Good Bro

The irony of August 1st being World Lung Cancer Day and also my brother's birthday is still a bit mind-blowing to me.  He is approaching 15 months since his diagnosis of Stg4 NSCLC.  As with many is his situation, he has had his ups and downs.  He doesn't have any mutations and his PDL1 is negative.  So, no targeted therapy and no surprise that immunotherapy didn't work.  He is now on his 3rd line treatment with Gemzar and docs told him that it's onto clinical trials if this doesn't work.  Amazingly, his performance status is still pretty decent (~1).  Just hoping there are more drug breakthroughs coming in the future and that he, and all others dealing with this disease, can hang on that long to benefit from them.  So sad to watch a family member and close friend go through this horrible disease.    
 
 

The irony of August 1st being World Lung Cancer Day and also my brother's birthday is still a bit mind-blowing to me.  He is approaching 15 months since his diagnosis of Stg4 NSCLC.  As with many is his situation, he has had his ups and downs.  He doesn't have any mutations and his PDL1 is negative.  So, no targeted therapy and no surprise that immunotherapy didn't work.  He is now on his 3rd line treatment with Gemzar and docs told him that it's onto clinical trials if this doesn't work.  Amazingly, his performance status is still pretty decent (~1).  Just hoping there are more drug breakthroughs coming in the future and that he, and all others dealing with this disease, can hang on that long to benefit from them.  So sad to watch a family member and close friend go through this horrible disease.    
 
 

The irony of August 1st being World Lung Cancer Day and also my brother's birthday is still a bit mind-blowing to me.  He is approaching 15 months since his diagnosis of Stg4 NSCLC.  As with many is his situation, he has had his ups and downs.  He doesn't have any mutations and his PDL1 is negative.  So, no targeted therapy and no surprise that immunotherapy didn't work.  He is now on his 3rd line treatment with Gemzar and docs told him that it's onto clinical trials if this doesn't work.  Amazingly, his performance status is still pretty decent (~1).  Just hoping there are more drug breakthroughs coming in the future and that he, and all others dealing with this disease, can hang on that long to benefit from them.  So sad to watch a family member and close friend go through this horrible disease.    
 
 

The next treatment will be Gemzar.  Anyone have any experience with this chemo drug?  Side effects?  Success stories?

Just as I was afraid of... his oncologist confirmed that the growth in his liver is very concerning and he needs to switch up treatments.  So, onto the 3rd and final line of treatment.  If this doesn't work, he will need to look into clinical trials.    

Thx again Tom.  Of course.  My brother is actually currently getting bloodwork done as I type and will be discussing with his doctor and then supposedly getting his next treatment... that is if the doctor doesn't switch things up.  I do believe the "segments" in this case refer to the different areas of the abdominal region but not certain on that.  See image below:   

Tom,
Do you know the location of these? - the report states Segment 4 (0.9cm) and 7 (0.6cm).
Good to know on the liver lesions.  The report did state that the lesions that increased in size were all pre-existing from scans back in January.  Some of those had showed some reduction in scans done between Jan and July but have increase in size during the latest scan.  Do you know which of the two (hyper vs hypo) are attributed to the chemo agents?

So, after 7 months of Taxotere and Cyramza, I think there's a good chance my brother might be onto a 3rd line treatment.  Got his scan results back late last week and meets with his onc to go over them tomorrow.  However, he sent them to me to review and I didn't see the word "decrease" or "reduced" anywhere.  In fact, more than 10 of the lesions in his liver have increased in size and he has 2 new ones in the abdomen region (report didn't specifically state where).  Also mention of Pancreatic Atrophy.
Definitely not the results we were hoping for but maybe the oncologist will state that it's not as bad as it sounds.  That has happened before.  Anyway, crossing our fingers for tomorrow's discussion.  If they do switch up his treatment, hopefully this next one will be the one that finally works longer term.
Has anyone had some progression while on a treatment plan and your doc kept you on that treatment still?  Or, do they switch it at the first sign of any progression whatsoever?
 

So, after 7 months of Taxotere and Cyramza, I think there's a good chance my brother might be onto a 3rd line treatment.  Got his scan results back late last week and meets with his onc to go over them tomorrow.  However, he sent them to me to review and I didn't see the word "decrease" or "reduced" anywhere.  In fact, more than 10 of the lesions in his liver have increased in size and he has 2 new ones in the abdomen region (report didn't specifically state where).  Also mention of Pancreatic Atrophy.
Definitely not the results we were hoping for but maybe the oncologist will state that it's not as bad as it sounds.  That has happened before.  Anyway, crossing our fingers for tomorrow's discussion.  If they do switch up his treatment, hopefully this next one will be the one that finally works longer term.
Has anyone had some progression while on a treatment plan and your doc kept you on that treatment still?  Or, do they switch it at the first sign of any progression whatsoever?
 

So, after 7 months of Taxotere and Cyramza, I think there's a good chance my brother might be onto a 3rd line treatment.  Got his scan results back late last week and meets with his onc to go over them tomorrow.  However, he sent them to me to review and I didn't see the word "decrease" or "reduced" anywhere.  In fact, more than 10 of the lesions in his liver have increased in size and he has 2 new ones in the abdomen region (report didn't specifically state where).  Also mention of Pancreatic Atrophy.
Definitely not the results we were hoping for but maybe the oncologist will state that it's not as bad as it sounds.  That has happened before.  Anyway, crossing our fingers for tomorrow's discussion.  If they do switch up his treatment, hopefully this next one will be the one that finally works longer term.
Has anyone had some progression while on a treatment plan and your doc kept you on that treatment still?  Or, do they switch it at the first sign of any progression whatsoever?
 

Jeanne,
Sorry to hear about your cancer struggles.  Your post caught my eye as my brother was diagnosed with NSCLC adeno stage 4 in May of 2021 at the age of 47.  However, many years ago, when he was 12, he also had Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Though no doctor could prove or disprove it, some believe that his original cancer treatments could have caused the cancer he is fighting now.  Thing is, he never had radiation for the Hodgkins.  He was able to get to remission with just chemo.  He did have many stomach issues in his 30's where they did a lot of x-rays, CTs, GIs, MRIs, ultrasounds, etc.  Maybe these could have contributed but nobody will every know and it doesn't really matter now.  Just need him to concentrate on his current fight.  He's on his 2nd line treatment now and considered somewhat stable but that's only from the last scan.  So, I would think I would want to see consecutive scans with no growth whatsoever before I would call it stable.  
Anyway, you've got this!  You are an experienced fighter!
 

Jeanne,
Sorry to hear about your cancer struggles.  Your post caught my eye as my brother was diagnosed with NSCLC adeno stage 4 in May of 2021 at the age of 47.  However, many years ago, when he was 12, he also had Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Though no doctor could prove or disprove it, some believe that his original cancer treatments could have caused the cancer he is fighting now.  Thing is, he never had radiation for the Hodgkins.  He was able to get to remission with just chemo.  He did have many stomach issues in his 30's where they did a lot of x-rays, CTs, GIs, MRIs, ultrasounds, etc.  Maybe these could have contributed but nobody will every know and it doesn't really matter now.  Just need him to concentrate on his current fight.  He's on his 2nd line treatment now and considered somewhat stable but that's only from the last scan.  So, I would think I would want to see consecutive scans with no growth whatsoever before I would call it stable.  
Anyway, you've got this!  You are an experienced fighter!
 

Thanks LouT.  Yeah unfortunately, he has been led to believe he should cut sugar out of his diet.  So, between hardly anything tasting good and avoiding sugar, it is proving to be quite difficult for him to gain weight.  My S-in-L said that his onc made the comment that his treatment is open-ended in regards to the duration, as long as it is working.  However, I haven't found a single story of anyone being able to stay on this combo for an extended period of time (idk, like > 1yr) due to its toxicity, side effects, and/or efficacy duration.  Hoping my brother can be that story though and maybe give others hope.  

Thanks LouT.  Yeah unfortunately, he has been led to believe he should cut sugar out of his diet.  So, between hardly anything tasting good and avoiding sugar, it is proving to be quite difficult for him to gain weight.  My S-in-L said that his onc made the comment that his treatment is open-ended in regards to the duration, as long as it is working.  However, I haven't found a single story of anyone being able to stay on this combo for an extended period of time (idk, like > 1yr) due to its toxicity, side effects, and/or efficacy duration.  Hoping my brother can be that story though and maybe give others hope.  

Brother had all scans done late last week and just met with his onc before his chemo treatment this morning.  Doc said he considers his cancer "stable" at this point.  That is GREAT news, especially since his first-line treatment didn't work.  He is on the Docetaxel & Cyramza treatments now.  I believe today was maybe his 6th treatment of this combo.  He just had his stent removed last week also.  So, definitely heading in the right direction.  Hopefully he will see a continuation of this type of response.  Now he just needs to put back on some weight.  He just looks so frail.  Will be walking with him in the Relay For Life this Saturday though.  Looking so forward to it.  
Any experience from anyone on this same treatment for an extended period of time with continued response?  

Brother had all scans done late last week and just met with his onc before his chemo treatment this morning.  Doc said he considers his cancer "stable" at this point.  That is GREAT news, especially since his first-line treatment didn't work.  He is on the Docetaxel & Cyramza treatments now.  I believe today was maybe his 6th treatment of this combo.  He just had his stent removed last week also.  So, definitely heading in the right direction.  Hopefully he will see a continuation of this type of response.  Now he just needs to put back on some weight.  He just looks so frail.  Will be walking with him in the Relay For Life this Saturday though.  Looking so forward to it.  
Any experience from anyone on this same treatment for an extended period of time with continued response?  

Good luck Ale!  
My brother didn't have scans but did receive his 4th treatment of the Triplet yesterday.  His next rescan is set for the 22nd.  

Good luck Ale!  
My brother didn't have scans but did receive his 4th treatment of the Triplet yesterday.  His next rescan is set for the 22nd.  

Good luck Ale!  
My brother didn't have scans but did receive his 4th treatment of the Triplet yesterday.  His next rescan is set for the 22nd.