How many cycles of chemo?

[MyWifeSCLC]

It's kinda hard searching the forum for specific info sometimes. I would like to hear how many cycles of chemo (planned or actually given), what chemo was given, cancer, cancer staging, and year given.

I'll start - stage IIIB SCLC, 6 cycles planned (3 days each, every 21 days), cisplatin + etoposide, 2020.

Additional - concurrent 30 days radiation.

[Tom Galli]

MyWifeSCLC

My first treatment plan before surgery (diagnosed February 2004 with NSCLC, Squamous cell, Stage IIIA) was 6 cycles of taxol and carboplatin administered once per week and 30 days (M-F) of fractional radiation. I completed this plan without delay or modification. Then I had a pneumonectomy removing my right lung about 2 months after completion of treatment.

After surgery and metastasis to my remaining lung in January 2005, I was treated as Stage IV and had a plan of 6 to 9 cycles of taxol and carboplatin with a treatment administered one day each 3 weeks. I completed only 6 cycles because my mid-course scan showed a very positive reduction in the number of tumors. I was scanned 3 months after the sixth cycle and the results showed NED

After a recurrence identified in October 2005, I had a treatment plan of 6 to 9 cycles of taxol and carboplatin with treatment administered one day each 3 weeks. Additionally, I was prescribed the targeted therapy drug Tarceva taken daily as a pill.  Tarceva was stopped after my fourth infusion because of adverse side effects. (Tarceva was a long shot. In 2005, doctors didn't know it only worked on a small percent of those with adenocarcinoma). I again completed the 6 cycles of taxol and carboplatin and was scanned 3 months after the last infusion. This scan showed NED.

After another recurrence during a regular screening scan in October 2006, the FDA had just approved stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as a lung cancer treatment. My medical oncologist sent me to a brand new radiation treatment facility at a large hospital in Dallas for a CyberKnife.  I had no chemo, but had a dangerous thoracic surgery to implant 5 one mm gold rounds (fiducial markers) around the recurred tumor. Then, I had 3 20-minute radiation treatments, each given over the course of 3 days. The procedure codes for the thoracic surgically installed gold fiducials indicated a trial or experimental procedure. I paid the surgeon and hospital out of pocked for this last procedure. My CyberKnife was administered in March 2007. The NED scan was in June 2007 and thankfully have been NED ever since.  

In post treatment diagnostic scan and medical oncology consultations, in 2008 I was scanned every 3 months. In 2009 I was scanned every 4 months. In 2010 I was scanned 4 times.  One PET, two CTs and a brain scan. In 2011, scans were every 6 months. In 2013, I started one scan per year but saw my oncologist twice a year.  I continue that followup routine.

So the chemotherapy totals: 18 infusions of taxol and carboplatin and about 120 Tarceva pills.

Stay the course.

Tom

[TJM]

Steve,

My treatment for stage 111A LCNEC NSCLC is identical to your wife's except it is only 4 cycles. Will be followed by same number of radiation treatments (not concurrent).

Just to reiterate, I had a VAT thoracotomy with lower right lobe removed which makes me somewhat of a unique case.  Best to your wife

Peace

Tom

[Tamkow]

NSCLC Squamous, stage 3a, diagnosed Sept 2019. Low Dose weekly taxol and carboplatin for 6 weeks with daily radiation 30 days, excluding weekends and holidays completed 12/31/19. VATS surgery removal of right upper lobe 3/2/20. Pathology shows NED, however standard care/treatment recommends high dose chemo for 2 cycles, 1x every 3 weeks. I have appt with oncologist 3/30 to discuss and likely schedule more chemo.

 

[MyWifeSCLC]

On 3/27/2020 at 11:44 AM, Tamkow said:

NSCLC Squamous, stage 3a, diagnosed Sept 2019. Low Dose weekly taxol and carboplatin for 6 weeks with daily radiation 30 days, excluding weekends and holidays completed 12/31/19. VATS surgery removal of right upper lobe 3/2/20. Pathology shows NED, however standard care/treatment recommends high dose chemo for 2 cycles, 1x every 3 weeks. I have appt with oncologist 3/30 to discuss and likely schedule more chemo.

 

Hi Tamkow ... was the Carbo given on 1st day and Taxol given on 1st, 2nd and 3rd day each week? Were you evaluated after 4th cycle before continuing with next 2? Was the surgery warranted because cancer shrunk due to treatment.

Thx Steve

[Tamkow]

Hi, no  both given same day, 1x per week. Along with the premeds/labs, I was at the facility 8am, out by noon, then drove 10 miles to have my daily radiation. I had 4R lymph node, and surgeon would not do the surgery. However, after initial treatment, and great results (PET SCAN lymph node normal and tumor shrunk by 50 percent with low SUV), surgery was recommended. I am now scheduled this coming Tuesday to begin my 2 cycles of chemo, Docetaxel and Cisplation.  The initial biopsy via bronscopy did not obtain enough sample to test for biomarkers and the biopsy of removed lobe and several lymph nodes shows no evidence of disease. Therefore no cancer sample to test for targeted treatment. I'm not complaining, nor am I looking forward to having additional treatment in light of the pandemic. But it is the standard care/treatment to avoid possible recurrence.  I hope this gives you some relief/hope that this disease can be beat. TK

Please note, I was given an option of low dose or  high dose. Because I live alone, I opted for the low dose. I was not given an option this time, and have to go with high dose and longer infusion time.