Any nsclc stage 3b survivors??

I was diagnosed with nsclc stage 3a in Aug 2004. After numerous tests (CT SCANS, PET SCANS, etc), I was given a treatment of 6 weeks of daily radiation and 7 weekly treatments of Chemo. At first, the doctors said they were not going to perform surgery. Once my treatments were over, they were excited at how I responded to the treatments and deciced to perform surgery after all. In Dec. 2004, I had a pneumonectomy (they removed my entire left lung). Recovery took some time. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The medication they gave me to take at home took care of any pain. I went back to work part time about a month after I was home (desk job). I am working full time now and last weekend went for a 3 hour hike in the woods. I still get out of breath when I overdue it but feel good enough to get out and do things now. Hope this helps.

I saw you message and since I was diagnosed with 3B in November 2004, I thought I would give my experience to date. I had a pleural effusion and it did have cancer cells and I had a tumor in my right lung 4.5 cm. I was told surgery was not an option and radiation was not an option. I was give between 3 months and two years. I started Taxol/Carbo every three weeks staring in December 2004 and ending August 2005. Since I had absolutly no side effects, I was given 12 rounds. Almost immediately I showed improvement in the size of the tumor. After six rounds my blood work showed no markers and the tumor was then about 2cm. I continue to take the chemo treatments. CT scans and exrays were all in good favor. After 12 rounds I had my first PET/CT scan and it showed no markers and blood work showed the same. I then started radiation and had 6 weeks in 3 weeks. I am not sure why the doctor elected to double dose the radiation, but it is on my list of questions when I go back for a check up. I have continued to work an average of 10 hours a day and only missed work due to chemo day and did miss two days during radiation.I have had a headache for almost two months, plus sinus which the doctor's think could now be chemo related. Brain scan does not show any mets. I am in excellent health and have continue to live the life style I did prior to cancer. All doctor's seem to believe the cancer will come back. Presently I am with a doctor under US Oncology, but I will probably end up with MD Anderson. December 1 I will have another PET/CT scan and blood work to see where I stand after being diagnosed one year ago. I smoked in my early and middle 20's and I am presently 66.

crot1998 said:

Wow what a story! My Dad is 67 and has exactly the same thing. There are no cancer cells in the pleural effusion. Surgery and radiation are not an option either so he is beginning the same regimen of chemo that you did, starting in about 2 weeks time. We are in Canada though and he is being treated at a Cancer Centre. I am confident in the doctors there. I am scared but hopeful. It is nice to hear that the chemo worked for you and that you did become a candidate for radiation after. How did they know it was working? Was it right away? Also how about the pleural effusion, was that gone with chemo too?

There were cancer cells in the pleural effusion and when they removed all but a very small portion at the base of the lung chemo toke care of that within two rounds. They knew after the second round of chemo that it was working. I will not know how the radiation worked until my December scans. From what I understand the radiation continues to work after eight weeks of the last radiation treatment. I would suggest that your Dad goes into chemo with a very positive attitude. I refused to read about of the after effects of chemo nor would I discuss it with other chemo patients. I do know that chemo seems to be harder on men than women, just from by experience in the chemo rooms. I hope you keep posting how your Dad is doing and the treatment he receives. As I think I mentioned in my past message, I have not been able to talk to another chemo patient who has received 12 rounds to Taxol/Carob without a break in the treatment. Most doctor's are suprised that any doctor would give 12 rounds, but as long as I was feeling good, I had the final input as to how many I thought I could handle. Please keep your faith and prayers during this time and it's great that your Dad has you there while going through this. Please keep me posted.