Going to Start Chemo Next Week

joni6000 · March 2005

Hi, I've recently been diagnosed with lung cancer (small cell). I'm to begin chemo next week. Can anyone give me any encouraging words? I'm so scared.

michaelcie · March 2005

HI Joni, and big hugsss, I am mike, I am in my third year of remission as of last month. I also have small cell lung cancer, am inoperable. I did chemo and radiation. The tumor was on left lung, in lung, in lymph nodes , wrapped around aorta artery and pushing against my esophogus. The tumor is now the size of a large walnut and is dormant. the tumor measured 5 inches x 4 inches x 3 inches. You will get thru this, it is tough, but just keep positive!! IF I can be of any help , feel free to e-mail me, handle123@verizon.net. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Mike

bobennett · March 2005

Hello joni6000,

I have been in therapy, chemo, for nine months. Straight up, the first one was hard, however, that isnÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂt always the case, everyone accepts the chemo a little different. I accepted that it would be a miserable experience. What I found was, within a month I felt so much better. I have not experience nausea, a few minor side effects but all in all, not bad, I would take this in a heartbeat to active cancer symptoms.
Chemotherapy is not like it was 20 years ago.
Good Luck in your Fight
Bo
Age 53 smoked for 17 years, quit 18 years ago
4/7/ 04 DX stage IV NSCLC
3.7cm -1.4 tumor, right lung.
Bone mets,. left humorous, right hip,- right orbital?
4/28/04 start chemo,
Carboplatin, Gemzar, Zometa\
6/3/04 Off pain pills, all pain left
84/04 New scans show stage IV is not holding up very well, things are lookin good. Bone mets have left and new bone has grew in place.
11/1/04, new scan. Primary increased to 4.5cm, and new subcarinal node problem, bone mets are too scared to get back in the fight
Starting Taxol
1/18/05, new scan. Slight overall shrinkage. No evidence of Mediastinal Lymphadenopathy as shown in earlier scans, aaaaannnnd nothing new.

Plymouthean · March 2005

Hi Joni,
We're all scared, going into our first treatment. I was diagnosed with nsclc, incurable/inoperable. I was terrified. The chemo and radiation side effects were tough, but not as bad as I expected. Try to have a positive attitude, i.e., "I am going to beat this." Ask questions, learn as much as you can about your type of cancer and treatment. Listen to your body. Be as active as possible, but rest when you need to. Don't be afraid to ask for, and to accept help from those around you. Talk to them about your illness. You will have to bring it up, because most of them simply don't know what to say. I'm 3 1/2 years out from surgery, and no signs of recurrence. You can do it! Please keep us posted.

HNWOODINGTON · May 2005

jONI, My wife had sclc in late 2002. She underwent Chemo Therapy and raditation at the same time. She was sick sometimes but mostly
weak continuosly. She had to have 2 blood transfusions and lots of procrit to try and combat the weakness. Her drugs were cisplatin
and V16 cocktails. She had treatments three days a week for about 8 weeks. She also had radiation along with that almost everyday for the same period of time. The cancer disappeared and was in remission (whatever that is) When the cancer was no longer a problem our Radiology Oncologist recommended whole brain radiation because he said that small cell lung cancer would go to the brain if not treated. After long agonizing discussions between me and my wife , she decided that since she had gone this far the did not want the thing to go to the brain if it could be prevented. So.....we agreed with the doctor and she underwent 20 whole brain radiation treatments.
A bad mistake that we would not make if we knew what the after effects would be. She started getting worse and worse, couldn't walk, incontinence, vomiting, can't write (even her name) What happened is that the whole brain radiation she was given burned up her brain. A very dibilitating side effect. She is now in a nursing home, because I was not able to take care of her at home any longer ( I was her sole caregiver for more than 2 years) We have had a very tough road . She was also on HOSPICE with a 6 month life expectancy. If doctors would learn that following whole brain radiation they should give patients HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENTS, CHANCES ARE THAT THE BRAIN WOULD GET CURED AND EVERYTHING WOUOLD BE OK. I TRIED FOR
TWO YEARS TO GET HBOT WITH NO RESULTS. MOST DOCTORS BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD NOT HELP AND WOULD NOT REFER US BECAUSE OF THAT. NOW SHE IS DOOMED WITH LIFE OF MISERY IN A NURSING HOME. SHE IS BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF BUT IT CERTAINLY IS NOT LIKE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT.
IT SEEMS THAT IF YOU DON'T CURE YOURSELF YOU ARE OUT FOR A RUDE AWAKENING. I PRAY FOR A MIRACLE
EVERYDAY.

PLEASE HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND YOU WILL PROBABLY BE OK. CHEMO SICKNESS IS NOT WHAT IT]
USED TO BE THEY NOW HAVE EFFECTIVE MEDICINES TO STOP THE SICKNESS.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND GOD BLESS YOU.
hnwoodington@peoplepc.com

mmccrary · June 2005

I have had chemo, and it was not really as bad as I thought that it would be. I did have to have a port put in, and that was no fun. I worked every day having chemo and radiation at the same time, and I think that helped me to stay focused. I was sick one time. I always had a bad taste in my mouth and chewed a lot of gum. I even gained weight during the chemo. No really easy way to prepare except to think about getting it done and behind you. I wish you the best. My lung cancer was operable and caught in the Stage 1b, but the whole experience is scary.

asimotes · June 2005

mmccrary said:
I have had chemo, and it was not really as bad as I thought that it would be. I did have to have a port put in, and that was no fun. I worked every day having chemo and radiation at the same time, and I think that helped me to stay focused. I was sick one time. I always had a bad taste in my mouth and chewed a lot of gum. I even gained weight during the chemo. No really easy way to prepare except to think about getting it done and behind you. I wish you the best. My lung cancer was operable and caught in the Stage 1b, but the whole experience is scary.

HI, I will be starting a combo of rads and chemo on 6/20......I had breast cancer in 2001 and decided then that if I ever needed chemo again I would have a port installed..I have an appt. on the 17th to have that done, I would like some feed back on this, also I am concerned about the 3 straight days regime of chemo and how I will tolerate it..any advice on what meds. counter act the side effects will be greatly appreciated...I had a thoracotomy in 10/04 (upper left lobe, didn't do chemo or rads, diagnosed 1a) now I have a recurrence in the lower lobe,bronchial tube,lymph nodes. I haven't figured out how to post a question, also any help on that would be appreciated....my brain in a little foggy at the moment as I am facing the monster again for the third time in four years...I am open for any advice thanks in advance,Annette

luckylady1117 · September 2005

Hi! Cancer and chemo are two VERY scary words!! You wouldn't be normal if you weren't scared - but, from someone who has been through it - it's no where near as bad as the horror stories we have all heard. Chemo has come a long way and there are so many medicines to combat the bad side effects. I had 12 weeks of chemo and 2 blood transfusions and was on Procrit but I worked the whole time, drove myself to chemo sessions and home. I only took 2 days off from work and those were 1 day after each of the transfusions because I felt I should take it easy and let the transfusions do their job. I wish you the best of luck. PLEASE keep a positive attitude, pray alot, smile and laugh alot and live alot!!!! That's the way to fight this horrible disease and everything that goes along with it. By the way, I had half of my lung removed prior to going through the chemo. Good luck!!

Going to Start Chemo Next Week

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