winding road

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dreamonthefly
dreamonthefly Member Posts: 6
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

IHello. I have been lurking for sometime now, I have a couple of questions.I am travelling the winding road with my dearest friendand though I have done my homework, I am looking for some experience I guess.

 

Summer of 2013 she was dx stage 2 throat cancer. 7 weeks of rad with excellent results and hardly missed a beat. her spirit is incredible, then and now.

Seot of 2014,  cannonball mets to the lungs. Stage 4 with a poor prognosis. Started cisplatin, 5fu and erbitux. This tx has been very tough past couple of months. In bed for days at a time  and strenght and body mass diminished. They are taking a 3 week break, then starting back. Xray shows the tumours almost gone. I guess I am confused a little bit....I understand treatments for this advanced stage are ongoing and will be part of life now always, but I had in my head that it would be to control/maintain these specific tumours. Perhaps I am confused...and these ones go and we wait to see where the next ones appear?

 

I don't know...just a little lost for a minute and looking to any experience.

thanks for reading.

Dream

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  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
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    "The long and winding Road"

    The operative word being, "Long".  The fact that your friend is responding to the chemo is a big deal and has had a positive response an even bigger deal. We had a lady in our monthly group who survived with a lung mets for 7 years. The only conclusion to be drawn is that the treatment is working very well.  To what extent can be a long way down that road.  Please don't feel lost as I think your understanding of the situation is as accurate as is presently possible. Celebrate the success. Welcome to the Board! 

  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #3
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    Mets to lungs

    Hi Dream, sorry your friend is having difficulties over and above the thoart issues.  I had base of tongue stage 4 dx in 2012.  As for the mets to the lungs if I am getting that right, you may also want to refer to the lung specific site to see if there may be some fyi of value to your friend there.  If I misunderstood your concerns, others will come along soon and may offer better advice.  Good luck to you and your friend and God Bless you both.

  • dreamonthefly
    dreamonthefly Member Posts: 6
    #4
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    ratface said:

    "The long and winding Road"

    The operative word being, "Long".  The fact that your friend is responding to the chemo is a big deal and has had a positive response an even bigger deal. We had a lady in our monthly group who survived with a lung mets for 7 years. The only conclusion to be drawn is that the treatment is working very well.  To what extent can be a long way down that road.  Please don't feel lost as I think your understanding of the situation is as accurate as is presently possible. Celebrate the success. Welcome to the Board! 

    thank you Ratface.
    your words

    thank you Ratface.

    your words are encouraging and I smile. It is a long road. Just like everyone else, I never expected to be taking a travel on it. I spend alot of time being strong and doing my best to do everything I can for her- she is my biggest fan and number one supporter. She inspires me everyday and I am a better person.

    but sometimes I get a little stuck. 

     

    thank you for reaching back :)

     

    Dream

  • dreamonthefly
    dreamonthefly Member Posts: 6
    #5
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    ditto1 said:

    Mets to lungs

    Hi Dream, sorry your friend is having difficulties over and above the thoart issues.  I had base of tongue stage 4 dx in 2012.  As for the mets to the lungs if I am getting that right, you may also want to refer to the lung specific site to see if there may be some fyi of value to your friend there.  If I misunderstood your concerns, others will come along soon and may offer better advice.  Good luck to you and your friend and God Bless you both.

    Thanks for the thought

    Thanks for the thought ditto1. I have read in a variety of forums for sure.I am grateful for others who have been willing to share their experiences.

    Keep well.

    Dream

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #6
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    welcome dream but i'm very

    welcome dream but i'm very sorry you have a need to be here.  i really don't have any answers for you but i wanted to say I will pray for you and her.  Only God really knows if her time is up, so please, don't give up.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #7
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    I had the cannonball too!

    Went through a vicious mouth surgery. Then it neck dissection. Then chemo and rad summer 2011. My cannonball came in the fall and I had to have 30% of my lung removed. Was on chemo again, the awful mix you mentioned. Came back again. Did CyberKnife in St. Paul, MN. Been good since. Hang in there. What a great friend you are. 

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #8
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    You're a true friend...

    Welcome and sorry you need to be here. I was Stage 3 supraglottic and had the tumor and larynx removed along with neck dissection on both sides, 86 glands. Non-related to that, I hace Stage 3 COPD and they recomend a lung reduction, remove 30% fron each lung. You just take one day at a time and only today matters. You get the attitude you will fight and you will win. That, and some prayers help also. Doctors can only guess on the odds in general. They gave my dad 6 months we had six wonderful years. They said my wife has fibermialga so bad, she should be confined to a weelchair. That was 25 years ago and she walks two miles every day, no wheelchair. As a former smoker of 42 years and stage 3 severe emphysema my O2 readings should be down around 91% or less, but I get readings of 98% and have even got 100% several times and they can not explain it. He just says it's great and we will just go with it. You never know, you just fight and never give up.

    This is THE SURVIVIRS NETWORK. Welcome aboard! We're open 24/7

    Bill

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