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Showing results for tags 'taxol carboplatin'.
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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!
