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Mike Ross

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Everything posted by Mike Ross

  1. Thank you, Judy and Tom - It seems I have a lot to learn about this. I've done what the doctors have said so far and mostly my first chemo was ok except for the dizziness and lightheadedness that occurred after the steroid crash - (still to now, one week later). No nausea or vomiting or pain. But apparently because I had a Level III Reaction the Paclitaxel they infused more steroids to get me out of the nightmare situation that I was experiencing 8 minutes into the infusion only to lead to another one a little over 48 hours later. As I mentioned - the nurse on the phone informed me it was a 'steroid crash'. It came on very suddenly, in a matter of perhaps seconds with no warning. I'm terrified it will happen again and don't want to be alone when/if it does (the doctor today assured me it wont). It's as if every ounce of energy was drained out of my body in a matter of seconds - very difficult to accurately describe. I did get Benadryl during the infusion, and it felt pretty good. In fact - the next day I felt great, (because of the steroids I'm told). I'm not much of joiner, and not much of a forum type of a guy, but I thought I would post this to see if anyone could relate to the experience that I had. Apparently - if a person has never had steroids in their life - and then gets loaded with them all at once - this is a possible outcome. I guess. But the more I read - the less I realize I know.
  2. Hi Pam - So I received 9 drugs intravenously - but the main cancer drugs were Carboplatin, Pembrolizumab, and Paclitaxel - I had a severe reaction to the Paclitaxel - so they'll swap that out for Abraxane next time - I have to catch up on the Abraxane with two additional smaller sessions.
  3. Justin - many thanks for your comments! - and my true sympathy for what you're going through - I understand, trust me. But - am I wrong in thinking that medical science is still in it's barbaric stage and that 50 years from now doctors will be looking back wondering why the last generation did the things they did? (which has always been the case throughout the millennia BTW). I'm questioning the whole thing - I'm starting to feel that sending someone for a diagnostic test and reading back the results isn't really medicine at all. And that treatments are more like placing a chip on a roulette wheel. Perhaps it's our fear of death and our instinctive nature to swim frantically toward any possible life preserver that keeps us going.
  4. Hi Justin, Pam, and Kamoto! Thank you for your replies. In answer to your question Kamoto - the initial diagnosis at my local hospital was Stage IV metastatic cancer of an indeterminant origin. Originally, it was incidental finding on an X-Ray. Then the CAT scan revealed a spiculated mass on my right lung - small - less than a centimeter. The original plan was to just remove it and because of its size - the removal would be the biopsy. However, a PET scan revealed masses in my lymph nodes, with the largest one being on/in my adrenal gland. So the idea that it could be metastasizing adrenal gland cancer, although very rare - couldn't be ruled out - but the course of action that my local hospital gave was Chemo/Radiation - and immunotherapy, although genetic testing would have to be done to see if immunotherapy would be effective. A bronchoscopy with tissue removal was done, and the results sent to one of the top cancer treatment hospitals in the country. The Oncologist there said it was NSCLC, and that chemo/radiation would be prescribed treatment with immunotherapy, however the immunotherapy had a less than 20% chance of being effective - depending on my genetic markers. The prognosis the Dr. gave me was; with treatment - 1-2 years statistically, but - however - anything can happen. A shocking prognosis considering that except for feeling tired, and a little weak (which I chalked up getting the COVID vaccine) - the ER hospital visit where the X-Ray was taken was for chest pain that was apparently the result of a strained muscle received from working out at the gym. The supportive care doctor told me upon my insistent questioning, that he'd never seen anyone go 4, and only a couple made it 3 years. So that's where I am. So why Chemo? Your question is ringing in my head right now given my current condition. Kind Regards, Mike
  5. Hello all. I'm a new member and would like to ask a question here. So I was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer that has metastasized to the lymph nodes and adrenal glands. I was scared about Chemo since I live alone. I went for my first chemo session last Thursday. I had a bad reaction to the 3 hour Paclitaxel infusion and they had to get me out of a very bad situation after 8 minutes, so I got 8 out of the 9 drugs they were going to infuse. After the Chemo - I felt fine. I felt fine on Friday, and then Saturday I felt great too and was thinking that if everyone responds to Chemo differently, that somehow I was immune to the negative aspects Chemotherapy, or that everyone else is whining. Boy was I wrong. At about 11 pm on Saturday, I felt a little weird and decided to lie down for a bit - all of a sudden, I had an experience I've never had before and felt certain I was dying. I felt I that whatever I was experiencing was anxiety and got up - finding out immediately that for the first time in my life, I was unable to stand. So I found myself on the floor of my apartment and couldn't walk and was seized with the thought that this was the end. I crawled to the door and was halfway out in the hallway crying for help. I flipped around and grabbed my landline phone and called 911 telling the operator to break down my self-closing door if it was closed by the time EMS got there as I was still unable to stand and think properly. Paramedics arrived and took my vitals and things were elevated a bit but not crazy. I got on the phone with the 24 hour hospital nurse who said my symptoms were consistent with something called a 'Steroid Crash'. The nurse was reading my chart on the other end of the phone and saying things like 'hmmm', 'yes', 'yup' to himself. He then said that I had received far more steroids than I would have normally received because of the Paclitaxel reaction and that he was fairly certain that I was experiencing a 'steroid crash' since steroids stay in the body for 2-3 days, that they were leaving, and that everything would be alright. I didn't want to spend another night in the ER and a friend came over and sat with me as the indescribable symptoms began to ease a bit. No one at the hospital informed me of the possibility of a steroid crash. So - questions - has anyone experienced a steroid crash? If so - was that side effect discussed? What was it like for you? Is it something I should get used to during remaining Chemo sessions? Think it was due to the extra steroids I received? And to all on this forum - on Saturday afternoon I thought anyone who complained about Chemo was a whiner - I owe anyone who's going thru Chemo an apology for even thinking such a thought. Forgive me - it was the steroids talking. It is a living nightmare. My only real side effect so far has been loss of appetite and dizziness, which I would have signed on for in heartbeat. But it is so bad, it is becoming debilitating. I'm now terrified of getting the whole treatment, since I didn't receive the Paclitaxel during the first session and they will be switching to Abraxane for the next.
  6. Justin - Than you. This has been a nightmare since I live alone and am having truly frightening side effects. But all the best to you and may I add I've visited the UK and enjoyed every moment. I think I could live quite nicely in the Scottish Highlands! Warm Regards, Mike
  7. Hi. My name is Mike, I just turned 58 and was recently diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer that has metastasized to the lymph nodes and adrenal glands. I would like to post a question on the Chemotherapy Forum but I believe I should introduce myself - so Hello!
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