asmakis Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 My parents met with the oncologist on Thursday, after a chest x-ray on Monday. There was a slight spread of the cancer to the lower lobe. It took 3 radiolists to find it. My dad will be starting on Altima on Thursday. The doctor also mentioned that he feels the lung cancer is a primary cancer and not a secondary cancer from the head and neck cancer he had almost 5 years ago. I wonder if this is a good thing Anyway, does anybody have any experiences with Altima? I'm always up for giving my dad postitive news. Thank you, Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Amanda, I think you mean Alimta. It is relatively new, and I believe some people on here have had good results with it. My wife took it and it did not help her, but she had had many chemos before that, and she was more than three years from diagnosis. I hope it works well for your dad. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Hi Amanda, One particular member here came to my mind regarding Alimta. You could ask Don M about it as his profile lists that as one of the latest treatments he has had. Wishing you and your family all the best, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamasbabygirl Posted September 24, 2006 Share Posted September 24, 2006 My mom had Alimta, and although it made her very sick a few days after her third through 6th treatments, it held her stable.She never had a recurrence of lung cancer after Alimta. Prayers for the best... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marym Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Hi Amanda, I had Alimta and unfortunately, it did not prove beneficial to me. They need to test each approach since the tumors are not as routine as we think. Good luck. Mary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Amanda : My wife experienced a severe adverse reaction after receiving one round of Alimta. She was cheerful, active, walking, talking, cooking, etc. for the first two days following the tx. Then on the evening of the third day she experienced a sudden onset of extreme fatigue and extreme SOB. The cause was determined to be a diffuse alveolitis that was unresponsive to tx with massive doses of corticosteroids and ( prophylactic ) antibiotics. About 50% of the previously healthy tissue in her left lung was irreversibly damaged and appeared " whited-out " / opaque on CXR and CT scan. Previously healthy tissue remaining in her right lung was completely " whited-out ". I have no regrets about her receiving Alimta but had I known about the potential for this adverse reaction I would have asked the med onc to reserve Alimta for last chance salvage tx as there were still a couple of more established chemo tx drugs for NSCLC that hadn't been tried yet. In fact, the immediate tx plan at that time was to try Alimta and Taxotere in no particular order. At the last minute the med onc decided to go with Alimta first. Good luck. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted September 25, 2006 Share Posted September 25, 2006 Amanda, I just started Alimta (my eighth chemo) other then fatigue no other side effects so far with it. Everyone is different and reacts differently. Bottom line one is not going to know until one tries it and they have come a long way in chemo and meds to combat side effects. Hope this help. Prayers for the best Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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