new to group

[TammyL]

My husband age 41 was diagnosed in April 08 with non small cell lung cancer after Went to PCP because he coughed up blood and had pain behind his clavicle. Dr said his lungs sounded fine and his O2 was good. Upon my husband insistance he got an an xray diagnosed with walking pneumonia,in late feb(He had not been ill) x-ray also showed a spot... Prob nothing PCP said we need to do more tesing. He went through ct scan , pet scan, pulmonary biopsy, guided needle biopsy of lymph node, and we found out he was a stage 3b. There was a spot on the lymph node on the oppisite side of his chest than the cancer. We went to Boston for a second opinion. Confirmed what we knew and helped our oncologist come up with a plan to get treated locally.

Greg has been in tretment chemo 4 roundscisplatin 6 days cisplatin day 1 and 8 and etopiside day 1-5 and back three weeks after for 4 week cycle.AFter cysplatin being monday after first chemo week(may-sept) and 7 weeks(May-june) of radiation. He is really down and out and has had enough. I am trying too lift his spirits and trying to keep things "normal". It is tough.. He just finished his 4th round of chemo moday and is feeling nausous despite the meds and has an awful taste in his mouth he can' get rid of.. Didn't know if there were any suggestions to help him feel better.. Anything that has worked for your family member. The doctor really wanted to do a fifth round but said if he wasn't handel;ing it that well the four would be ok. So he is hopeful to be done til he gets another scan. We did get a ct sccan in july that showed good results the cancer had diminished signifigantly and the spot in the lyph node had dissapeared. Ther also were no new spots which is good beacause that thought never crossed our minds. So we are hopeful all this has worked to eliminate the cancer

[SandraL]

Hi Tammy. I am sorry to read of your young husband and your need to be here. I was also 3B at diagnosis and it sounds like I had very similar first line treatment as your husband. He will recover and feel better after the 4th round of chemo. I had some bad days after chemo and everything tasted sickenly sweet. But that disappeared. So I hope he feels better soon and that you stick around here and let us know how you guys are doing. Please tell your husband about the success stories on this board. Take care

Sandra

[Patti B]

Hi Tammy-

Sorry you need to be here and so sorry about your husbands diagnosis but this is a great place with lots of support for both you and your husband.

Many of us had that horrible taste in our mouths - like a metallic taste which can really interfere with ones eating. My doc suggested (and it actually worked) using plastic silverware instead of metal ones. It sounded stupid at first but it DID help.

I hope your husband feels better soon and that the shrinkage continues.

Please continue to post and let us know how you both are doing.

Hugs - Patti B.

[Snowflake]

I had the metallic taste in my mouth while undergoing radiation. In fact, when I was in the room for the zapping, I could really taste it. I would cram my mouth with Sour Tangerine Altoids before the door was shut and it seemed to help. It didn't CURE it, but covered it pretty well. "Sour" increases saliva production - I remembered that from my child birth class a few years prior...

There are some deep troughs on this journey he will need to work through. It's important that he doesn't quit. I had a placard right next to my "bed" (the couch) that read the John Wayne quote in my signature line.

Keep on hanging on!

[recce101]

Hi, Tammy, welcome! I'm a IIIb also, and thinking back on it, the 4th chemo cycle was my "low" spot too. I did go to 6 (Taxol/Carboplatin/Avastin), but your onc is right that for most people the benefit is attained by the end of the 4th cycle in first-line therapy. After I went on Avastin alone (another 8 months) most things gradually improved, and have continued to improve in my year on Tarceva. The only time I've wondered it it was all worth it was during that 4th chemo cycle toward the end of 2006. It may happen again, but I'm nowhere close to it now, feeling better than I have in more than 2 years.

Aloha,

Ned

[jaminkw]

I Tammy, like Ned I started out handling the chemo combo well but it got worse as it went on. I did stick it out for six but told my onc before that last one that I had it in me to do just one more and that was it. I did do and am doing Avastin maintenance since then and the bp issues and fatigue has been a real issue for me. I don't think I'd quite yet if there was still some sign of the cancer. Listening to survivors, it's probably well worth the effort.

Judy in Key West (now in GA)

[sharyn]

Hi Tammy,

I have no great insights to offer you, but, just wanted to welcome you to "our club" here and let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I know the road is a tough one.... Love, Sharon

[Maryanne]

Just know Tammy that he will get through this and he will feel better.

There are so many people on here who are stag IIIB who are doing just fine and it has been years.

Hang in there and know that you are not alone, we are always here for you, for questios, support, prayers or just to vent.

Take care, hang strong.

Maryanne