Hello Christie. I hope all is going well for you.
I was DX'd with the with an identical profie as you've described in June '07.
I was treated with IV Chemo, Carboplatin,Taxol & Avastin, beginning in July of '07 & finishing Jan. 25th of '08.
I went once a week for 3 weeks, then 13 days off befrore the next cycle.
The most uncomfortable side effect i had was severe constipation. Nothing really helped this.
Less severe/serious side effects were fatigue, loss of appetite (i lost 35#'s during treatment), joint pain & spontainious nose bleeds during exercise.
I tried to walk @ least a mile a day during my treatment & this is when the nosebleeds occured.
In about Aug. of '08 chemo was stopped for 2 weeks due to swelling in my esophogus. I nearly lost my voice & couldn't swallow, but fortunately this condition subsided & i continued my chemo.
In mid-Dec of '07 i began 35 daily treatments of radiation along with weekly chemo, Carboplatin/Avastin treatments, finishing on Jan
28th of '08.
Scans taken during '08 were clear, & my Onc. said i was in remission.
The hardest part for me @ this time was planning things even in the near future. Should i plan for an event 6 mos away? I figured i'd probably still be alive, but would i be healthy enough to do it?
My wife & I enjoy travelling & camping especially in the West, so this was a consideration for me. I wasn't living in fear of the cancer's return,but living 1 day @ a time & enjoying a full, active life. It was just hard for me to think 2 mos. ahead. Eventually my cancer became just a distant memory.
In Dec. '09 a CT scan revealed slight swelling in a lymph node in the right lung, the same location as before.
Onc. said let's wait & see & ordered another scan for Mar. of '10.
This scan revealed that the swelling had increased,but no tumor was visible.
On Apt. 28th 2010 I began taking 150mg of TARCEVA, & have a scan scheduled for June 7th
My only advice to you is to try to stay positive & live your life as normal as possible as you battle this disease.
When i was recieving my chemo treatments, which lasted 6-7 hrs., i saw many patients having a more difficult time than i. I drew strentgh from these people & was thankful for my ability to survive,
I truly believe that cancer patients are the most courageous people in this World.
This post has become much longer than i'd anticipated, & i hope i have not bored you.
Keep a positive mental outlook, enjoy your family & friends & good luck to you in your journey.
DaveC