MARIA.CHAMORRO

Ok, I spoke with the nurse today and got all the options/names Option #1: start treatment with Tarceva (Erlotinib) which is a targeted drug. Option #2: start treatment with Docetaxel Option #3: start the clinical trial We have a phone conference with the oncologist later today, so we can discuss the pros and cons. Wish us luck!

Craig, I'm sorry I had written that at the beginning on this thread. My dad was doing the carboplatin and penetrexed, then on cycle 3 through 8 the bevacizumab was added. So yes, it did not work.

Hello, everyone! I haven't checked in a while mostly due to work and a host of other things going on in our lives besides dad's illness. Well, after 8 cycles of chemo today we were told that dad's cancer is growing. Not a lot but is definitely growing. And maybe I should have been more proactive in asking how much it grew but I was a bit shell shocked. Anyhow, what is next? There are three choices they gave us, and of those we are leaning towards a clinical trial (LCCC0921) that involves using Pazopanib, which is used for kidney cancer. Apparently dad is in that window when now is the time to do the clinical trial if we decide to do so. We want to wait on the other choice which is chemo using another medication (and I cannot remember the name) which will be a lot stronger and will cause more fatigue since it can take a toll on the body. I was just wondering of any of you have been part of this trial since is a multi-center endeavor. Thanks!

Hello everyone! Sorry I have been absent for so long. But you are too kind to want to check up on us. Well, dad had his first chemo on 23 FEB and it was chaotic to me from a caregiver's standpoint. Let me backtrack: On 20 FEB, my dad started having issues with the mobility on the right side of his body again, the same way as when we initially took him to the hospital and he was diagnosed with the cancer in the lungs and the mass in the brain. We assumed that it happened because it was two days after he finished his steroids. But the on call oncologist recommended that we take him to the ER just to make sure. They started him on the steroids and he got better but he is having issues dragging his right leg a bit. We have an appointment on Friday for a follow up on the Cyberknife procedure he had on 14 FEB, so we will bring this up. Then on 22 FEB, I had to rush my mom to the same ER and she was admitted with heart issues, and the doctors scheduled a cath for the same day as dad's chemo. Luckily my brother was able to stay with her while I took dad to the chemo appointment. Dad received his first chemo on 23 FEB and everything went well. I got some really good advise from another thread I posted on this community board, so I went fully prepared. But really, it was not necessary because at the infusion center they provided everything my dad needed. Dad received a combination of carboplatin and pemetrexed, and he did great, although he got really cold when he received the pemetrexed. But he was so great through the whole thing. He even asked me to take a photo and email it to my brother with the caption "this is what hot looks like"... he made me laugh with that, especially because I think he could tell I was about to implode when he started getting the carboplatin. Not sure if this is natural but in my head I kept thinking "Oh my God, my dad is getting chemo, he is getting poisoned!" and I think I started hyperventilating a bit. But his smile comforted me tremendously. After the chemo, he did good but on day 3 he lost all apetite and only wanted fluids, which the people on the other thread recommended I kept an eye on, so we gave him plenty of fluids. He was like that for 2 days but then he was able to handle watermelon. Oh, this fruit became our new friend. Eventually he started eating a bit more and his appetite is now back to normal. The only thing we have noticed is that his feet get a bit swollen and he has this "weird sensation" as if he is wearing socks, but we were told this wa normal. Still we have been giving him foot massages and I think he likes them My mom has finally come to terms with what is going on, and she has opened herself to how she is feeling so we all seem to have a better understanding of how everyone feels. Through it all, the one thing I did not expect was for caregiving to be so hard. I am getting teary eye as I write this because I am feeling like a rollercoaster: I am so happy to be able to do this for my parents (especially my dad), But then I feel the pangs of resentment because I have had to change my life completely to accommodate theirs, then I feel guilty for feeling resentment. I feel alone most of the time, like the rest of my family has distanced themselves from the situation, and I have this entire responsibility on my shoulders. But then I hold on to my faith with both hands, and I feel better. I didn’t realized how little I have taken care of myself since the diagnosis and my body finally rebelled against me this past weekend when I spent the entire weekend with nauseas, vomiting, and just feeling horrible. But I got the hint. I have to take better care of myself. and that is about it in a nutshell...sorry for the long email. But thanks for checking up on us!

Hello everyone. Thank you for your kind words, advise and questions. It means a lot to hear about your experiences and how everything has been working out. Diane, dad will be getting carboplatin and pemetrexed, then bevacizumab will be added at cycle 2. I am not sure if each cycle is the same but for dad 1 cycle = 3 week period. The oncologist asked us to get folate (400 mcg) but she also said a multivitamin was good as long as it had at least that amount of mcg. And she also said that dad will be getting a B12 shot the day of the chemo. For meds, he was prescribed to take 4mg of dexamethasone (steroid) twice daily on the day before, day of, and day after chemo. Also, he is to take 8 mg zofran every 8 hrs on days 2,3,4, of chemo with day 1 being chemo day. Randy: this is good to know. Actually the oncologist was very specific about not giving us a "life span". The terminal words was used on a document provided for my work. As I mentioned before I am in the military and was getting ready to go to an Army school when my dad had the minor stroke, so the school was cancelled. Now, the powers that be had the brilliant idea of sending me to Korea for a year before the next available school next Summer. So, I am applying for a compassionate reassignment to stay in my current location, and for them medical documents have to be morbidly detailed. This is about the only secret am keeping from dad at this time because I do not want him to stress about additional things. Luckily if I end up having to go, my brother is in town also. But I am praying fervently that I am allowed to stay here with my parents. Eric: thank you for your words and uplifting attitude. Your reply made me smile. I needed that today. I have heard that caregivers need to take care of themselves to ensure they don't get burned out, and for the past two three weeks I have been going non stop. It finally caught up with me today, and had a minor meltdown in the bathroom as I suddenly thought out of nowhere: "what if dad never gets to walk me down the isle". And the water works started. Luckily my parents were out with my brother. So you have no idea what being able to smile today means to me. Thank you. JanetB: thank you for the advise and your encouragement. This has been quite a journey so far, and I feel a bit helpless because I thought my dad was invincible. So, today I found out that my application for the Team LUNGevity marathon team accepted my application to run the Chicago marathon and I am so ecstatic! Running is something I love doing and I feel like I am sharing with dad something I love and know he will be proud of. Anyhow, I feel the water works coming, so I will leave it at that! Thanks again! Maria

Hello everyone! My name is Maria and I am fairly new to the forum. this link is for my introduction thread last week (http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewto ... =3&t=46524). My father is 63 yrs. old and has Stage IV NSCLC Adenocarcinoma. He is in great spirits as we get ready for his first chemo infusion on 21 FEB. We got our chemo schedule on Valentine's Day (yeah, of all days) and it was sobering to hear words like "terminal". My brother and I went with our dad to this appointment and even though we are used to many things being in the military, nothing prepared us for the helpless feeling that comes with finally facing that your dad, who also happens to be your hero, is dealing with a life or death situation. But it was Valentine's day, and my brother and I agree it was only fitting to be with the one person we both fell in love with for the first time in our lives. So now we are getting ready for chemo, and as the primary caregiver I am a bit scared because I don't know what to really expect. The doctor was very honest about side effects, but I think I will feel better hearing from others in this forum that have gone through chemo. I have tons of questions from the big things to the little things: should he wear comfortable clothes, is he going to be hot/cold during the treatment, will he be allowed to snack on anything?, should he be ingesting fluids during the chemo? things like that. So any input you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you and be blessed!

Hello everyone! My name is Maria and my father was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer about two weeks ago. Needless to say, this was a shock to all of us because my dad has never been sick in his life, other than the casual cold. On 14 January, my dad called me since I live in the same town and mom was in Florida, because his right side started feeling numb. At that point we thought he was having a minor stroke but he refused to go to the hospital that day. At the time we also thought he probably fell but didn't want to tell us since he was walking stiff. Anyhow, I made a doctor's appointment for a few days later. By then my mom was back and she called me to tell me the doc thought it was a minor stroke so he was rushed to the ER. There they did some tests and they found a mass in his brain, which was causing pressure which in turn was causing the numbness on his right side. The doctors also found a mass in his lung. That same night he was taken to UNC Hospital at Chapel Hill. Needless to say, I lost it. Luckily my brother was there to handle those first 12 hours. It was the most hectic 12 hours of my life. He spent a week at UNC, where it was determined it was lung cancer, and of course it spread to his brain and some lymph nodes in his chest. This week dad had his first Cyberknife radiation treatment for the brain mass, and he seems to be doing better, and his motor skills have improved significantly. This coming Tuesday, he has the second visit with the oncologists. During the first visit, they still did not have the confirmation of which type of lung cancer it is, so here is hoping on Tuesday we can get an answer as well as his treatment schedule. A few days ago, I moved in my parents with me into my house so I can provide the care my dad needs, as well as helping him financially since he will not be able to work and provide for him and my mom. And I do not mind one bit. My main concern is to minimize the stress on my father while he is getting his treatment. It is just going to be an adjustment. Luckily we love each other and have no issues . Emotionally I am doing better. Once the shock wore off, I went into what I call "military mode" (I'm in the Army). I was like "ok, what do we do? What's next? etc." My father was in the military and I think this mode has put him more at ease. Yes, we are funny that way. And he is being a trooper. Now, I do have a question for those with experience with this: my mom is really having a hard time with this. to the point that she seems like she is detaching herself from this situation. I have spoken with her, as well as my brother, and we really had to explain her attitude is basically telling us that she feels this is an incovenient for her. I know she loves my dad. But it is so frustrating. Anyhow, this is us in a nutshell.Glad to be here although I wish it was under other circumstances.