recurrence twice

tao94539
tao94539 Member Posts: 13
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
My mom had lung cancer 5 years ago,it was done through surgery, then it returns 8/06, and it was inoperable, she has been through chemo and radiation, and it was free of cancer in 2/07, but last week CT SCAN shows something unusual, Doc can't decide if its cancer or TB, they need to check her sputum in next three days, she is staying in a isolated room in stanford hospital , is this possible cancer returns within 1 year since it was clear in 2/07

Comments

  • kaitek
    kaitek Member Posts: 156 Member
    #2
    Hi tao94539,

    Unfortunately, cancer can return. It makes surviving cancer a constant battle, doesn't it?

    But don't fear the worst. You may needlessly worry yoursick sick over something less serious as TB.

    Should it be cancer, you can console yourself that it will be caught in its early stages where the prognosis is much better.

    Always have faith in the treatment and the doctors.

    Good luck to your mom. I hope the suspicious spot isn't cancer.
  • tao94539
    tao94539 Member Posts: 13
    #3
    kaitek said:

    Hi tao94539,

    Unfortunately, cancer can return. It makes surviving cancer a constant battle, doesn't it?

    But don't fear the worst. You may needlessly worry yoursick sick over something less serious as TB.

    Should it be cancer, you can console yourself that it will be caught in its early stages where the prognosis is much better.

    Always have faith in the treatment and the doctors.

    Good luck to your mom. I hope the suspicious spot isn't cancer.

    Thanks, kaiteck

    It turns out mom's cancer comes back within 8 months, last time she had done
    chemo and radiation, I heard doc may not use chemo again, was that true?
    Tao
  • kaitek
    kaitek Member Posts: 156 Member
    #4
    Hi tao94539,

    I'm very sorry to hear that the cancer returned.

    There's no reason why your mom can't be treated with chemo again. There are so many different chemo drugs that even if one combination doesn't work, other combinations may be prescribed.

    If your mom's doctor had her tested for the EGFR mutation, s/he may decide to put her on Tarceva (an oral drug) instead. I'm assuming you're Asian from your name. Asian women reportedly respond very well to Tarceva. Since your mom has already gone through a first line of attack of her cancer, they may decide with the recurrence, it may justify the second line of defense usage of Tarceva.

    You should try to go along with your mom to her appointments if you can. Then, you can ask the doctor any question you have about treatment options.

    Good luck to you and your mom.
  • tao94539
    tao94539 Member Posts: 13
    #5
    kaitek said:

    Hi tao94539,

    I'm very sorry to hear that the cancer returned.

    There's no reason why your mom can't be treated with chemo again. There are so many different chemo drugs that even if one combination doesn't work, other combinations may be prescribed.

    If your mom's doctor had her tested for the EGFR mutation, s/he may decide to put her on Tarceva (an oral drug) instead. I'm assuming you're Asian from your name. Asian women reportedly respond very well to Tarceva. Since your mom has already gone through a first line of attack of her cancer, they may decide with the recurrence, it may justify the second line of defense usage of Tarceva.

    You should try to go along with your mom to her appointments if you can. Then, you can ask the doctor any question you have about treatment options.

    Good luck to you and your mom.

    kaitek, I think you are right, my sister and me tried to guess what doc will do, she said doc may try oral drug, then Tarceva came to my mind, yes, I am asian, we will see doc 10/16, will let you know what happened.....
    Tao
  • kaitek
    kaitek Member Posts: 156 Member
    #6
    tao94539 said:

    kaitek, I think you are right, my sister and me tried to guess what doc will do, she said doc may try oral drug, then Tarceva came to my mind, yes, I am asian, we will see doc 10/16, will let you know what happened.....
    Tao

    Hey Tao,

    Sounds good. I'm looking forward to hearing about the doctor meeting.

    Since you're Asian, I'd like to compare backgrounds with you for cancer causes, if you don't mind. Could you email me via the envelope icon please?

    Good luck!!

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