Kate7617

Well I do not know how much the Durva came into play for me, I only had 5 infusions of it, and that sent my health into a downward spiral, but happy day today clear scan and I am on cloud 9! Thank you for all the good vibes and words of encouragement, I am grateful, Kate

Please check your PDL1 and make sure no auto immune disease is in family history, being your own advocate is worth it's weight in gold! Good luck and hoping for a NED for you! Wash hands frequently and don't touch your face is my advise for all of us! Kate

Great news! NED is on our side, keep on keeping on and enjoy your loved ones daily! Kate

No uptake= No cancer, as far as I was told. My PET on Wednesday, great results, clear, so I'm good for another 6 months check with PET. So I am going to live it up! At home, with my compromised lungs until the Corona virus is in the rear view mirror! So now is clear= NED? Thanks Kate

Hi Polly, something that I learned along the way, check what your PDL1 is, mine was negative,  also make sure that auto immune disease does not run in family history. I had a very bad experience with durva, and right from the start had very very bad side effects, also with breathing. I do pray that the Dr that is treating you is on top and has your complete recovery in mind, unfortunately I didn't have that experience and now suffer from the after effects, I am not trying to scare you, however you need to be your own advocate, I certainly wish you every success and hoping that you are breathing a little better now! You have had success with chemo radiation and that is TERRIFIC! All I know is that Durva is not suited for everyone. Also check to see if you have bio markers. You have to be aware of all that is available to you. Prayers are coming to you now from me! Kate

Please check your PDL1 and make sure no auto immune disease is in family history, being your own advocate is worth it's weight in gold! Good luck and hoping for a NED for you! Wash hands frequently and don't touch your face is my advise for all of us! Kate

Well I do not know how much the Durva came into play for me, I only had 5 infusions of it, and that sent my health into a downward spiral, but happy day today clear scan and I am on cloud 9! Thank you for all the good vibes and words of encouragement, I am grateful, Kate

Tomm-Excellent on #23. The countdown is on and your finish line is just around the corner. Opal and I have crossed the finish line with NED.....and speaking for myself.....the fatigue is gone and the wonkyness of the Durvalumab coursing thru my veins are gone. My stamina and endurance have improved and I find it mentally and emotionally refreshing to not have to plan another visit for another infusion. In a lot of ways, I feel I have gained back the normality in my life.
Now with the Covid-19 on our heels, another annoyance to contend with but being NED makes it just that, another annoyance like a pesky mosquito. Due diligence will get us thru this "crisis", the same due diligence, intelligence and fortitude that got us thru Durvalumab. 
Today I officially cancelled our trip to the Pacific Northwest. We did good as no losses were incurred except for a teeny tiny smidgen of disappointment for our celebratory end of treatment indulgence. No biggie, there will be time later for celebration.
Grahame-You are on your way, though at the beginning of your journey. I hope that those of us who have traveled your road provides you with inspiration to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and to use this forum to support you, educate you and get you to the finish line. With your background, you are fortunate to have a huge knowledge base to address your symptoms. I think Tomm said it best, a lot of the annoyances (side effects) was and is part of the price in (hopefully) extending our overall survival and halting progression. Hope is omnipresent.
Take Care, Blessings, DFK
Did you hear about the man who fell in an upholstery factory? He is said to be fully recovered.

#24 today with normal blood work and some fatigue.
Kate and Barb ...Great news to hear NED from two today.  I know Barb was concerned about the side effects before you started to get Durva and you got the best one NED!!
"Why do cancer patients love puns?
They have a great sense of tumor"
 
 

DKF   
I've already heard like seven cancer puns today...
If I hear tumor it's gonna benign

Kate,
How wonderful to read of another confirmed NED sans Durvalumab, how totally cool AND awesome is that......We're fortunate to be walking on sunshine. Tomm we need a quip apropro for the wonderful news.
Happy me, DFK

No uptake= No cancer, as far as I was told. My PET on Wednesday, great results, clear, so I'm good for another 6 months check with PET. So I am going to live it up! At home, with my compromised lungs until the Corona virus is in the rear view mirror! So now is clear= NED? Thanks Kate

No uptake= No cancer, as far as I was told. My PET on Wednesday, great results, clear, so I'm good for another 6 months check with PET. So I am going to live it up! At home, with my compromised lungs until the Corona virus is in the rear view mirror! So now is clear= NED? Thanks Kate

Hmm, Barb well to see if Durva is actually killing cancer, I honestly believe that a PET wouldn't give that information. What it will show ( as you are aware of) is any uptake.  In fact Durva has not gotten that far to tell on a PET. So the CT will show any new tumors ( God forbid) so that is where they leave it, unfortunately. And you are still tolerating the Durva walking 3 miles so I am saying Hip Hip Hooray, and lets start another day!!! The best always, Kate

Look out peeps! Kate was’t kidding when she said she got her Irish up!   Go Kate go! 

Hi Polly, something that I learned along the way, check what your PDL1 is, mine was negative,  also make sure that auto immune disease does not run in family history. I had a very bad experience with durva, and right from the start had very very bad side effects, also with breathing. I do pray that the Dr that is treating you is on top and has your complete recovery in mind, unfortunately I didn't have that experience and now suffer from the after effects, I am not trying to scare you, however you need to be your own advocate, I certainly wish you every success and hoping that you are breathing a little better now! You have had success with chemo radiation and that is TERRIFIC! All I know is that Durva is not suited for everyone. Also check to see if you have bio markers. You have to be aware of all that is available to you. Prayers are coming to you now from me! Kate

Hi Polly, something that I learned along the way, check what your PDL1 is, mine was negative,  also make sure that auto immune disease does not run in family history. I had a very bad experience with durva, and right from the start had very very bad side effects, also with breathing. I do pray that the Dr that is treating you is on top and has your complete recovery in mind, unfortunately I didn't have that experience and now suffer from the after effects, I am not trying to scare you, however you need to be your own advocate, I certainly wish you every success and hoping that you are breathing a little better now! You have had success with chemo radiation and that is TERRIFIC! All I know is that Durva is not suited for everyone. Also check to see if you have bio markers. You have to be aware of all that is available to you. Prayers are coming to you now from me! Kate

Hi Polly, something that I learned along the way, check what your PDL1 is, mine was negative,  also make sure that auto immune disease does not run in family history. I had a very bad experience with durva, and right from the start had very very bad side effects, also with breathing. I do pray that the Dr that is treating you is on top and has your complete recovery in mind, unfortunately I didn't have that experience and now suffer from the after effects, I am not trying to scare you, however you need to be your own advocate, I certainly wish you every success and hoping that you are breathing a little better now! You have had success with chemo radiation and that is TERRIFIC! All I know is that Durva is not suited for everyone. Also check to see if you have bio markers. You have to be aware of all that is available to you. Prayers are coming to you now from me! Kate

Hi Polly, something that I learned along the way, check what your PDL1 is, mine was negative,  also make sure that auto immune disease does not run in family history. I had a very bad experience with durva, and right from the start had very very bad side effects, also with breathing. I do pray that the Dr that is treating you is on top and has your complete recovery in mind, unfortunately I didn't have that experience and now suffer from the after effects, I am not trying to scare you, however you need to be your own advocate, I certainly wish you every success and hoping that you are breathing a little better now! You have had success with chemo radiation and that is TERRIFIC! All I know is that Durva is not suited for everyone. Also check to see if you have bio markers. You have to be aware of all that is available to you. Prayers are coming to you now from me! Kate

Thank you so much to Eagle 13 and to DFK, inspiring and uplifting messages, needless to say! I believe I had a bio marker EFGR and it is no, if there be any others I am all ears! And thank you Eagle 13! Hey its hard enough to be diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer, then to have Doctors that tell you....We aren't expecting a miracle, and looks like you have one or two years to live was really the worse thing a Dr could possibly say! Well I am a firey red head ( back in day) lol and now I got my Irish up again, and with God willing we will show those former Drs Just what I am made of! I'm not going to worry, worry is useless, and I continue to be grateful for each day! You are all  in my prayers and with all the prayers coming around I can't lose! Thank you again, and I will let you all know what happens with PET SCAN when I know! Kate7617 

Thank you so much to Eagle 13 and to DFK, inspiring and uplifting messages, needless to say! I believe I had a bio marker EFGR and it is no, if there be any others I am all ears! And thank you Eagle 13! Hey its hard enough to be diagnosed with stage 3b lung cancer, then to have Doctors that tell you....We aren't expecting a miracle, and looks like you have one or two years to live was really the worse thing a Dr could possibly say! Well I am a firey red head ( back in day) lol and now I got my Irish up again, and with God willing we will show those former Drs Just what I am made of! I'm not going to worry, worry is useless, and I continue to be grateful for each day! You are all  in my prayers and with all the prayers coming around I can't lose! Thank you again, and I will let you all know what happens with PET SCAN when I know! Kate7617 

Kate 7617- You had mentioned once before my optimism and I appreciated the compliment. I don't know if it's my optimism or plain old stubbornness that has gotten me this far in life.....But I do soldier on in the face of adversity and tackle each problem individually as best I can, as best as the resources available affords me. That is really all we can do. When diagnosed, I studied the standards of care and knew that I was among the droves who would get Chemo-radiation followed by Durvalumab. What I did NOT understand was all the twists and turns that came from that simple treatment plan. Naivety, trust and and a little bit of the doe in the headlights got me through some tough times. I also was too busy pretending to be healthy attending to family and friends, as I told no one of my cancer diagnosis but my husband and two sons.....it remains that way today. Was it my stubbornness that refused to believe in any other outcome but NED and there was no need to involve others in what I perceived as a temporary set back? Who will ever know.
Please give yourself credit and lots of it for fighting the fight. I might have mentioned it before but my girlfriends dad at 84 is 7 years NED after only chemo and radiation. I'm sure there are many other survival stories that may not be on social media. Always, and I mean always remain  hopeful, there is no other alternative. I have cancer and there are varying statistics as to my outcome, but I will always remain hopeful that my cancer will be controlled or arrested to afford me to live a little longer each and every month, each and every year. Pick your battles, draw up your game plan and go girl go. As my son loves to tell me, "Focus Mom, focus".
Freaken scans are the worse, you want them to validate no more cancer but you also know there's the other side of the coin, which by the way, we all know takes up 99% of our frenetic energy. Monday will come soon enough, you have a few days to watch a favorite movie, or have lunch with a girlfriend or take that long neglected bubble bath. You are alive now, and that is a very good thing. I send my prayers to you for peace and good results. 
By the way, Opal should be chiming in soon about her scan results.....inquiring minds want to know.
Take Care, Blessing, DFK
 

Hi everyone! Been a while wanted to let you know Monday I get a PET SCAN and follow up with Onco  on March 11th, scary times for me, needless to say. The Durvalumab didn't work for me, as I said I got Hashimoto thyroditidis  heart problems, skin basel cell cancer, my spine is degenerated, had pnemonuitis so basically my health is not all that. It truly sucks, because my former Doc wouldn't listen to me when I said what was happening. I wish I had happier news, but I am very happy that some of you guys it is working for! I could certainly use some encouragement now, I did sign up for respiratory therapy, so that is covered by insurance. I am going to wait and see how this test goes on Monday! Keep on keeping on, like I do against the odds, hey all things are possible with God!

#23 done last thrusday, blood work in normal range.. just some fatigue on the day.
Barb ... how was your #22? Hope your doing well.
Money talks. But all mine ever says is goodbye

Georgia, thank you for showing you care by messaging me, truly appreciate you doing that! I made an appointment for this Wednesday to speak to my new onc regarding clinical trials and hoping for good news. thanks again, and I will keep you posted. Enjoy your day!