Karyn

I have stage 4 lung cancer. I survived stage 3 non Hopkins lymphoma. I was told my cancer is treatable, not curable. The cancer is in my right lung, pleura and bones. I have 40% of my normal lung capacity which was already compromised by other medical issues. I have scleroderma, a auto immune disease that affects the skin and connective tissue. I have it systemically, in my lungs and gi system. Because of my underlying diseases I am unable to do any radiation, take any immunotherapy meds and participate in any trials. I have had 3 of 4 chemo treatments, carboplatin, avastin and pemetrexed. After my 2nd round the PetScan showed some reduction of the cancer. After my 4th round we will repeat the scans. Then I go to “maintenance “, where they remove the carboplatin, the “big gun” and I go forward with treatments for every 3 weeks for the foreseeable future. I am really nervous about them taking away the carboplatin and just being on maintenance. I feel like I’d just be waiting for the cancer to increase. My Dr says the research has shown that the benefits don’t our the risks of continuing with the carboplatin. Last week a good friend of mine that is usually really positive called my cancer “terminal”. Hearing that freaked me out. I don’t think of myself as terminal even though I know it’s not curable. My mother died of lung cancer, she lasted 9 miserable months after diagnosis and a good friend of mine’s husband died of lung cancer, he lasted 2 years. I have not asked for a prognosis. I feel it’s still too early as I’m hopeful my next scan will show further reduction of the cancer. So now all I can think about is “terminal”. At what point are you terminal? Anyone on the same cocktail as I’m taking? How have others response to chemo been? Is there hope to lasting more then a couple of years?