mom just diagnosed

hi,
i'm very sorry to hear about your mom. it must be a really tough time for you. I don't know well enough to give you any feedback or advice, but my mom is also undergoing treatment for stage IV NSCLC. My mom is currently taking Tarceva (I dont know if you've heard of it). Tarceva is usually taken only after a first round of failed chemo, but her doc asked us if we would like to give Tarceva a try to see how it works as a first-line defense. She's only been on it for a month, but as of her XRAY yesterday, her onc said that she couldn't see anything. of course, these results aren't conclusive because CT/PET scans would definitely produce more accurate results. still, it's nice to hear that the onc couldn't see anything on the XRAY. I brought Tarceva up because it is chemo in the form of a pill. It goes directly to cancer cells instead of killing all the cells in the body. that's why the side effects of Tarceva are very minor - my mom broke out, she had rashes in her upper body, as well as some diarrhea, but that's it. no hair loss, no nausea. My mom's only 45 so I don't know how different it would be for your mom. Maybe you can ask your onc about Tarceva and see what they thought about it. A lot of the people on this site have some experience with Tarceva so they can give you info about it as well.

I hope you're all doing okay, despite this trial. Cancer is definitely beatable, so hang in there. I'll keep in you, your mom and your family in my prayers. God bless you.

Hi Jen.
I'm a five year survivorof NSCLC, 3a. I was 67 at diagnosis. I was inoperable until tumor was shrunk by 75% by concurrent Cisplatin/Etoposide chemo and radiation. The chemo was a little rough, but the radiation was the tough part. Based on my experience, I would agree with the doctor, that concurrent treatment might be a lot for an 83 year old to handle. And Ernrol's experience shows that consecutive treatment is very often a good way to go. Of course, you have to listen to the doctor's recommendation, while ultimately it is your mother's call. Her attitude is very important to the outcome. You say that she's tough, and if you believe that she's realistic in her feelings about treatment, then go along with her wishes. It is also very important that she feels that she is in control of her treatment. My best wishes and prayers to you both.

Hi masspa,

To answer your question, my mother who is 77 is undergoing chemotherapy alone with Taxol and Carboplatin. Pretty rudimentary compared to the treatment combinations many of the cancer patients and survivors have undergone. Truth be told, I'd like for my mom to be put on a third cancer drug - whether Tarceva or Avastin. But her current simple combination of Taxol and Carbo is working with tumor shrinkage. We will always have as our backup plan of Tarceva, which as your oncologist has noted works most effectively for Asian non-smokers who mostly have that EGFR mutation Tarceva pairs up well with. But don't let that alone discourage you only that demographic is suitable for Tarceva. Many people without the EGFR mutation and/or who aren't Asian non-smokers respond well with Tarceva. It's all genetics and cancer cell types in what treatments work for which. With your doctor's experience and knowledge, and lab tests, she can best determine what will be best for your mother without harming her.

Tarceva does seem to be the godsend of modern cancer treatment for certain people.

Oh, regarding how old is too old for chemo, don't worry much about your mother not being able to withstand because of her age. My mother's oncologist mentioned having older patients undergoing Taxol and Carbo. If I can recall correctly, he said 86. To repeat his joke, you're mom is a young'un.

Do the best you can for her to keep her well nourished. Keep in mind, 40% of cancer patients die not from the cancer itself but from mal-nutrition. If you need any advice, please feel free to email me (though I haven't been checking in as often as before). I try to keep the diet routines simple.

Good luck to your mom. The best thing you can do for yourself and your mom is to stay hopeful and optimistic. It'll keep your head in the right place.