Lung Cancer Bursting Through? Question....

sealnomore · Regular Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

Hi All,

My dad has stage 4 NSC Lung Cancer with mets to the brain. He is on steriods had 10 whole brain radiation treatments and starts chemo every three weeks next week with taxotere. He was given a 3-6 month life span and presented to the doctor with affects from the brain cancer 5 weeks ago which is when he was diagnosed. He is 75.

At his appointment Monday, apparently the doctor said "we need to get this rolling your lung cancer is bursting through" He had a CAT scan last week.

Any ideas what the doc could have meant? I want to know what way to gear my questions at his next appointment.

Thanks so much!
Debbie

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1138

Hi Debbie,

I don't really know for sure, but I suspect that the cancer is on the move and the doctor knows from the CT scan. Because he had to do the WBR, the rest of the cancer hasn't been touched through chemotherapy and has continued to grow.

Once he gets on the chemo and shows a response, the rest of the cancer should shrink. It's pretty amazing how much cancer one can actually have and still be okay. The brain was a "must-do-first" situation.

I'd ask the doctor to explain how much growth was experienced between the last two scans.

Best of luck to you and your Dad with his chemo.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

sealnomore · Regular Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

Thank You! Thats exactly what I needed to know to get some questions ready.

Last question (for a while!) - his doctor mentioned that his chemo was really only a quality of life option, wouldn't extend him more than 5 weeks or so. Isn't chemo usually given more often than every three weeks or is that normal? Just wondering if they are only giving it that often because his expectancy is fairly low.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1138

Hi,

Chemo is given on all different types of cycles. It all depends on the type of chemo drug used and what the doctor feels is best for the patient. Some of the same drugs can be given every three weeks or once a week for ? weeks.

My husband was frequently on the every three week cycles with different chemo agents. Others he was on were once per week.

Do you know yet what he'll be taking?

At Stage IV, there currently is no cure, but there is treatment and that can extend his life tremendously. Everyone is so unique, that it all depends on the type of response he gets from the chemo and how well he tolerates doing it. My husband had his life greatly extended from doing aggressive chemo, despite the fact that his cancer was also aggressive. He was lucky and it didn't leave his chest area, except for two bone mets.

I hope your Dad will experience a great response that will give him more quality of life and time.

Good luck!

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

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