[Update to "new" chemo treatment]

When I posted before I forgot to say that I took both carboplatin and gemzar during each treatment. I didn't make that clear when I posted before. Hope you are feeling better. marion

[My brother has gone to heaven]

I am sorry for the pain that you and your family are having at this time but he is at peace now. marion

[Very Sad News]

Peace be with you and your family at this time. And he is at peace also. marion

[IRESSA....how long do you give it to see if it works????]

June 8, 2004, I had a PET scan and the places on spine and hip were gone. The activity on the lung and lymph had decreased. I had been on carboplatin and gemzar. Took several more treatments of that and on August 4, started on Iressa. Took last pill on Sept 2, had PET scan Sept 7.

According to onc, a PET scan shows nothing smaller than a lima bean and nothing showed up on the scan. This was a one month treatment. I will see the onc tomorrow and see what he plans to do in the future. Marion

[L´Shanah Tovah (Happpy New Year)]

And a peaceful,happy and healthy New Year to you and yours and all our Jewish friends from all of us. marion

[Never know who is next]

Forgot to give you'll my update. My onc said that the PET scan shows nothing smaller than a lima bean and that my PET scan showed nothing so therefore I am in remission. I go back this Thursday to see what is next but per phone conversation, sounds like he is going to keep me on Iressa. Marion

[Update to "new" chemo treatment]

I had carboplatin and gemzar off and on from Nov. 2003 until July 04. took nausea medicine for 4 days including day of treatment and never actually upchoked. Lost some appetite and felt pretty bad for several days and then got better. Not 100 % but still lots better. Could not be as active for I got tired easy. My platlets and blood got low and was taking Procrit almost every week. When they did the PET scan in June;, places on bones gone and slower activity on lymph node and lung. The started Iressa. Good luck,. I live about 10 miles east of Lynchburg, Va. Marion

[Brother in hospital]

donaf: Pray that everything is looking up by now. marion

[Your new friend]

Like you say, I am new to this group also. But I am sure these good folk will encourage us thru whatever comes upon us and hope I can do the same for them. good luck , marion

[never know who is next.]

I want to thank all of you for your replies. In my case, it wasn't only the appendectomy doctor but also my pulmonary doctor that let this slip by. But my onc did say after all of this started and I griping about this; that he didn't know if I would have been a candidate for surgery or not. Of course all of this floored my family. I have an 80 year old husband, who still works every day and a 28 year old daughter and a 2 year 9 month granddaughter that told her mother today that she had a granny who loved her very much. I just hope I can hang on to watch her grow up.Marion

[never know who is next.]

I have had chronic bronchitis ever since I was 5 years old. I am now 63 and have had numerous cases of pneumonia and of course scaring on lungs. In Nov.2003 I was diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. Left lung, one lymph node, spine and left hip. Started carboplatin and gemzar on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Was suppose to do treatment once a week for 3 weeks, off two and start again. I may have completed one cycle but I would have trouble with blood or platlets and always was missing treatments even though I was taking Procrit every week. This continued until the first week in July 2004, when I had a PET scan and the places on hip and spine were gone and the activiity on lung and lymph node had decreased. On August 4, I started Iressa. Acne, rough skin,diaharea (spelling) and lost of appetite. Toward the end of the month, I believe my appetite was beginning to get better. Took last pill on Sept. 2 (daddy's birthday) and had PET scan on Sept 7. All places had disappeared so i feel like he will keep me on Iressa. I will see him this Thursday and see what's up.

Here is the KLINKER: In March 2003, I had ruptured appendicitis and was operated on, the four hole deal, and was in hospital a week. As summer wore on, I knew I wasn't as strong but I thought that was due to the operation and taking longer to recover because of my age. In Aug. I found a hernia near my naval and had that taken care of the last of Sept and from the x rays at that time was when all of this started. When I got my records and took them to UVA for a second opinion and was reading the reports I noticed that one report dated in March 2003, when I had the appendicitis, stated that there was a spot on my lung that should be watched if it wasn't and of course no one told me this. I just wonder if it had been caught at that time; would it have spread so much. So no matter how many times you go to a doctor or x rayed; it sometimes slips on by. Marion