Jump to content

Barb0802

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    32

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Barb0802

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Thanks everyone!! He went to his drs. appt yesterday, and he has gained 3 lbs.!! our scale was a little off too. The Dr. was very happy that the swelling of his lymph nodes in his neck went away, she said she's sure the 8mm tumor is his lungs has either shrunk or is gone totally. They'll do a cat scan after his 3rd session of chemo.

    Is this really a reason to be happy? I'm afraid to feel excited about this and so is my dad. He said "it's not like I'm cured"... He knows there is no cure, just treatment, but he meant, it's always going to be there..

    anyway, is this really a positive sign, after 1 chemo session?

    P.s. thanks to all who mentioned the Magic Mouthwash, the Dr. wrote them a prescription for it and said it will work wonders on him.

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    I found the Q&A section, is that where I'm supposed to be?

    I wish I didn't find it, look at the Drs. response:

    :(

    ********************************************

    Post Count: 953

    Seattle, WA

    The median survival with stage IV NSCLC (which means that half do better, and half do worse) is about 8-10 months (with treatment, or 4-6 without), and the numbers gravitate a bit lower with brain metastases. In patients well enough to take chemo (usually those able to take care of themselves and spending less than half of the day in bed or just lying around the living room), it improves survival an average of 2-4 months. Some people get more benefit, some get none, and some are harmed by chemo. Those less likely to benefit are the ones who are in more marginal condition to tolerate it in the first place. Also, some people just have very resistant tumors, but you don't that know until you try to treat it.

    So, my summary would be that for people well enough to take it, chemo isn't miraculous, but it most often improves survival by several months. Sometimes more, sometimes less, and sometimes it can just knock people down more.

    -Dr. West

    Posted 2 days ago #

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    thank you everyone! You've been so nice and made me feel so much better.

    Debbie thanks for sharing your story, I wish you and your husband nothing but good news!!

    Adrian, the articles were great! I forwarded them to my parents and sister. How do I check out OncTalk? Do you mean he addresses ALL the questions from this entire message board?

    Barbara, you sound so happy and enjoying life, I wish my dad would do something other than sit around feeling sad... Or maybe it's the Pot doing it to you?? ha ha just kidding. Now, I thought a hospice is where you go when things are going badly, is that not the case anymore?

    Thanks again everyone, what a great site!!!

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Hmm, I'm not sure what he's taking for possible nausea, but I'm going to check that out too, thanks for the tip about steroids, I didn't know that.

    Pot? ha... I better not tell him that, maybe my mom can ask the Dr. about it.. just kidding. I'll mention it to my mom, don't know if it's an option in NJ though.

    thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it and will definitely use your advice..

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    "Leslie"]Hi Barb,

    I'm Adrian's sister, Leslie...I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through this. As Adrian mentioned, this has been a real struggle for us with our dad as well...(also a non-smoker and all-around healthy guy, except for cancer)...

    In addition to Ensure, we found that having him keep a log of what he was eating and when he was eating it also helped....somehow, seeing how little he was eating on paper seemed to help a little...we also numbered his bottles of water--so he knew exactly how much he was drinking each day.

    I think it also helped to talk about expectations for eating during chemo...We had to clarify what we meant by "Do you want something to eat?"...We know that his appetite is gone and thus, his answer was always going to be "No." We had to explain that what we meant is "Is it physically possible for you to eat something at this time?" And if the answer is "yes"--then, we need him to eat...He needed to understand that his body's physical cues--the ones that he has always relied on for his survival--were no longer working...and so, whenever possible, he had to override the impulse not to eat...and eat.

    We also kept the house stocked with ice-cream and other snacks. His willingness to eat particular foods changed on a daily basis---one day ice cream was okay and the next day it wasn't...so we had to keep the house stocked with a variety of things.

    Keep us posted...I know how hard and frustrating this is...

    Best,

    Leslie

    Thanks so much Leslie. you make a lot of sense! He's already keeping a log of how his medications are making him feel etc. Don't know why we didn't think of a food log, guess because he'd have nothing to put in it... Just kidding...

    The numbered bottles, great idea.. and the way to pose the "are you hungry" question is fantastic!! That's what he has to answer "can you eat something right now"... like you said he just says No, if we ask if he's hungry...

    You've helped so much, thank you and Adrian!

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Thank you RY... we've tried boost and instant breakfast, he drinks them when we force him. My sister just ordered Isopure, it's a protein packed water sold on the internet and targeted for HIV and Cancer patients, and some other diseases.

    He's just so depressed and his mouth hurts so much, that he just can't be bothered. He's crabby too! :)

    he's got to know he needs to eat, I just can't understand why he doesn't try harder.

    anyway, thanks so much for the part about his chances, I just thought this meant he's losing the fight and fast.... :(

    is losing weight ok - or does that mean it's over?

    in NSCLC GROUP

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

    My dad has stage 4, NSLC, adenocarcinoma, it spread to his lymph nodes, but he only has a 8 millimeter tumor on his lung... Yep, 8mm causing all this...

    Anyway, he's had one day of Chemo, they added Avastin and he's been on Tarceva since the first chemo treatment about 2 weeks ago. His lips are extremely chapped and his mouth is sore. He's not eating and has now lost another 10 lbs since the treatment. Does this mean the disease "has got him" and it's bad, or can it be that even though he's lost so much weight he still has a chance??

    He's 65 and has never smoked...

    Thanks for anything you can tell me,

    Barb

    Dad diagnosed

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    more info from my sister:

    metastasis to mediastunum, glands around lung, neck, and above clavical. and also into adrenal glands and small spot on one of his hips...don´t remember which one. that, they may treat with radiation at some point....they´ll have to see.

    8mm tumor in lung

    Does this change anything?

    Dad diagnosed

    in INTRODUCE YOURSELF!

    Posted

    Thanks so much Ernie... I'm sure I'll have more questions once this thing gets going... thank you for not getting sick of me..... yet!!! :D

    I've printed out your diet/supplements along with the medications you were or are taking from this posting... hope you don't mind

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

  I accept