Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'carboplatin'.
Found 4 results
-
UPDATE 11/1/22: I got my results yesterday, still NED as I expected. I have now graduated to 4-month scans (previously every 3 months)! I've gotten to the point where I can tell which radiologist read my scans. Each one has a different writing style. For the first time, "a few" apical nodules in my right lung were called out, the largest being 6 mm. I was only aware of the large one, but these nodules are all stable and are not worrisome. ORIGINAL POST: Three years ago today my primary doctor told me that an Xray showed a 6 cm mass in my lower left lung. Lung cancer. You hear those words and your head starts spinning. But, she said, it's not a death sentence anymore. I knew nothing about lung cancer and really didn't believe her. I was referred to a pulmonologist, medical oncologist and radiation oncologist in quick succession. On Halloween 2019, my pulmonologist performed a rigid bronchoscopy to take tissue for biopsy and biomarker testing. The results were Stage IIIB NSC adenocarcinoma. It took time for the biomarker tests to come back in mid-November, and they showed an EGFR driver mutation. I still didn't know what that meant. November 2019 was a flurry of activity, seeing both oncologists, getting a port placed, getting dental work done and getting a bulk Teflon injection into my left vocal cord, which was paralyzed by the tumor. On December 3, 2019 I started the first of 6 weekly infusions of chemo (carboplatin and taxol) and 30 sessions of chest radiation. These treatments were not without side effects, and if I were to do it all again, I'd get a palliative care specialist on my team at the beginning. In March 2020 I started on Tagrisso for the EGFR mutation and have taken it daily since. My side effects are common and manageable. I never thought I'd make it this far but here I am 3 years later and NED. I found LUNGevity months after treatments ended, while I was still recovering. I wish I had found this wonderful community sooner, but better late than never. Coincidentally, I had my regular 3-month PET/CT scan this morning and will get results on Halloween. I don't expect there to be any changes. For anyone just diagnosed, I hope you'll learn as much as possible about this disease and all the modern treatments that are available. My doctor was right after all. I consider myself very fortunate that I have a great medical oncologist (even if he is a fan of the Phillies and Eagles) and the support of my husband, family and friends. I could not have made it this far without all of them and you!
-
Is anyone struggling with the concept of Chemo? And the tremendous toxins they want to inject in my body....verses possibly changing lifestyle and going the nutrition route? Of course every family member and friend wants me to go Chemo/Rad. I had 2 nodules removed from my left lung and a lymph node that it apparently spread to... The lymph node resting so close to my vocal cord nerve that I developed a "laryngitis" that caused the need to determine cause when standard measures proved to fail to solve. I felt great, short of the noticeable voice impact, and still do after surgery, short of obvious surgical pain. And to the best of my knowledge... Cancer free... I guess that's not true for quite a while... But I am not interested in the horrible odds of "5 year survival" and to endure all that Chemo and radiation subject you to... for that?? I have been reading up a lot on nutrition and juicing and Organics and GMO and of course I asked my Oncologist if nutrition mattered... "Of course not"... I am meeting with my Thoracic surgeon this coming Friday, Oct 20...I have preliminarily/generically been diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma NSCLC. The mutation not yet determined, awaiting results. The surgery was a secondary change of mind, initially they were considering Chemo/Rad first then surgery, but changed direction when they... and They being the Cleveland Clinic in OHIO...didn't feel they had enough of a sample to determine Chemo route... The surgery was basically a wedge biopsy of the lungs having done a biopsy of the lymph node 2 weeks prior. And even though it's in the Lymph node, they are not referring to it as metastatic....yet I suppose... I'm sorry this may be all over the board...but the surgery has bought me time to look over solutions and I'm on info overload. Initially, the Oncologist was suggesting Cisplatin and ALIMTA, but this may possibly change with further diagnosis.... Heard Cisplatin is more worse than C I am scared that I'm adding insult to injury with Chemo. There are sooooo many side affects that all I see is misery before death. Has ANYONE found anything else ... that does not have such a barbaric approach to finding a cure or reversal of our dianosis'. I do not mean to offend anyone who is choosing Chemo/Radiation... -
My spouse was diagnosed almost exactly a month ago. Went in for ER visit believing it was a kidney stone causing pain in pelvic area. Through extensive tests and second opinions, it came back as stage 4 non small cell lung cancer (2.6 cm mass) with bone mets to the right pelvic bone (2.7 cm mass). shes currently finishing round 1 of chemo- alimta and carboplatin. The next round will add avastin. Four rounds total followed by radiation. As hopeful as I try to be, she is very doom and gloom. The dr talked at the last visit of when she is remission, and I take that as a sign that the team of Drs wouldn't talk of remission if they didn't believe it was possible. Biopsy of pelvic bone done at ER visit came back as not being The mutation suitable for tarceva, and confirming adenocarcinoma. He talked that if after remission she would relapse the next step would be opdivo. At the initial appointment, she was told that without treatment she would have six months to live. I guess what I am seeking is advice from other spouses/caregivers on how to keep it all together everyday. And if anybody has any survivor stories that they are willing to share- to possibly help her keep hope that there are tomorrows.
-
Hello, my name is Christine. My, 71 yr old, Mother was diagnosed in Nov 2016 w/ Stage IV metastatic adenocarcinoma NSCLC (primary: right lung, spread to both adrenal glands, brain & right proximal tibia). At diagnosis she was given an estimate of 6-12 months to live, which was quickly adjusted to 6 months after they discovered 13 brain mets opposed to the 3 they originally saw. She had surgery to remove the tumor in her right tibia, which they filled with bone cement to stabilize the bone. She has completed whole brain radiation, radiation to the right tibia & 2 rounds of chemo: Paraplatin (Carboplatin), Alimta (Pemetrexed) & Avastin (Bevacizumab). The chemo was unsuccessful. The cancer spread to multiple bones in her left leg, her pelvis & spine. They stopped chemo & started Opdivo last week. It is too soon after completing whole brain radiation to do another brain scan to know if it helped. I'm sorry for the information overload....I'm just trying to give as much info as possible to see if anyone here has a similar situation & could offer some words of wisdom, offer a glimpse of hope or suggest ways I can help her. Thank you in advance for your help.
