarman Member Posts: 5
    #2
    I am 73yo male. Have not

    I am 73yo male. Have not smoked for almost 50 years. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma non small cell of left lung last May. I thought the end of the world had come. I had top lobe of my left lung removed on June 12, 2015 and did 4 rounds of chemo that ended in late October. My follow up has been good. The chemo was no cakewalk but it is doable. Here it is in March 2016 and my taste is back and I feel pretty good. I still use a little percocet in the evening but am off all other meds except that for hight blood pressure. I also had one lymph node removed with clear margins. If there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to post. I try to get by this forum daily. I know how I felt and if my experience can help you, then let me know. You can also get me at hilton_roberts@yahoo.com

     

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #3
    Janet

    Hello,

    I am a 2 time cancer survivor.  Anal cancer stage II treatment ended 6-30-09, then upon a rescan found Stage 1a lung cancer, not a metasis. I had my lower right lobe removed via vats on 9-23-10.  I am now cancer free last scan was 11-4-15.  I didn't need chemo or radiation for lung cancer at that stage.

    I feel great and lucky to have caught it early due to scanning for my 1st cancer like your husband.  I was a 35 year smoker and quit on 5-4-09, I think my cancers are both related to the smoking.  I had hpv which caused the anal cancer a rare cancer, and the lung was a squamous cell cancer attributed to smoking.

    You might want to post on the inspire web site lots of posters there.  I had chemo / radiation for the anal but just the surgery for the lung.

    I wish you and your husband well.  Lori

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    #4
    Geetarman said:

    I am 73yo male. Have not

    I am 73yo male. Have not smoked for almost 50 years. I was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma non small cell of left lung last May. I thought the end of the world had come. I had top lobe of my left lung removed on June 12, 2015 and did 4 rounds of chemo that ended in late October. My follow up has been good. The chemo was no cakewalk but it is doable. Here it is in March 2016 and my taste is back and I feel pretty good. I still use a little percocet in the evening but am off all other meds except that for hight blood pressure. I also had one lymph node removed with clear margins. If there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to post. I try to get by this forum daily. I know how I felt and if my experience can help you, then let me know. You can also get me at hilton_roberts@yahoo.com

     

    geetarman

    thankyou for responding, ron has squamous cell carcinoma.

    when you talk about rounds of chemo how was yours given and what kind of chemo?

    thankyou,

    janet

  • Geetarman
    Geetarman Member Posts: 5
    #5
    janetluvsron said:

    geetarman

    thankyou for responding, ron has squamous cell carcinoma.

    when you talk about rounds of chemo how was yours given and what kind of chemo?

    thankyou,

    janet

    Chemo

    I had a combination of Cisplatin and Alimta. They were given over two days every four weeks along with a Neulasta injection. The Cisplatin and Alimta also had some anti nausea meds mixed in. I had a total of 4 rounds. I had no radiation. The chemo wrecked my hearing and I now have aids in both ears. My sense of taste has returned and my appetite is good. It was not fun but it is doable. The worst part was the Neulasta injection. I had the automatic injector on my arm and the medicine was infused over a period of an hour. It was set to deliver medicine 24 hours after the round of chemo was finished. It really made me nauseous. You are hungry but you cannot find anything to eat. Small meals at room temperature. Soup, scrambled eggs and cereal. Grapes and Bleu cheese worked for me as did cantaloupe. Just about the time you are feeling good, it is time for the treatment again. It is worth the discomfort to get through this. Please let me know if you need anything further.

     

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    #6
    Geetarman said:

    Chemo

    I had a combination of Cisplatin and Alimta. They were given over two days every four weeks along with a Neulasta injection. The Cisplatin and Alimta also had some anti nausea meds mixed in. I had a total of 4 rounds. I had no radiation. The chemo wrecked my hearing and I now have aids in both ears. My sense of taste has returned and my appetite is good. It was not fun but it is doable. The worst part was the Neulasta injection. I had the automatic injector on my arm and the medicine was infused over a period of an hour. It was set to deliver medicine 24 hours after the round of chemo was finished. It really made me nauseous. You are hungry but you cannot find anything to eat. Small meals at room temperature. Soup, scrambled eggs and cereal. Grapes and Bleu cheese worked for me as did cantaloupe. Just about the time you are feeling good, it is time for the treatment again. It is worth the discomfort to get through this. Please let me know if you need anything further.

     

    geetarmant

    thankyou for the input

    he will have cistplatin with a second chemo, not sure what.

    he was told weekly for four months.

    has to have a port installed in chest, last time was a pic line.

    he didnt have any hearing problems last time but lost appetite and still doesnt have taste all the way.

    how long were you out of work, or were you able to work reduced?

    thankyou

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    #7
    z said:

    Janet

    Hello,

    I am a 2 time cancer survivor.  Anal cancer stage II treatment ended 6-30-09, then upon a rescan found Stage 1a lung cancer, not a metasis. I had my lower right lobe removed via vats on 9-23-10.  I am now cancer free last scan was 11-4-15.  I didn't need chemo or radiation for lung cancer at that stage.

    I feel great and lucky to have caught it early due to scanning for my 1st cancer like your husband.  I was a 35 year smoker and quit on 5-4-09, I think my cancers are both related to the smoking.  I had hpv which caused the anal cancer a rare cancer, and the lung was a squamous cell cancer attributed to smoking.

    You might want to post on the inspire web site lots of posters there.  I had chemo / radiation for the anal but just the surgery for the lung.

    I wish you and your husband well.  Lori

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    inspire web site?

    inspire web site?

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #8
    janetluvsron said:

    inspire web site?

    inspire web site?

    Janet

    Inspire Web Site Yes, if you do a search it will come up.  All types of health issues discussed there and many lung cancer posters.

  • Geetarman
    Geetarman Member Posts: 5
    #9
    janetluvsron said:

    geetarmant

    thankyou for the input

    he will have cistplatin with a second chemo, not sure what.

    he was told weekly for four months.

    has to have a port installed in chest, last time was a pic line.

    he didnt have any hearing problems last time but lost appetite and still doesnt have taste all the way.

    how long were you out of work, or were you able to work reduced?

    thankyou

    Out of work

    I am retired from Boeing so I did not miss work.

  • jorola
    jorola Member Posts: 243 Member
    #10
    z said:

    Janet

    Inspire Web Site Yes, if you do a search it will come up.  All types of health issues discussed there and many lung cancer posters.

    husband has stage 3 b squamous lung cancer

    Hi there,

    my husband was diagnosed April 2014. he has been NED since Dec 2014 and still going strong. There is hope.

  • janetluvsron
    janetluvsron Member Posts: 116
    #11
    jorola said:

    husband has stage 3 b squamous lung cancer

    Hi there,

    my husband was diagnosed April 2014. he has been NED since Dec 2014 and still going strong. There is hope.

    ned

    jorola,

    THANKYOU

    good to hear.

    what kind of treatment did he have and how hard was it.

    starting chemo weekly for 16 weeks

    janet

  • jorola
    jorola Member Posts: 243 Member
    #12
    janetluvsron said:

    ned

    jorola,

    THANKYOU

    good to hear.

    what kind of treatment did he have and how hard was it.

    starting chemo weekly for 16 weeks

    janet

    Tough road but worth the battle

    Hi Janet,

    I won't lie. It was a tough road for him. he had radiation (10 weeks) and chemo (6 weeks - etoposide and cisplatin). His cancer was inoperable as it was too close to the heart. The chemo wasn't too bad but the radiation really burnt his esophagus bad. He could barely swollow due to the pain and lost over 40 pounds. Near the end he slept a lot. Still managed to show up for our wedding though! lol.

    No he is not a 100% but he is alive. He has reduced lung capacity so he tires a bit easier. We have just learned to pace ourselves. Despite all the treatment he still has a very good immune system and has only been sick twice with a cold/flu since then.

    Make sure you eat lots of protein and rest.

    I hope you have support around you.

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