Guest Joyce Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Have been benefitting from all your info for a while now, but this is my first post. I feel it's time I attempted to contribute in some way. My father was hospitalized in FL Jan. 6, 2003, due to shortness of breath, and atrial fibrillation (which he'd experienced several times before during the previous 10 years). Something suspicious showed up on the chest x-ray, so they did a CT scan, which revealed a 4 cm mass on the upper lobe of his left lung. After 2 spirometries, 3 bronchoscopies's, a mediastinoscopy, a PET scan, etc. (some done in FL, some in ME), he was finally firmly diagnosed w/ non-operable NSCLC (squamous cell) on 4/18/03. After many frustrating delays, he finally received his first chemotherapy treatment on April 29, a combination of Gemzar and Carboplatin. Not sure if he is at Stage IIIB or IV at this point. My twin and I from the start have been keeping important information organized in a notebook, i.e.: Dad's medical reports, doctor's list, med list, family medical history, personal medical history, and miscellaneous helpful printouts from the internet regarding treatment options, staging, diet, etc. We keep a daily journal as well. Having all this information handy and easily accessible is especially important for doctor's appointments, phone calls, hospital admittance registration, etc. Mom keeps track of the insurance papers. These last four months have not been easy, but having this message board sure has helped. It's hard to say what things would be like for me right now if I hadn't found this site. Thanks to everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyB Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Hi Joyce, Why is your dad inoperable? Because of mets? Lymph node involvement? Or because of where the tumor is? Age? Health? Why aren't they using carbo/taxol chemos, as is most common? At any rate, I hope the chemo he is getting works! Remember: The power of positive thinking can change your world! JudyB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David A Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Welcome Joyce, There is a great group of people here, as I see you've found out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Estelleanna Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 Joyce Welcome aboard! To the Friendliest group of people I know!!! They even can be helpful!!!! Have any question ask them as your sure to get them answered here! (((( Hugs))) Estelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espy Posted May 5, 2003 Share Posted May 5, 2003 First, the FL pulmonary doc said it was inoperable because the mass involved the main pulmonary artery. Then the FL surgeon said it was operable and that time was of the essence. Since my parent's home is actually Maine, and that is where 3 out of 4 of their daughters live, my father decided to have the surgery done in Maine. So we packed them up and got them back here ASAP. The first app't we had here was w/ a surgeon who specializes in lung surgery. One look at the scans from FL and he told us it was inoperable because of the location, but more importantly because he felt there was lymph node involvement. They did a PET scan which reportetdly confirmed this. The pulmonary specialist agreed w/ the surgeon, so then we were referred to an oncologist. Intially Dad was supposed to receive both radiation and chemo, but after being hospitalized for 6 days because of malignant plural and pericardial effusion, radiation will probably not be done. The surgeon removed 800 cc's of fluid from around his heart. Dad felt much better after that procedure was accomplished. Not sure why they're not using carbol/taxol, will look into this. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karma1976 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Yes Welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carleen Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Joyce, Welcome to the site. I am so sorry about your father. I will add you and your family to my prayers. Please come often and share in all the support and caring, and let us know how your dad is doing. Carleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Gemcitabine/Carboplatin Improves Survival in Lung Cancer Patients LINKOPING, Sweden—Swedish researchers found that gemcitabine (Gemzar) plus carboplatin (Paraplatin) improved response rates and survival in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer during a phase III trial, according to a presentation by C. Sederholm, MD, on behalf of the Swedish Lung Cancer Study Group. Dr. Sederholm is with the department of pulmonary medicine at University Hospital, Linkoping (ASCO abstract 1162). "Combination gemcitabine plus carboplatin increased survival without complicating toxicities or detriment to quality of life compared with gemcitabine alone," Dr. Sederholm said. Researchers enrolled 334 patients at 17 centers from October 1998 through January 2001. Eligibility criteria included histologically/cytologically confirmed stage IIIB or IV disease and performance status of 0 to 2. There was no upper age limit. Patients with known central nervous system metastatic disease were excluded. The primary study endpoint was survival. Secondary endpoints were quality of life, safety, time to progression, and response rate. Treatment Protocol Patients were randomized into two treatment arms. In the first, 170 patients received an intravenous infusion of gemcitabine, 1,250 mg/m², on days 1 and 8, every 21 days. The 164 patients in the second arm were given the same regimen of gemcitabine plus carboplatin, AUC of 5, on day 1, every 21 days. A maximum of six cycles were planned. Doses were adjusted downward according to hematologic toxicity. The median number of cycles given was five in the gemcitabine arm and six in the combination arm. The dose intensity was excellent in both treatment groups. Patients were followed up every 2 months for a year and every 3 months after the first year until progressive disease or death. Second-line treatments were given. A crossover to second-line treatment with a platinum regimen was not allowed. The treatment arms were well balanced, with no significant differences in prognostic factors. The median age was 67, with 40% of the patients being age 70 or older. The most common histology was adenocarcinoma (49% in each arm), followed by squamous cell carcinoma. More than a third of the patients had more than 5% weight loss at baseline, with a slight predominance in the gemcitabine arm (35% vs 29%). Eighty-five percent of the study population had a performance status of 0 to 1. Eight patients never received treatment for various reasons. "The hematologic toxicity, grade 3 and 4, was as expected, definitely more pronounced in the combination arm, but there were no treatment-related deaths in either arm," Dr. Sederholm said. "Five percent of the patients in the combination arm experienced grade 3 hematologic toxicity, compared to less than 2% in the single-agent arm." The most common toxicities were anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Chemotherapy-related infections were rare, with one in each arm. Thrombocytopenia, observed in a high proportion of patients in the combination arm, was short-lived, centering around day 15 and without clinical implications in the vast majority of patients. No major bleeding was reported. Nonhematologic toxicities were mild, with no significant differences between arms. Combination Highly Beneficial "The objective response rate in the 291 evaluable patients was highly significant in favor of the combination arm—30%, with two patients achieving a complete response, vs 12% in the gemcitabine arm," Dr. Sederholm said. Time to progression in the intention-to-treat population was 4 to 6 months in the combination group, and the 1-year disease-free rate was 4% to 12%. Second-line treatment was evenly distributed. Eight percent of the patients in the gemcitabine arm later crossed over to a platinum regimen against protocol. Survival Data Overall survival in the intention-to-treat analysis found 15% of patients still alive—8% in the gemcitabine arm and 27% in the gemcitabine-plus-carboplatin combination arm. The investigators found an overall survival benefit in favor of the gemcitabine/carboplatin combination. "Overall survival was significantly superior in the combination group," Dr. Sederholm said. "The higher response rate, time to progression, and improved survival supports the use of these combinations even in elderly patients with good performance status." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espy Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Thank you all so much for your warm and friendly welcome, and thank you John for the interesting, detailed information on gemcitibine and carboplatin! My father did okay after his first chemo until day 6. He awoke feeling fine, and ate a light breakfast. At around 10 he turned his head to see my sister coming in and suddenly felt extremely dizzy (as though he would fall out of his recliner) and just as suddenly began vomiting, accompanied shortly thereafter by diarrhea. He sees his doctor again for a second treatment tomorrow and at that time I will question him on this episode. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espy Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 PS: My thoughts and prayers are with all of you also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandyS Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Joyce - First - Welcome! Sorry, I was so busy the last couple of days I didn't even sign on. Second - good luck and prayers go with your dad to tomorrow's appointment. Hang in there, SandyS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Prayers headed your way for you and your father Joyce. Peg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 Welcome, Joyce! Hoping the best for you and your dad. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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