JonathanS

hi, The follwoing drugs are commonly used for the treatment of sclc, after relapse occurs follwing cisplain and etoposide. topotecan cytoxin CPT-11 (camptosar) taxol vincristine with adriamycin gemzar

Try going to the website, and getting the numbers and caling them, because they can tell you and they have a free cancer video that thoroughly explains how they do things. it is very impressive!!! Jonathan

Hi- I am here to tell you although the news you posted is poor, there is hope and other chemotherapies that are approved possibilities for your mom. Nobody knows as far as a cure goes. First off, tell me if I am correct--- your mom has been on carboplain, etoposde, CPT-11, and topotecan. There are three other options that ican thing of on an off clinical trial basis they are as follows..... 1.) taxol (newer drug approved for SCLC, most promising) 2.) cytoxin with adriamycin and vincristine. (a strong regimen approved for SCLC) 3.) gemzar has shown moderate effectiveness against SCLC cell lines. I would ask about the first two before the third one, and if you wat research them on the web go to www.google.com and type in the search engine te name of the drugs and small (oat) cell cancer. let me know what the doctors say!!!!!!!!! I would get her on one of those drugs ASAP, before thigs get worse. Praying for you- Jonathan

Are you sure your mom has SCLC, because the standard first line therapy for SCLC is cisplatin with etoposide, or cisplatin with CPT-11. Although sometimes oncologists substitute the cisplatin to carboplatin in small cell patients.

That oncologist is plainly and simply playing games to cover his own *ss!! Do not let him tell you that he did not look at the scans, because if he did not look at the scans himself, h had no business telling your husband he was cancer free!! he is also 100% wrong about chemo, he needs to be on something now!! he is the oncologist and he is the one that should have looked at those scans-- not a radiologist, not anyone else!!! He is liable for the lie he tod you! If I were you I would get out of there immediately and see someone else in a totally different hospital! hoping, Jonathan

Jenny!!!!!! How wonderful yu going to be in remision!!!!!!!!!! WOWWY!!! I am thrilled for you!! I too would make sure that the spot was on the old scan as well, just to definitvely rule out the "c' word. I am sure it is nothing, but better to be safe than sorry. Jonathan

Memory loss can be a side effect, but I think the possiblity of keeping this thing in remission is more important! Tell her to give it all she has got--she has foughtso hard to come this far- lets do all we can to ensure good health.

you may want to ask about a new drug called CPT-11 for lung cancer -- veen if she canot have it now ask about the future.....

try zofran, compazine or ativan...ask he onc for at least two fo the three...

Hi, A tempature with any fom of cancer is serious. My mom's oncologist told her to page him and/or go to the ER if she could not get a hold of him if her tempature rose above 100.3.he said that a tempature is usually a sure sign of infection while on chemotherapy, because it lowers your white blood cells, and they fight off infections. So I would go by that rule of thumb... Jonathan

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Demand to know exactly what type of tumor he has, even if they have to send the biopsy to mayo or somewhere more advanced than they are. I hope the drugs he is on arte working too!! The fluid on the lungs cannot itself be cancerous. What it means is if there are any cancer cells in the fluid, that the tumor has progressed to that area. This is not uncommon, because the usual reason lung cancer and other cancr patents end up with fluid on the lung(s), is because there is a tumor blocking or obstructing one of the pulmonary ducts. They call fluid on the lungs a pleural effusion, nd if it gets too bad, they will drain it in the hospital with a machine called a 'pleura vac'. After they drain the fluid they test it for cancer cells. I hope they figure out what's going on.....

Numbness is a common side effect from chemo treatments. I agree with you that 2 drug combinatons are more effective than single agents. It isup to your mm, if she willing to put up with the numbness for added beefit, or not. I would discuss this with her and then tell the oncologist her wishes. There are a couple of things I know helped my mom.... 1. A high dose complex B vitamin, found at any drug store/vitamin store. 2. A drug called elivil from the oncologist (perscription), given in low doses has been shown to decrease numbness in the hands and feet of chemo patients. You can really do both...ask fr the elivil, and get complex B vitamin, and take both everyday, to see if it helps her any...sometimes it taks up to 2 weeks. Jonathan

It is echoing in here so far this week!! I suppose that is a goodthin, no, no, a GREAT thing!!! No bad news!!! Yipee everyone!!! I hope all is well with all of you guys! You are ALL such brave WINNING warriors against cancer! Keep up the good fight!! I think of all of you daily!! Katie, Peggy, BessB, Conne, Norme, Sam, Mittlers, all of you guys!!! Sincerely, Jonathan

You know, I have to say, that of a lot of the wonderful places that we all talk about on here, it seems that MD Anderson is one ofthe most innovative and aggressive particularly with lung cancer. They see to amost alway have an optionor people. I am so happy that you guys went there!! Very interesting how one oncologist/hospital; says it is in stage four, an inopeable, while another well known oncology hospital (MD Anderson) says that in fact it is stage 3, and operable. VERY interesting!!!! Good for you guys!! Anyone wondering about second opinions, this is why everyone should get one froma well known cancer center

Hi, First off, I would like to say that I don't feel your post was offensive. The way that I read it, your question was asking whether or not it is common, or "correct" to tell someone with NSCLC, who has been initially diagnosed, with spread of the disease to the chest bone and brain, that there is no hope or nothing they can do. Is that correct? I am not trying to offend anyone on these boards, or chooe sides, but that is what I got out of the posting. If I am wrong, I stand corrected.... Anyway, assuming that was your question and inqury, my answer is no, that it is not common, or ethical to present any illness like that. There are many people on this very section of the boards, that have had extensive spread of their disease at the time of diagnosis, and have lived a qualiuty life for much longer than "6-9 months" or what their first oncologists had told them. There have even been some that have achieved long term remissions and cures! My opinion, after researching this disease for going on four years, is that it is wrong to tell anyone what your mom's oncologist has told her. Why? Because there are things that can be done and aggressive treatment offers people with all stages a chance, hope, and shot at getting well. The key is to have an oncologist who is willig to give it a shot, and not just do what is necessary until the patient dies- (to put it coldly). I am not telling you to go out there and find an oncolgist who is going to say that she can or will get well, but at least one that will give it a shot. - one that realizes she CAN be treated, and does not have to die in (as you put it) "6-9" months. The oncologist your mom has now seems to believe otherwise, about her getting well, or her capability of getting well, and BEWARE of these suckers, because they wil treat you that way. And come on here, let's be realistic, even if your mom was dying, and there was no hope at all, --couldn't the jerk be a little more sensitive in the way he puts things?? No offense, but that is not the kind of doctor anyone would trust or want in there time of need. Find another oncologist that will understand your mom's wishes of wanting to get well, and is willing to "give it a shot", and treat her aggressively. One that is not at least mentioning death every time she come through the damn door! Nobody can put a time limit on anyone's life! Go get em'! Do not let your mom near that jerk again either!! Print out these responses and show them to he so she knows she's got a fighting chance...be her advocate!! Jonathan

Hi, There is a very gentle chemo for NSCLC, and it rarely has ANY side effects and has been known to shrink NSCLC tumorsdown to size, so please ask your dad's onclogist about it....it is called navelbine. I a almost 100% sure that he can handle it. Also, taxotere is a little less gentle than navelbine, but is prety mild, and is used as well......Write this down and ask the oncologist about these drugs for your dad....Hoping for you...... Jonathan

Hi Peggy, Chemotherapy can be continued even after the sixth session, at the descretion of the oncologist, if he/she feels that the patient can or will still have some benefit from a particular drug...they do not want to leave a drug if they have not used it to i's full capacity-- No what might have beens--... also,radiation is generally not an option for extensive small cell, but some oncologists are still more aggressive tan others and feel it isworth a shot, and Iagree with them. So give it a shot, why not?? God Bless...... Jonathan

Oh I see, I did not know that it was approved for when a taxol/platinum regimen has failed, now it all makes more sense to me! Good, i am glad to hear your husband is responding well, and glad there is some protocol for te use of this. Thanks again! Jonathan

Hi everyone, I do not want to brew any fear here or get anyone worried, and I do not even know if I ought be saying this, but what i am about to say IS a fact, and I want to warn people.... Iressa, is approved for NSCLC, and it has shown some success in patients, however, the sucess (tumor shgrinkage rate) is between 12% - 20% of the time. After the drug was approved and on the news as a new agent showing "promise", I think many lung cancer patients have gone into their oncologists office, asking and pushing for the drug. A very normal reaction to all of the media coverage-- However, since the drug only works 12-20% of the time, wouldn't it make more sense to exhaust all other options first??? Any input is much appreciated.... Jonathan

I have had no personal experience with them, but do know that they are VERY aggressive and skilled in lung cancer and that they ae one of the best cancer facilities in the world!!! Stay with them!! Best, Jonathan

Not sure about the pain meds, but I am gad that yu are going to have the chemo anyway- just to be sure that it does not come back at all!!! You will make it!!! I am guessing that you will probably have carboplatin and taxol, as far as chemo goes. Anyway, as far as nausea goes,try the zofran or a drug called compazine. Jonathan

Hi guys, I am very sorry to hear of your troubles, but I did look at your profile of what you have been on thus far, and believe me, there are many other drusg that you can have!!! I research this disease so I know... but time is of the essence...you want to get back on chemotherapy as soon as possible, and I am sure that you will. Like I said there are many drugs for you to go on, but the question which of them is best....now obviously that is for you and your oncologist to decide, but I did do a little research for you guys, and the from what I have read, there is a new regimen of two new and approved chemotherapy drugs that is showing dramatioc results in metastatic NSCLC....They are CPT-11 (camptosar) with gemzar (gemcitibine) This seems to be a very aggressive way to get at this demon, and very promising, ask the oncologist if he can have this first. There are other drugs that I have come across as well that are effective against NSCLC.. they are navelbine cytoxin with vincristine and adriamycin taxotere etoposide Copy this info down or print it out and ask the oncologist....Knowledge is power!!! Jonathan

Has anyone on here with SCLc ever been treated with a chemo agent called gemzar (gemcitibine)? Just wondering and researching... Jonathan

Hi, Here are some other therpaies that you may want to consider researching and asking different oncologists about.. CPT-11 Cytoxin/vincristine/adriamycin cisplatin/etoposide radio frequency ablation therapy (RFA) combining chemotherapy with radiation is a great way to fight this disease as well. Make sure that your oncology team stays agressive! Jonathan

Hi, Anyone who knows me and my posts knows that I am a huge advocate for top hospitals such as UCLA, University of Chicago, Duke University, Memorial Sloan and Kettering, Fox Chase Cancer Center, MD Anderson, John Hopkins etc etc... Thay are wonderful, however, I ordered a free video from the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, and I was REALLY REALLY IMPRESSED with wha I saw!!! They really do treat the whole person!!! I would recommend to anyone getting a copy of the free tape just to look at it as a back up plan, or another option down the line God forbid anything should happen. They really seem to have a very uniqueapproach to treating cancer. Any feedback? By the way, WlaterPatens wife was on the video, and she said that she wished they would have went there form the get go. That is imporessive! Jonathan