Bill Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 First, I want to thank all of you for the kind words and input re: my wife's situation. I haven't proven to be much good at doing likewise for most of you. My wife has over 100 bone mets per her latest PET / CT. Her med onc says that, due to this, bringing in an interventional radiologist is a mute point and this is the bottom line. He can try to buy her some time as follows : Tarceva / Gemzar / Navelbine / Zometa ( and pray for a synergistic effect ~ he tells me that so few patients live this long in this condition that he has seldom had to try this and doesn't know what to expect ) .... next, substitute in Alimta, next substitute some combination of Taxotere and maybe an Avastin combo ( note : FWIW, he is spooked by lung and brain bleeding reports with Avastin but he states that this is less likely with my wife's adenocarcinoma and most prevalent with squamous cell carcinoma. Anybody have any input on this ? ) Also, he said No ! to Taxol in her case. He offered no explanation so I didn't push it. Here's his end of the line tx and it's brutal .... Samarium w/ multiple platelet & blood tranfusions. It's my wife's life and I will respect her decision. She will let her med onc know next week whether or not she is willing to start this process. Thanks again. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Lifting your wife up in prayer as she makes her decision. Best, Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Bill, I am sorry. This is a very tough decision for you and your dear wife to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamasbabygirl Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Prayers for you Bill. I know how hard this road is for you. Here's a prayer for your wife to have strength in her decision. "My times are in your hand." Psalm 31:15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 I hope that whatever she decides, all goes well. Thinking of you both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchurchi Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Bill, such a difficult situation you and your wife are in I am sorry you both are going through this ordeal. I hope if your wife does decided to go forward with treatment it is successful. Holding you both close in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Very sorry to hear about your wife Bill. Prayers for the best for the both of you. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Boy, sounds like your wife has some tough decision to make ahead of her. I will keep her and you in my prayers. I am so sorry you are facing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 I know the Zometa is used to strengthen bones. Sounds like a worthwile plan, and praying for your wife's guidance in making decisions about this. Praying whatever is chosen will be effective for her. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 (((((((((((PRAYERS))))))))))))))))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karen335 Posted March 8, 2006 Share Posted March 8, 2006 Bill, Sending you and your wife prayers. Th treatments you mention, are they experimental/clinical? Praying if done, they will work... Please keep us posted. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted March 9, 2006 Author Share Posted March 9, 2006 P.S. As I mentioned in another post, my wife's quality of life is very poor. I can't see much more of this going on if she doesn't get at least some modest short term improvement. Laying on the couch all day sleeping and only getting up ocassionally to snack or take meds ( including enough oxy and vico to kill a horse ) is the extent of her daily activities. She does try to take our dog outside for a short walk daily and a lady friend drops by ocassionally and joins in. She's just plain miserable and burned out and getting more difficult to live with. I think that she might give the first line of chemo a try but I have my doubts that she will take it much further if that fails. BTW, she would be returning to her Tues. chemo group. A nice, upbeat, group of friendly people. Problem is my wife is the only one left from that group and that certainly doesn't help her spirits. All new faces. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilliBr1 Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 You both are in my prayers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eppie Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 ((((Bill and wife)))))) Much love, Eppie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollyanne Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Oh Bill, I am so sorry it has to come to this. I pray your wife has peace of mind in making her decision. Given that she has a lot of pain, have you looked into a morphine drip? It was the absolute best thing for my mom and I wish we had done it so much sooner. Once the drip got started, she said "for this first time, I feel like myself again" -- My mom opted to stop chemo and to be comfortable as she was so weak from it..it was the "right" decision for her. On the Avastin front, our oncologist wanted a brain scan to be sure that the brain was clear (which I guess lessens the chance of the bleeding?) Please keep us posted. Praying that you both have some good days together ahead. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bill I hate that it's come to this now. I know you'll be great partner to your wife, whatever she decides. prayers continue. xoxo amie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bill You and your wife have my prayers. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bill, all the best to you and your wife as you make this decision. Hoping for the best, Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Bill, Prayers for the right decision and some improvement in quality of life. Hugs Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patty Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I just don't know what to say, except that you are both in my thoughts and prayers, and I wish you both comfort and peace and strength and whatever it is that will give you what you need right now. Patty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy RN Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 (((HUGS))) You are in my prayers. I know that decision of whether enough is enough is a hard one. Been there. My mom fought the nsclc in the early 90's. What ever you all decide it will be the RIGHT decision for you. God Bless, Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted March 15, 2006 Author Share Posted March 15, 2006 Thanks to all for the kind words. My wife is willing to try the Gemzar / Navelbine / Tarceva ( with monthly Zometa ) regimen. She started this yesterday. She is already feeling poorly today. The Zometa alone always makes her feel ill for a day or two. Her respiratory function isn't very good and one of her docs thinks that she has pleuritis secondary to the thoracentesis that she had last Thursday. Realistically, this drug combo MUST work or she won't be well enough, at best, to try the remaining few drugs. Her med onc says that Taxotere then Alimta are next up but that they are more toxic which will be problematic in her current or a worsened condition. He says no to Taxol. He will " consider " Avastin in the mix enough though she has brain mets because her NSCLC sub-type is adenocarcinoma, not squamous cell. Samarium is strictly a last resort due to the extreme toxicity to bone marrow. Similar problems with some other last resort drugs. The drug(s) may work but the adverse effects are intolerable. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted March 15, 2006 Share Posted March 15, 2006 You've been such a strong advocate for your wife. Prayers that the treatment will not be too hard on her, and for strength for both of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSF Posted March 16, 2006 Share Posted March 16, 2006 Bill, I'm sorry for what you and your wife are going through. You are in my prayers for both your decisions that you are facing and that the treatment works. Sandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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