treatment for stage 4 lung cancer

2

Comments

  • tach1
    tach1 Member Posts: 2
    #22
    legendsdaughter said:

    stage iv
    My dad was diagnosed in November w/stage IV nsclc, in both lungs, lymph nodes & 1 adrenal gland. He has had 3 chemo treatments & his marker went from 229 to 185, but unfortunately he had a PET scan on Monday & it showed that he now has a mass next to his spine & the adrenal mass got larger. His doctor quickly said the chemo is not working & he needs radiation. He had a ct scan of his spine & an emegency mri of his thoracic & lumbar spine. She fears that it might be in the spinal cord which would be a medical emergency.
    He is in a lot of pain!! He takes oxycontin & oxycodone, but he needs to take sooo many for relief. For him surgery isn't an option either, due to the spread. He will probably have about 10 radiation treatmnets at 10 mins each. We're not sure yet when he will start up the chemo again.

    stage iv nscls in lungs - spine & adrenal glands to
    my husband whos only 53 has almost same type CA.( oxycodone which is same as oxycotin and its for breakout pain,) radiation helped the pain last month, but he's still losing weight. It cut the pain in half.. Just starting on chemo, having trouble keeping the blood counts right. let me know what other treatments they do. My husbands back is fractured and broken from the CA too. I just want him pain free. I hope the chemo works. hope all gets better. no surgery here either. i havent heard @ markers I'll have to ask our oncologist. good luck.
  • mmt366
    mmt366 Member Posts: 41
    #23
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was diagnosed Sept 09 w/ stage4 non small cell lung cancer, we soon learned it had spread to the brain and lymph nodes in chest. Chemo was put on hold while radiation to brain was done. happy to report the brain tumors have decreased and they have been applying chemo..alimpta and carbo platen since October 09. After 6 treatments her lung tumor and lymphnodes have shrunk but the primary is still considered too large to remove, in fact they do not feel that radiaition is a viable option either...too many severe side effects will affect quality of life. She has been tested and approved for a clinical trial at Boston Mass General Hospital, the treatment is ALK inhibitor. This will be a second line of treatment should the chemo stop helping. Initially we were told my wife had 10 months to a year, although she is tired, she works 4 hours per day and is still the life of the party. We have made reservations to stay a week in Aruba next month (may) and we live each and every day to the fullest. We feel this way because we lost our daughter to Multiple Myeloma in August 09, two weeks before my wife was diagnosed. Our daughter was diagnosed just 10 months earlier, sadly our beautiful daughter was too sick and in so much pain her last months, they were spent in hospitals and/or home in bed. Advice - Live your Life and fight like hell! - mmt366
  • mmt366
    mmt366 Member Posts: 41
    #24
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was diagnosed Sept 09 w/ stage4 non small cell lung cancer, we soon learned it had spread to the brain and lymph nodes in chest. Chemo was put on hold while radiation to brain was done. happy to report the brain tumors have decreased and they have been applying chemo..alimpta and carbo platen since October 09. After 6 treatments her lung tumor and lymphnodes have shrunk but the primary is still considered too large to remove, in fact they do not feel that radiaition is a viable option either...too many severe side effects will affect quality of life. She has been tested and approved for a clinical trial at Boston Mass General Hospital, the treatment is ALK inhibitor. This will be a second line of treatment should the chemo stop helping. Initially we were told my wife had 10 months to a year, although she is tired, she works 4 hours per day and is still the life of the party. We have made reservations to stay a week in Aruba next month (may) and we live each and every day to the fullest. We feel this way because we lost our daughter to Multiple Myeloma in August 09, two weeks before my wife was diagnosed. Our daughter was diagnosed just 10 months earlier, sadly our beautiful daughter was too sick and in so much pain her last months, they were spent in hospitals and/or home in bed. Advice - Live your Life and fight like hell! - mmt366
  • annemarie77
    annemarie77 Member Posts: 17
    #25
    mmt366 said:

    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was diagnosed Sept 09 w/ stage4 non small cell lung cancer, we soon learned it had spread to the brain and lymph nodes in chest. Chemo was put on hold while radiation to brain was done. happy to report the brain tumors have decreased and they have been applying chemo..alimpta and carbo platen since October 09. After 6 treatments her lung tumor and lymphnodes have shrunk but the primary is still considered too large to remove, in fact they do not feel that radiaition is a viable option either...too many severe side effects will affect quality of life. She has been tested and approved for a clinical trial at Boston Mass General Hospital, the treatment is ALK inhibitor. This will be a second line of treatment should the chemo stop helping. Initially we were told my wife had 10 months to a year, although she is tired, she works 4 hours per day and is still the life of the party. We have made reservations to stay a week in Aruba next month (may) and we live each and every day to the fullest. We feel this way because we lost our daughter to Multiple Myeloma in August 09, two weeks before my wife was diagnosed. Our daughter was diagnosed just 10 months earlier, sadly our beautiful daughter was too sick and in so much pain her last months, they were spent in hospitals and/or home in bed. Advice - Live your Life and fight like hell! - mmt366

    Thank you all for being here
    I am back, I hope to stay for awhile too. I don't know what happened, I think it was connecting with someone on this site that was basically the same as me, age-wise, cancer wise, both feeling the same emotions and eveything else that goes along with the diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer, and then she just disappeared, I can only pray she is doing well, I feel like I lost a friend and went into an emotional turmoil, mostly of self-pity and severe depression. I felt all was hopeless (I'm sad to say I felt so depressed and hopeless that I even started smoking again, I didn't think it mattered at that point), I just felt doomed. Well, I am finally fighting and clawing my way back up out of the pits again, and everyone on this site has helped, even though I couldn't write on the site I never stopped reading the discussion boards. Have been through 10 rounds of chemo with two more to go and then another CT scan, am more afraid of the results of this than anything I've been through in a long time. I am sorry to ramble on, but I need to talk to someone, I do have people around me who love me, but they really can't talk about this with me, they are always trying to cheer me up when sometimes I just need to cry. (Of course, when I am around other people I always put a smile on my face, so they probably don't know what I need, I don't make it easy for anybody.) I do know that the most important thing I was missing at that point was hope, and I didn't have any left. Thanks for helping me get it back.
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #26
    annemarie77 said:

    Thank you all for being here
    I am back, I hope to stay for awhile too. I don't know what happened, I think it was connecting with someone on this site that was basically the same as me, age-wise, cancer wise, both feeling the same emotions and eveything else that goes along with the diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer, and then she just disappeared, I can only pray she is doing well, I feel like I lost a friend and went into an emotional turmoil, mostly of self-pity and severe depression. I felt all was hopeless (I'm sad to say I felt so depressed and hopeless that I even started smoking again, I didn't think it mattered at that point), I just felt doomed. Well, I am finally fighting and clawing my way back up out of the pits again, and everyone on this site has helped, even though I couldn't write on the site I never stopped reading the discussion boards. Have been through 10 rounds of chemo with two more to go and then another CT scan, am more afraid of the results of this than anything I've been through in a long time. I am sorry to ramble on, but I need to talk to someone, I do have people around me who love me, but they really can't talk about this with me, they are always trying to cheer me up when sometimes I just need to cry. (Of course, when I am around other people I always put a smile on my face, so they probably don't know what I need, I don't make it easy for anybody.) I do know that the most important thing I was missing at that point was hope, and I didn't have any left. Thanks for helping me get it back.

    :)
    Your emotional downturn is understandable for any number of reasons and your renewed focus on survival is a cause for happiness!

    It is rather typical to put on our best faces for loved ones and, as you point out, this often leaves us with no one to talk to candidly and with raw emotion about our feelings and fears. This joint is good for correcting that, at least to some degree.

    Hope and Humor!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • 58carol
    58carol Member Posts: 17
    #27
    soccerfreaks said:

    :)
    Your emotional downturn is understandable for any number of reasons and your renewed focus on survival is a cause for happiness!

    It is rather typical to put on our best faces for loved ones and, as you point out, this often leaves us with no one to talk to candidly and with raw emotion about our feelings and fears. This joint is good for correcting that, at least to some degree.

    Hope and Humor!

    Take care,

    Joe

    joe i think you are great
    i am knew to this sight And I am glad that I did come across it. i am sclc and have an appointment tomarrow because of the new found cancer in my brain. As I scaned the sight I have run accross your replies. I just wanted to let you know just reading your post to others lifts my spirits. Just knowing that there are people out there who take the time to talk to others who are affraid and need someone. You and others are really great. Take care joy
  • Rhonda13
    Rhonda13 Member Posts: 3
    #28
    Lung CA
    Dear Anne Marie,
    My husband was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer March 3, 2010. We are devastated. He has just finished his second course of chemo, and actually feels better since the initial diagnosis. His cancer has metasisized to the liver and lymph nodes. We are so devastated that we did not want to know how long he has. We are trying to enjoy everyday together. We have 2 children at home, ages 18 and 13. Trying to plan for 18 year olds graduation and trying to figure out how to enjoy it. Hang in there, and keep fighting. If anyone out there has small cell lung cancer and has POSITIVE responses I would love to hear them.
  • annemarie77
    annemarie77 Member Posts: 17
    #29
    Rhonda13 said:

    Lung CA
    Dear Anne Marie,
    My husband was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer March 3, 2010. We are devastated. He has just finished his second course of chemo, and actually feels better since the initial diagnosis. His cancer has metasisized to the liver and lymph nodes. We are so devastated that we did not want to know how long he has. We are trying to enjoy everyday together. We have 2 children at home, ages 18 and 13. Trying to plan for 18 year olds graduation and trying to figure out how to enjoy it. Hang in there, and keep fighting. If anyone out there has small cell lung cancer and has POSITIVE responses I would love to hear them.

    Hope to give you a positive response soon
    Rhonda13 - I have gone through 11 rounds of chemo, having my last one this Monday, I have not heard any results yet, am going for another pt scan the following week, and then back to Dr the week after for the results, am praying for some good news for a change. I also have liver and lymph node involvement, plus my spine. Hope he continues to do well with chemo, sorry to say it usually gets harder with each treatment. When I started I felt good enough to go out and dance after my treatment, felt wonderful, was warned that it wouldn't always be that way, I've finally had to cut my work down to three days a week, (of course I am on my feet constantly for eight hours a day on a hard floor and constantly moving, so I guess that doesn't help). Also have bone pain and muscle pain in my hips and legs, but the worse thing is the utter and debilitating tiredness that goes along with it, but, it is deffinitely all worth it if you get good news, and I will take any shot I can at becoming a "long term survivor", life is worth it. I think a positive outlook and most importantly never giving up hope, is one of the best medicines there is. Enjoy each day and your wonderful family, depression is also a part of this disease, the best medicine for that you will probably find on this site, many, many wonderful and caring people here who will try and help. I hope to give you positive and encouraging words soon. Congratulations on your sons graduation, my last child graduated 3 years ago and it truly is a moment to be proud of. Keep the faith and don't let the party wear you or your husband out, just enjoy the day!
  • Blueeyes68
    Blueeyes68 Member Posts: 2
    #30
    lindaslittlesis said:

    I am scared Too!
    annemarie77, get the treatment whatever they offer. My sister has stage IV lung cancer as well and has no insurance. We have not been able to get any hospital to agree to treatments and she also is not ready to give up. Lost her job of 30 years in 2008 and has no income until June 2010 when she can get early SS. We have applied for help and was told 45-60 days. You know everyday she waits is one day too long. God bless you and Fight!

    help
    I am so sorry to hear about your sister. I have lung cancer also. I started my treatment at the University Of Cincinnati Hospital. If I were you I would try them. I know it may be a ways from your house but they migh be able to help you because they are a teaching hospital and they do alot of cancer research there. I hope you find your sister help soon.
  • Rhonda13
    Rhonda13 Member Posts: 3
    #31
    Stage 4 Lung Cancer
    Anne Marie,
    My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer March 3, 2010. He is currently taking chemo treatments. He is doing well. Emotionally, not as well. This is so overwhelming for our family. We have two children at home, 18 (Graduating from high school this year), and a 13 year old. I am stressed out, pissed off at this cancer! I thank god every day my husband wakes up and starts another day. You hang in there, and we can talk to one another. I'm at work, I work night shift at a hospital. Take care, and I will pray for you too.
  • BryanC_
    BryanC_ Member Posts: 9
    #32
    Rhonda13 said:

    Stage 4 Lung Cancer
    Anne Marie,
    My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer March 3, 2010. He is currently taking chemo treatments. He is doing well. Emotionally, not as well. This is so overwhelming for our family. We have two children at home, 18 (Graduating from high school this year), and a 13 year old. I am stressed out, pissed off at this cancer! I thank god every day my husband wakes up and starts another day. You hang in there, and we can talk to one another. I'm at work, I work night shift at a hospital. Take care, and I will pray for you too.

    Stage 4 lung cancer
    Rhonda13, I am glad your husbands treatments are going well. I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Nov of 2007 and have been through a lot of the treatments available. The cancer has been stable since Oct of 2009. I have two children 17 and 22. I lost my wife to cancer so my attitude is so positive I refuse to let this cancer win, I am going to fight with everything I have have for my children. So tell you husband to stay strong. I know we all have our down days but I believe the brain has so much to do with healing, more than we know. My daughter is going to Ohio State to work on her masters in health on that subject. She is so driven to fight this disease with the loss of her Mother. Both of you stay strong, it really helps!!
  • cprete26
    cprete26 Member Posts: 2
    #33
    mmt366 said:

    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was diagnosed Sept 09 w/ stage4 non small cell lung cancer, we soon learned it had spread to the brain and lymph nodes in chest. Chemo was put on hold while radiation to brain was done. happy to report the brain tumors have decreased and they have been applying chemo..alimpta and carbo platen since October 09. After 6 treatments her lung tumor and lymphnodes have shrunk but the primary is still considered too large to remove, in fact they do not feel that radiaition is a viable option either...too many severe side effects will affect quality of life. She has been tested and approved for a clinical trial at Boston Mass General Hospital, the treatment is ALK inhibitor. This will be a second line of treatment should the chemo stop helping. Initially we were told my wife had 10 months to a year, although she is tired, she works 4 hours per day and is still the life of the party. We have made reservations to stay a week in Aruba next month (may) and we live each and every day to the fullest. We feel this way because we lost our daughter to Multiple Myeloma in August 09, two weeks before my wife was diagnosed. Our daughter was diagnosed just 10 months earlier, sadly our beautiful daughter was too sick and in so much pain her last months, they were spent in hospitals and/or home in bed. Advice - Live your Life and fight like hell! - mmt366

    mmt336,
    My dad was just
    mmt336,
    My dad was just diagnosed with what your wife was diagnosed with on April 7, 2010. He just finished radiation on his brain and we are waiting to meet with the the dr for the next step. I noticed that you mention Boston Mass General was where your wife is doing a clinical trial. We live in RI and have just started with an RI oncologist. We are planning to get a second opinion at Dana Farber, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Do you have any suggestions about doctors in the Boston area or about any trials we should look into? Thanks for your help and I hope your wife is doing well.
  • 58carol
    58carol Member Posts: 17
    #34
    BryanC_ said:

    Stage 4 lung cancer
    Rhonda13, I am glad your husbands treatments are going well. I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Nov of 2007 and have been through a lot of the treatments available. The cancer has been stable since Oct of 2009. I have two children 17 and 22. I lost my wife to cancer so my attitude is so positive I refuse to let this cancer win, I am going to fight with everything I have have for my children. So tell you husband to stay strong. I know we all have our down days but I believe the brain has so much to do with healing, more than we know. My daughter is going to Ohio State to work on her masters in health on that subject. She is so driven to fight this disease with the loss of her Mother. Both of you stay strong, it really helps!!

    lung cancer small cell and i do not want to know my stage
    I am 51 and have 2 young children . they will be 8 in August. Also raising two grandchildren 6 and 9. I can't leave them or my husband. I two refuse to let this cancer win. SOOOO Ronda 13 and BryanC. Needless to say with my treatments and the children I do not have much time to log in, Please keep me posted as to how you are doing or let me know if i can help in some way. What kind of cancer do you have?
  • 58carol
    58carol Member Posts: 17
    #35
    BryanC_ said:

    Stage 4 lung cancer
    Rhonda13, I am glad your husbands treatments are going well. I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Nov of 2007 and have been through a lot of the treatments available. The cancer has been stable since Oct of 2009. I have two children 17 and 22. I lost my wife to cancer so my attitude is so positive I refuse to let this cancer win, I am going to fight with everything I have have for my children. So tell you husband to stay strong. I know we all have our down days but I believe the brain has so much to do with healing, more than we know. My daughter is going to Ohio State to work on her masters in health on that subject. She is so driven to fight this disease with the loss of her Mother. Both of you stay strong, it really helps!!

    sorry double post

    sorry double post
  • augigi
    augigi Member Posts: 89
    #36
    mmt366 said:

    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was
    Hi Annemarie77, my wife was diagnosed Sept 09 w/ stage4 non small cell lung cancer, we soon learned it had spread to the brain and lymph nodes in chest. Chemo was put on hold while radiation to brain was done. happy to report the brain tumors have decreased and they have been applying chemo..alimpta and carbo platen since October 09. After 6 treatments her lung tumor and lymphnodes have shrunk but the primary is still considered too large to remove, in fact they do not feel that radiaition is a viable option either...too many severe side effects will affect quality of life. She has been tested and approved for a clinical trial at Boston Mass General Hospital, the treatment is ALK inhibitor. This will be a second line of treatment should the chemo stop helping. Initially we were told my wife had 10 months to a year, although she is tired, she works 4 hours per day and is still the life of the party. We have made reservations to stay a week in Aruba next month (may) and we live each and every day to the fullest. We feel this way because we lost our daughter to Multiple Myeloma in August 09, two weeks before my wife was diagnosed. Our daughter was diagnosed just 10 months earlier, sadly our beautiful daughter was too sick and in so much pain her last months, they were spent in hospitals and/or home in bed. Advice - Live your Life and fight like hell! - mmt366

    mmt366add - I just wanted to
    mmt366add - I just wanted to say how sorry I am for the loss of your daughter, and now your wife's diagnosis. I can't even imagine how devastating that has been for you all. I hope you and your wife have the best outcome possible.
  • annemarie77
    annemarie77 Member Posts: 17
    #37
    Rhonda13 said:

    Stage 4 Lung Cancer
    Anne Marie,
    My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer March 3, 2010. He is currently taking chemo treatments. He is doing well. Emotionally, not as well. This is so overwhelming for our family. We have two children at home, 18 (Graduating from high school this year), and a 13 year old. I am stressed out, pissed off at this cancer! I thank god every day my husband wakes up and starts another day. You hang in there, and we can talk to one another. I'm at work, I work night shift at a hospital. Take care, and I will pray for you too.

    Rhonda13 - After 12 weekly rounds of chemo, I have finally been told some results, all tumors have shrunk minimally, especially on the liver. Was hoping for more shrinkage, but it certainly beats getting larger or even staying the same. Had to change chemo, am now doubling up on the carpoblatin, had to change my taxol to taxiteria,(getting numbness in fingers and toes) and had to stop the avastin (my blood pressure was getting extremely high) but the good news is I only have to get it every 3 weeks instead of weekly. (forgive the spelling of the drug names). Depression is another side effect of the cancer, I have had 5 months to deal with my diagnosis, and I still get very depressed, but I will keep on fighting for as long as I can. Emotions can change from hour to hour everyday, just enjoy life as much as possible and keep praying and depending on your family and friends. I never knew how many people cared about me until this started, now I enjoy each and everyone of them, (and my dog)!! Good luck and I will pray for your husband as I am praying for myself.
  • Sydneynnm
    Sydneynnm Member Posts: 5
    #38
    lindaslittlesis said:

    I am scared Too!
    annemarie77, get the treatment whatever they offer. My sister has stage IV lung cancer as well and has no insurance. We have not been able to get any hospital to agree to treatments and she also is not ready to give up. Lost her job of 30 years in 2008 and has no income until June 2010 when she can get early SS. We have applied for help and was told 45-60 days. You know everyday she waits is one day too long. God bless you and Fight!

    Sydney
    Hi Annemarie77. Sorry to hear about your sister. In November 2009, I found out I had cancer of the brain, liver and left lower lung about the size of a small lime [Stage 4] It is sad that we live in a money hungry country. I, like your siser, do not have any health insurance. I was told by the original medical providers I qualified for Medicaid or Medigap. That was a BIG LIE. I have thousands of dollars in hospital expenses as well as radiation treatments on the brain. Since I do not have insurance, I can not get medical care either. Have you contacted the American Cancer Society 800 227 2345 and or Cancer Care 800 638 0742. I am in New Mexico and they have given me some information which I will followup on. You might also want to contact Patient Advocate 800 532 5274 who may be able to give you some information for assistance in your state. Their website is patientadvocate.org.

    I refused to do only Western Medicine. DO NOT TRUST THEM!!!! I also go to a Doctor of Orient Medicine. Understand I AM NOT A DOCTOR; however, I did medical transcription for several years. I am familiar withmedical terms and pharmaceuticals. If the cancer has not gotten into her blood stream, chemo is not going to help her much. As I said, I also see a DOM. I mix a product called "Greens First", Ecological Formulas Tri-Salts and a liquid Aloe with water at least once a day and most days twice a day. The "Greens First" info is: www.DoctorsforNutrition.com in Boca Raton, FL; phone number 866 410 1818. The information for Ecological Fomulas Tri-Salts is Concord, CA 94518; 925 827 2407. Like most of America, most of us eat too many foods which contains high levels of acid which feeds cancer. By decreasing acid intake, it may slow the cancer. That is what the Tri-Salts is for. The third product I mix with the first two is a liquid Aloe with a bunch of other things like kelp, etc in it. I also take severeal homeopathics such as Coenzyme compositum, Cerebrum compositum, Traumeel, and Lymphomyosot from a company in Albuquerque NM; website is www.heelusa.com; toll free number 800 920 9203. These products have really helped me. Also, I am part Cherokee who believes strongly in my ancerstory heritage. If you have a health food store close,see if you can get a product call Ojibwa Tea. They also make an herbal extract and believe it of not is a product the American Cancer Society supports. It is made by NOW. They are located in Bloomingdale, IL; website: www.nowfoods.com. Ojibwa's are a distant relative of the Cherokee. They are in southern Canada and this formula has been around over 100 years.

    If you need to contact me, my email is walkswwolvesnnm@gmail.com

    Syd
  • Sydneynnm
    Sydneynnm Member Posts: 5
    #39
    annemarie77 said:

    Rhonda13 - After 12 weekly rounds of chemo, I have finally been told some results, all tumors have shrunk minimally, especially on the liver. Was hoping for more shrinkage, but it certainly beats getting larger or even staying the same. Had to change chemo, am now doubling up on the carpoblatin, had to change my taxol to taxiteria,(getting numbness in fingers and toes) and had to stop the avastin (my blood pressure was getting extremely high) but the good news is I only have to get it every 3 weeks instead of weekly. (forgive the spelling of the drug names). Depression is another side effect of the cancer, I have had 5 months to deal with my diagnosis, and I still get very depressed, but I will keep on fighting for as long as I can. Emotions can change from hour to hour everyday, just enjoy life as much as possible and keep praying and depending on your family and friends. I never knew how many people cared about me until this started, now I enjoy each and everyone of them, (and my dog)!! Good luck and I will pray for your husband as I am praying for myself.

    Sydney
    RHONDA 13:

    Ask your oncologist to get you on Tarceva. It is very expensive; however, I was able to get it from the pharmaceutical company through the Patient Assist Foundation. Chemo is NOT going to help you that much and if you believe what the doctors are telling you, then you will not make it. I found out in November 2009 that I have Stage 4 Lung cancer, brain cancer and liver cancer. I began,successfully the Tarceva. I refused to let them do chemo on me. I did do radiation of the brain with 100% success rate. The Tarceva tablets that I take daily is 150 mg. I have chosen a combination of Western Medicine as well as alternative treatments. I can tell you that attitude plays a BIG part in your health.
  • rlotempio2
    rlotempio2 Member Posts: 6
    #40
    abfaul6 said:

    Stage 4 NSCLC also
    mama58 -
    My husband was told in July 08 that he had 4 mos to a year. It is now soon to be two years. He had the chemo regimen that seems to be followed by many. He also did well with hardly any nausea, he took megace and is on anti depressant. We will have our 54th wedding anniversary in April and he plans to be there.
    Try not to transfer what happened to your dad to yourself. My husband's brother died within 4 months of diagnosis of his cancer, and his first response was that he was going to follow the same path. The doctor explained that everyone is different. You will cut your own path. I have a friend who also has NSC and she is about 6 mos. ahead of my husband and following the macrobiotic diet which is helping control things for her. It is not an easy diet but it seems to work for her.
    Regarding your shortness of breath, get your 02 sats checked by someone who has a meter thingy.
    I wish you all the best.
    Ann

    Surviving lung cancer Stage IV
    Hearing your story gave me hope that my grandmother will have a chance as well. She is stage IV and a bit spread to her liver. It was all overlooked by the doctors for months. They said she had a staff infection for months as she kept feeling worse and worse. Finally she was brought into Roswell Cancer Institute and they found cancer in the fourth stage to our shock. What is this macrobiotic diet that your husband is on? My grandma will be getting chemo for the first time on July 1st. I wish you and your husband the very best of luck

    Rachael
  • rlotempio2
    rlotempio2 Member Posts: 6
    #41
    BryanC_ said:

    Stage 4 lung cancer
    Rhonda13, I am glad your husbands treatments are going well. I was diagnosed with stage 4 in Nov of 2007 and have been through a lot of the treatments available. The cancer has been stable since Oct of 2009. I have two children 17 and 22. I lost my wife to cancer so my attitude is so positive I refuse to let this cancer win, I am going to fight with everything I have have for my children. So tell you husband to stay strong. I know we all have our down days but I believe the brain has so much to do with healing, more than we know. My daughter is going to Ohio State to work on her masters in health on that subject. She is so driven to fight this disease with the loss of her Mother. Both of you stay strong, it really helps!!

    Surviving Stage IV
    Your story gave me hope for my grandmother (who is the one who actually raised me so she is truly my mother). She is 73 and just diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer that spread a bit to her liver but not to the brain. I thought Stage IV was a death sentence. I am more scared than she is. I told her she must fight this with everything shes got. Thank you for telling your story.

Discussion Boards