Dave C

SUE, P.M. sent. THanks, DaveC

Thanks, & good luck to you both. DaveC

Has anyone had experience with this procedure? There was NED on my CT scans from March of '08 until March of '09,when a swelling of a lymph node was shown in the right hilar region of my right lung. Dr. says this swelling is due to a developing tumor. I am currantly on TARCEVA 150 mg, & the tumor/swelling is stable in a CT scan taken 6-07-'10. On my last visit with my Onc. i asked about cyber knife, & he said that now may be the time to do this since the tumor is small. I would like to hear from anyone who has had this procedure. I have a consultation sched. with the Dr. that will do this,if i decide to have it, but am seeking info from others. Thank's, DaveC

Hello Christie. I hope all is going well for you. I was DX'd with the with an identical profie as you've described in June '07. I was treated with IV Chemo, Carboplatin,Taxol & Avastin, beginning in July of '07 & finishing Jan. 25th of '08. I went once a week for 3 weeks, then 13 days off befrore the next cycle. The most uncomfortable side effect i had was severe constipation. Nothing really helped this. Less severe/serious side effects were fatigue, loss of appetite (i lost 35#'s during treatment), joint pain & spontainious nose bleeds during exercise. I tried to walk @ least a mile a day during my treatment & this is when the nosebleeds occured. In about Aug. of '08 chemo was stopped for 2 weeks due to swelling in my esophogus. I nearly lost my voice & couldn't swallow, but fortunately this condition subsided & i continued my chemo. In mid-Dec of '07 i began 35 daily treatments of radiation along with weekly chemo, Carboplatin/Avastin treatments, finishing on Jan 28th of '08. Scans taken during '08 were clear, & my Onc. said i was in remission. The hardest part for me @ this time was planning things even in the near future. Should i plan for an event 6 mos away? I figured i'd probably still be alive, but would i be healthy enough to do it? My wife & I enjoy travelling & camping especially in the West, so this was a consideration for me. I wasn't living in fear of the cancer's return,but living 1 day @ a time & enjoying a full, active life. It was just hard for me to think 2 mos. ahead. Eventually my cancer became just a distant memory. In Dec. '09 a CT scan revealed slight swelling in a lymph node in the right lung, the same location as before. Onc. said let's wait & see & ordered another scan for Mar. of '10. This scan revealed that the swelling had increased,but no tumor was visible. On Apt. 28th 2010 I began taking 150mg of TARCEVA, & have a scan scheduled for June 7th My only advice to you is to try to stay positive & live your life as normal as possible as you battle this disease. When i was recieving my chemo treatments, which lasted 6-7 hrs., i saw many patients having a more difficult time than i. I drew strentgh from these people & was thankful for my ability to survive, I truly believe that cancer patients are the most courageous people in this World. This post has become much longer than i'd anticipated, & i hope i have not bored you. Keep a positive mental outlook, enjoy your family & friends & good luck to you in your journey. DaveC

THANK YOU KatieB for getting me back here Dave C

Dave C here, i was a member of the old board in late '07 & was DX'd with Adenocarcinoma of the right lung, stageIIa, in June '07. Surgery was not an option for me, so i began chemo, Taxol/Carboplatin/Avastin in July of '07 & Radiation treatments & Chemo Dec. 20th '07 & ending Jan. 28th '08. Had my 1st scan post treatment in March of '08 & no tumor was found. Next scan was in July of '08,again no tumor, & my Onc. started to use the R word, & scheduled a PT/CT scan Dec. '08. Some swelling in the lymph node was "suspicious" on this scan & another was sched. for March of this year. No tumor was detected, but the swelling had increased, so i was started on TARCEVA 150mg.. I'm on my 27th day using this drug & had no real side effects until day 21 when moderate acne developed on my nose. I'm putting AVENO cream on it,& hope it clears by itself. Other than that, i'm asymptomatic & am enjoying life. I have the support of my Wife, Betty, & the companionship of our 4 yr. old Bichon,TAI. My hobbies are travelling,camping, fishing, & i intend to continue these pursuits as long as i'm able. I gained a lot of info. from members of this board in the past, & am sure i will as i begin round II in this fight. I wish all of you the very best, Dave C

Hi Trudy,& WELCOME!!!! i found this site yesterday, & started reading. Like you, i'm new to all this stuff. cancer,chemo, side effects,etc.......... but after reading what others have said,& gone thru, it's good to know that so many have beaten "the odds" Stay with us, keep on keepin on & Happy trails, Dave C

is NED??????????????? Dave C

for the replies. Hopefully my profile is updated to show the course of treatment to this point. Happy Trails, Dave C

New to this board, new to all of this so i have a lot of q's. ABOUT ME: Nothin' special,66 yr. old male,quit smoking 11 yrs. ago,DX'd with Adenocarcinoma R lung 7-15-07. CHEMO started 7-25-07, Carboplatin,Taxol,Avastin,1X a week,for 3 weeks, then 13 days off. Spirts are good, i'm livin' with cancer, not dyin' from it. Retired Police Officer PASSIONS..........Wife Betty , travelling in our 26' motorhome,this has been put on hold pretty much 'til after chemo treatments, travelling on our GoldWing motorcycle,which we still do,tho mostly daytrips/weekends now. Thank y'all,& Happy Trails............. Dave C Stafford,Va