[Stage IV]

On 3/19/2017 at 11:42 AM, skmcornett said:

Hi, Janet. I had four round of the same chemo last spring.  I am also a stage IV. How are your side effects?  How long do you stay in Houston after each treatment?  

Hi Susan!

so glad to meet you! I am hungry for information. Did you have four rounds and now which is your treatment? 

My side effects are not bad so far, I get weak on days 10 to 13 after chemo and super cold almost freezing most of the time but other than that I'm fine. I eat very well and with the 2nd. Chemo I stopped coughing so much. I am now in Houston for my 3rd chemo on 3/23/17 and they will also do a PET scan. I normally stay two days in Houston total. I fly back to Miami the day after my chemo. 

Be well!

Janet

[Stage IV]

On 3/18/2017 at 3:20 PM, Tom Galli said:

Welcome Janet,

You are certainly going to a fine treatment hospital.  My original diagnosis was stage IIIB but I had pre-surgical radiation and chemo and after my right lung was removed, I had surgical complications that lasted about a year.  In that time, the cancer spread to my remaining lung and all I had as treatment alternatives was chemotherapy.  My recipe was Taxol and Carboplatin.  Permetrex confused me till I googled it.  It is Alimta, a common pairing with Carboplatin and more tolerable in some than Taxol.  What type of lung cancer do you have? Mine was non-small cell Squamous cell lung cancer.

You are starting your 3rd infusion.  By now you've charted your side-effects (onset and duration) and likely have and good mitigating medicine.  So, after spreading to my remaining lung, I was right where you are 13 years ago -- no treatment available but chemotherapy.  I stress two points: chemotherapy worked for me and if I can live, so can you.

Take some time to note how many long tenured survivors we have on this site.  Lung cancer is a nasty disease and treatment is rarely "one and done" but we are here.  This is a blog I wrote sometime ago about surviving lung cancer.  Steps 5, 8 and 10 may be of interest.  

This is a good place to ask questions.  It is also a good site to read through while flying back and forth from Houston to Miami.  

Stay the course.

Tom

Hi Tom!

thank you so much for your insight and advice, I truly appreciate it as I am still learning how to navigate this journey. My type of lung cancer is non small cell with mutation EGFR 20. I take Ondansetron for nausea and other than being tired and extremely cold I am not complaining. My only worry is that I have my son who has special needs and I am alone so I need to fight and live as long as I can. I will read your blog!! Thanks so much Tom and be well,

Janet

[Stage IV]

Hi everybody. My name is Janet and I am Trying to gain knowledge and keep positive and strong. Diagnosed in January 2017 with stage IV lung cancer. Getting my 3rd chemo 3/24/17. (Carboplatin and Permetrex) I live in Miami and fly to Houston to MD Anderson for all my treatments Would love to hear from other people in my situation!!