I was diagnosed with nsclc 0n 3 Apr, 2006. I was told stage 3b because of the main tumor was in the lower right lobe, and 2 lymphs behind the carina.
I started 33 Chemo treatments of 3 different meds. I would go to the cancer center and get Radiation treatments, then get into the truck and head for St Anthony's Hospital for Chems treatments (33). The Radiation and Chemo treatments were Monday through Friday every week.
On 23 August,2006 I had a CT Scan yhat said NO MORE TUMORS SEEN. On that day I went into the Oncologist office where I was told that they were going to change the Chemo drugs. DAH, what? I ask her to show me where on the CT scan the tumors. She took my copy and read it. She then said Hey, you are in remission.
Every couple months I get Phnemonia. I have had to have fluid drained from around the right lung. As soon as it is drained off it comes back. This leaves my so out of breath I can do NOTHING. It was biopsied and came back clean of cancer cells. I have a chest x/ray that shows the radiation distroyed the bottom 1/3 of my right lung. I mean it is GONE. Oncologist says "well the tumor won't come back there"
This was 16 months ago now that I went into remission. When do you start feeling like it was all worth it? They don't want to put the powder in the sack for the fluid and said that if the fluid turns to cancer I would be dead in 2 month anyway.