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auntiem
auntiem Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with NSCLC Oct 30 with lymph nodes in my upper chest affected and also the adrenel glad. I am stage III A & b type. I have been in excellent health and an avid daily walker and health club member for 10 years. I have a tumor the side of a cherry which does not even show up on a chest Xray - but did on CAT scan. Got up one morning and sounded like the Godfather - could only whisper because the lymph nodes are pressing on my left vocal cord and it won't vibrate. I felt great. I am on my second week of daily radiation and have chemo once a week (Paclitaxel and carboplatin) This process will continue for 6 weeks then I will have higher does of chemo once a week for 12 weeks.

I was smoker several years ago and would ocassionally cheat - my husband has been a heavy smoker forever.

I am 60 and have been taking good care of myself - what a surprise and nightmare. My children are grown and have precious grandchildren. I plan on a good fight and with wonderful support - pray and hope for the best.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who could give me information on what diets would be suggested. They have diets for chemo and diets for radiation but they seem to be opposite. Any recommendations? I plan on continuing to work out. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who can give me insite or can relate.

Comments

  • michaelcie
    michaelcie Member Posts: 133
    #2
    Hi, I have limited small cell lung cancer and I also have been trying to find out about diets. My doctor only tells me to eat a well balanced diet and nothing about vitamins. I have finishe d all of my chemo(carboplatinum, taxol, and vp-16) and six and a half weeks of radiation but I am lost as to what to eat. I know how you feel and if I find anything out I will pass it on and hope that you will do the same. good-luck and bless. Mike
  • michaelcie
    michaelcie Member Posts: 133
    #3
    Hi , I just received information from a cancer hospital with diet advice for lung cancer, it is www.cancercenter.com , it is very informative, good luck and God bless. Mike
  • sunjammer
    sunjammer Member Posts: 1
    #4
    My understanding is that if you have metasteses in distant organs (e.g., adrenal glands, liver, bones, brain, etc.,) then you are Stage IV. Your treatment is consistent with this staging: You're receiving radiation to shrink the size of the tumor near your vocal chords, and chemo to fight the cancer that has spread to the rest of your body.

    If your medical team has you staged at IIIa or IIIb, I'm wondering if something has changed in the definition of staging. I'm Stage IV based on mets to several small skin nodules in addition to the primary tumor in my left lung and other tumors in the mediastinum.

    I've been taking chemo for about 17 months now, and we've seen no evidence of shrinkage in any of the tumors, but growth is slow and there's no symptomatic evidence of the cancer spreading. I'm about to try Iressa, but if it doesn't work, I'll probably receive six weeks of radiation to shrink a tumor the size of a pack of cigarettes that is pushing against my bronchus and making me cough.

    As for nutrition, I advise you to discuss any plan with a nutrionist that has experience working with cancer patients. Some foods can work against chemo. I've concluded that a balanced "normal" diet is the way to go. The best book I've found on nutrition (I haven't looked very hard) is "What to Eat if You Have Cancer," by Maureen Keane and Daniella Chace ISBN: 0-8092-3261-8.

    Good to hear you're symptom free and working out. I should work out more than I do, but I manage to get to the gym twice a week. I'm 48 I'm probably less fit now than I've ever been. December is a good time to work out. In January it's crowded with all those New Year Resolution types. By February things calm down again.

    Hang in there. We need everyone stick around for a long while.
  • MargoLubbers
    MargoLubbers Member Posts: 14
    #5
    sunjammer said:

    My understanding is that if you have metasteses in distant organs (e.g., adrenal glands, liver, bones, brain, etc.,) then you are Stage IV. Your treatment is consistent with this staging: You're receiving radiation to shrink the size of the tumor near your vocal chords, and chemo to fight the cancer that has spread to the rest of your body.

    If your medical team has you staged at IIIa or IIIb, I'm wondering if something has changed in the definition of staging. I'm Stage IV based on mets to several small skin nodules in addition to the primary tumor in my left lung and other tumors in the mediastinum.

    I've been taking chemo for about 17 months now, and we've seen no evidence of shrinkage in any of the tumors, but growth is slow and there's no symptomatic evidence of the cancer spreading. I'm about to try Iressa, but if it doesn't work, I'll probably receive six weeks of radiation to shrink a tumor the size of a pack of cigarettes that is pushing against my bronchus and making me cough.

    As for nutrition, I advise you to discuss any plan with a nutrionist that has experience working with cancer patients. Some foods can work against chemo. I've concluded that a balanced "normal" diet is the way to go. The best book I've found on nutrition (I haven't looked very hard) is "What to Eat if You Have Cancer," by Maureen Keane and Daniella Chace ISBN: 0-8092-3261-8.

    Good to hear you're symptom free and working out. I should work out more than I do, but I manage to get to the gym twice a week. I'm 48 I'm probably less fit now than I've ever been. December is a good time to work out. In January it's crowded with all those New Year Resolution types. By February things calm down again.

    Hang in there. We need everyone stick around for a long while.

    In April 2003 I was told that I have Stage 4 NSCLC with a mass (4 cm) in my right lung, both adrenal glands and 2 lymph nodes. I have done 2 rounds of Chemo. My dr. says I have a 20% chance of surviving 1 year but she has known of patients living 15 to 18 months. I am looking for Stage 4 folks who have lived longer than 18 months and am attempting to compile names, phone numbers and more into a survivors list. Please feel free to contact me at moldy61@sbcglobal.net or 580-353-5132.
    Thanks, Margo Lubbers

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