73 yr old Mom with stage IV NSCLC

maryaz

Just want to say I am thinking of you and praying for you and your Mom. I cannot answer about the transfusions. My husband didn't have any. It is probably not that all uncommon. So many things become issues after treatments. My husband had problems with anemia, wbc I think, de-hydration, etc.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

terrismom · Regular Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 46

My daughter had to have two units if red blood after the second injection of her new chemo. She has had plattlets twice. I don't know how common it is but looks like we are going to go through the transfusions also.
Give you mom a big hug and I am saying prayers for you and her.

Monell

nickaugust · New User Joined: 29 Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Location: London

My Dad also had to have Platelets & a blood tranfusion after his 2nd round of Chemo...

He is current too weak to have any further Chemo...

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hello my friends,

Monell and Nick, thanks for the insight on the blood transfusions. And maryaz, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Wink

After 4 chemo treatments of Alimta and Carboplatin every three weeks between May 1st and July 8th, Mama had a CT scan performed on July 24th. The doctor wanted to wait until 3 weeks after the 4th chemo treatment on July 8th so that the scan would include the effects of that fourth treatment.

At the follow up appointment /restaging evaluation with the doctor on July 29th, we were advised that there was not complete improvement, but some improvement. The pleural and pericardial effuison has resolved, and not recurred. The lumbar lesions have become "scoridic and are no longer litid". Question

That's what I heard, but I have no idea how to spell it!

So basically, some areas have improved, while others remain the same. More importantly, the cancer has not progressed or worsened. Very Happy

So we agreed to continue with the same course of treatment – Alimta and Carboplatin. We’re doing four more treatments, and then another scan. We discussed the option of changing drugs, which could possibly cause more toxicity to Mama’s system. So, since her quality of life has been fairly good while on the Alimta and Carboplatin, and there has been some improvement, we’re sticking with these drugs for now. The doctor asked if she wanted to do her fifth treatment that day or next week, and she quickly responded "next week". I think she enjoyed that four week break between treatments instead of the three week break!

Her fifth chemo treatment was last Wednesday, August 5th. She had a considerable amount of bone pain in her sternum and her back (right behind the sternum) from the Neulasta shot, but the Claritin and Lortab seemed to ease the pain. Her 8 day follow up visit today with the NP went well. All looks good on paper – BP good, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, plalets. Her weight is holding pretty steady at the same weight that she was at before her diagnosis in April.

She even went to the beauty parlor on July 31st – first time since the diagnosis. And also went to church two Sundays in a row on July 25th and August 2nd!

And so, we continue to count our blessings and give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for his healing power!
tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hello my friends,

Monell and Nick, thanks for the insight on the blood transfusions. And maryaz, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Wink

After 4 chemo treatments of Alimta and Carboplatin every three weeks between May 1st and July 8th, Mama had a CT scan performed on July 24th. The doctor wanted to wait until 3 weeks after the 4th chemo treatment on July 8th so that the scan would include the effects of that fourth treatment.

At the follow up appointment /restaging evaluation with the doctor on July 29th, we were advised that there was not complete improvement, but some improvement. The pleural and pericardial effuison has resolved, and not recurred. The lumbar lesions have become "scoridic and are no longer litid". Question

That's what I heard, but I have no idea how to spell it!

So basically, some areas have improved, while others remain the same. More importantly, the cancer has not progressed or worsened. Very Happy

So we agreed to continue with the same course of treatment – Alimta and Carboplatin. We’re doing four more treatments, and then another scan. We discussed the option of changing drugs, which could possibly cause more toxicity to Mama’s system. So, since her quality of life has been fairly good while on the Alimta and Carboplatin, and there has been some improvement, we’re sticking with these drugs for now. The doctor asked if she wanted to do her fifth treatment that day (7/29) or next week, and she quickly responded "next week". I think she enjoyed that four week break between treatments instead of the three week break!

So, her fifth chemo treatment was last Wednesday, August 5th. She had a considerable amount of bone pain in her sternum and her back (right behind the sternum) from the Neulasta shot, but the Claritin and Lortab seemed to ease the pain. Her 8 day follow up visit today with the NP went well. All looks good on paper – BP good, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, plalets. Her weight is holding pretty steady at the same weight that she was at before her diagnosis in April.

She even went to the beauty parlor on July 31st – first time since the diagnosis. And also went to church two Sundays in a row on July 25th and August 2nd! I was so glad to take Mama and my aunt to church, and really happy that Mama even felt well enough to go! She even walked to communion without her walker. But her hip did hurt her afterwards…

And so, we continue to count our blessings and give thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for his healing power! We are thankful for these "good" days, and continue to pray for those in our circle of friends who are not having any "good" days right now...

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

simplyklb

TP,
Glad to see some improvement! Smile

It is good to see that your mom is getting out a little! Smile

Glad to see that the combo of Carboplatin and Alimta are working for your mom. Carboplatin along with Taxol and Avastin did not work for my mom last year. Alimta did not work for my mom either. I am hoping that Tarceva works for her.

Kristi
_________________
Dad - Andy, 70, diagnosed with SCLC in May 2008
2/20/38 - 10/15/08 Fly high, Dad!
Mom - Jackie, 67, diagnosed with NSCLC in May 2008

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Today was chemo treatment #6. All went well and Mama and Daddy were back home by 12:30 this afternoon. Everything looked good – blood counts, blood pressure, weight. She goes back tomorrow for her Neulasta shot - gotta remember to give her the Claritin!

During the doctor visit prior to the chemo, my Mama mentioned that her hip still hurts. The doctor was like “Your hip? When did this start?” And I was like “You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s how this whole ordeal started!” But considering the lengthy hospital stay when this all began, and the malignant pleural effusion and malignant pericardial effusion, and all the other happenings in the hospital, who was concerned about hip pain? Daddy was actually in the patient room with us this week, because I was late and they had already called Mama from the waiting room. He never goes in the patient room with us. He always says to the nurse "My daughter will handle it!"

Life has been good, with all kinds of good things going on –

•I took Mama and my aunt to church again this past weekend, and she and I went to Picadilly for dinner afterwards! We got “dinner to go” for Daddy.
•Mama actually washed dishes a couple of days ago!
•Daddy is actually leaving home a little more often and feels okay leaving Mama alone for short periods of time!
•Mama is planning to go to the football game next Friday to see my daughter’s debut as a college cheerleader!

Our God is an awesome God, and I continue to pray for healing for all of my friends on the forum, and for faith and strength for all of us loved ones and caregivers!

God bless us all,

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

dano

Hi TP;
Glad to see your mom's battle is going well and I'm glad that she is staying on her same treatment. My worry from the beginning was about how cancer can mutate and render the treatment useless. They thought that to be the case with my first treatment of Carboplatin and Docetaxel. My glands ended up swelling up as hard as a rock and that scared us all. So they took me off treatment and sent me to the radiologist to get my brain tumors treated. Looking back I think that my glands reacted normally because the the chemo was knocking the heck out off my cancer and likely a lot of other cells in my body. When the radiation was done I went back to be treated with Alimta, which was nice as far as the length of time for treatments, previously it took at least 3 1/2 hrs, now it is about 45min, plus the time it takes them to find a vein, they are pretty stubborn about wanting to find my veins that they see but cant hit. I have just one good vein in my right elbow where I get all my blood tests and they never miss. But the veins on my hands move easily and need good technique. I always bet my nurse lunch, she pays if she misses and I pay when she hits it. But she misses far more than she hits it, and I still have not gotten the lunch! lol. But I talk them out of it most times and get it in the elbow area which is faster all around. The treatments take longer in the smaller veins. Your mom has a Port right? Like your mom my treatments seemed to have held the cancer in check with some improvement in some areas. I'm happy with that and so are the doctors. I'm glad to see your moms spirits are up and I'm sure things will improve from here. I just had my treatment last Tuesday and I'm still feeling good which is normal, tomorrow the ick will come and by Saturday or Sunday the nuelasta shot will kick in with it's surprises. I kind of look forward to the rides I go on when the attacks hit and I learn how to beer ride them out, they don't last long. It seems they hit your mom much worse. I do remember one time when I got the pain the same day as the shot, that was a shock but has only happened the one time. You are a very wonderful person, and it is great getting to know you through the love you pour out to your mom, you have a great attitude.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hello my friends,

Thanks dano, for the kind words. I hope this post finds you well! Yes, Mom has a port. You are truly a trooper to deal with all those "vein" issues! Let me know if you need help collecting on those lunches! Wink

I missed Mama's 8 day follow up appointment this past Wednesday by just a few minutes. But she and Daddy said that all went well, and they had sent her out back to the waiting room to wait to be called for a Procrit shot by the time I got there. I have no idea why they switched her from the Neulasta shot. I will have to ask that question next week.

Well y'all, tomorrow is the big day! The day I prayed for - Mama and I will be travelling to my daughter's college to see her debut as a college cheerleader! Mama stayed on me about putting her "game outfit" in the cleaners, and kept reminding me to get her "game outfit" out of the cleaners! She went to the beauty parlor today, and is ready to go tomorrow!

Thinking back to how sick Mama was back in April, I honestly did not know if the script would play out this way. But our Heavenly Father has truly answered my prayers. I thank Him for these good days, and I will continue to cast my cares on Him so that I walk in faith, and not fear, during the "not so good" days.

The next milestone I will pray for - her 74th birthday on Christmas Day - if God says the same...

Stay strong, my friends! You are all in my thoughts and prayers!

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

dano · Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: a good laugh

Hi TP!
Thanks for the laugh, I'll need that help collecting those lunches. I enjoy the friendly banter that goes on in the chemo room. The chemo room is a bit small for what is stuffed in there. And everybody has to dance to get around all the feet, chairs, IV stands and the like with all the chairs full there are always a lot of bodies moving in out and around. Not all of the nurses know how to take me, but I love them all, just some make it more fun to give them a bad time, with smiles and grins on all faces, and in that room the nurses need that because death warmed over is in many of the faces there.
I hope all goes well seeing tour daughter perform it will be very exciting. Such a good memorable time to be had.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Well, we've got chemo treatment #7 under our belts! But now, Mama is having problems with the mouth sores, and mouth pain. She's tried the Biotene, but it's not helping much.

Anybody got any advice on what might work to alleviate the pain from the mouth sores? Question

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2403

TP,

Arrghhh -- those nasty mouth sores!! Try having her take B-50 everyday. It was told to our oncologist's nurses by another patient and they told us about it. Almost like a miracle for my husband's mouth sores. Never bothered again. Hopefully it will do the same for your Mom. (I no longer remember if he took 1 or 2 per day.)

Is she doing the Biotene 4x a day?

As for the mouth pain -- is it unrelated to the mouth sores themselves? Hubby had a LOT of problems with bone/gum area pain and ended up using ambesol (sp?) on them. We think that was from the Zometa, but he suffered terribly with that.

I'm sorry --- I shudder when I think of everything they go through.

God bless and many hugs,
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

dano

Hi TP
I guess mouth sores are common, but I've never had them. The doc looks for them every visit. I'm on Alimta only and after about 10 months of treatments I noticed that what I thought was normal joint aches and pains kept getting worse. I began mentioning it to the doctor at the visits each time then finally asked to change treatments to every 4 weeks rather than the three, so they changed, this helped with the joint pain and increased the quality a life a bunch. Chemo treatments for the most part are designed by the manufacturers to be used in cycles, Once you get beyond the what the product was designed for it becomes more of a guessing game. The fact the cancer does not seem to be getting worse and slight improvement are seen is all a good sign, so why change whats working. I'm very surprised that I've gone over a year and a half and the cancer has not modified it's self yet. Thank you Jesus. So why mess with success? Life is good!
God Bless
Dan
_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hello friends,

dano, how lucky you are –no mouth sores! The doctor kept looking for some in Mama’s mouth as well, and for 5 ½ months, she didn’t have any! I am so happy that you’ve gone over 1 ½ years and the cancer has not modified itself. Yep, don’t mess with success – we take these good days and run with them, don’t we? What a blessing, and we thank our Heavenly Father for that!!!!! Very Happy

PBJ, as far as the Biotene goes, Mama used it a little (maybe once a day) and was quick to say it didn’t work! But she did not do it 4 times a day. The pain basically began on the right side of her tongue and then she started having throat pain and it was difficult to swallow. This started on Thursday after her 7th chemo treatment on Wednesday. It got a little worse on Friday, and by Saturday, even worse. Crying or Very sad

My aunt, who is also a breast cancer survivor, called her pharmacist who recommended Gly-oxide. So I went to my mother’s phamacy, and the pharmacist there recommended either Gly-oxide or Peroxyl (which is a Colgate product), both available OTC. The pharmacist asked if we contacted the doctor’s office so they could call something in for her, and I told him I was going to contact them on Monday morning. I bought both the Gly-oxide and Peroxyl, and they both only provided minimal relief. Sad

So, on Monday, the doctor’s office said that they would call something in to the phamacy for her. I went to the phamacy around 4:30, but they said they hadn’t received anything from the dr’s office. I went home and called back around 6:30, still nothing. I told the pharmacy employee that the doctor’s office was closed now, so did that mean that they weren’t going to be able to give my mama anything for this horrible pain? She said that sometimes the doctor’s offices send faxes to the pharmacies after office hours. I was like “Sorry sweetie, but the doctor and all of his staff are at their houses relaxing or having dinner right now, while my mama is sitting here holding her jaw IN PAIN!” Evil or Very Mad

So, around 7:30, I decided to get up and go to back to the pharmacy before it closed at 8:00, and check again – this was definitely “divine intervention”. Good thing I did! The pharmacy worker, once again, said that they didn’t receive anything from the doctor. So, I said “Can you check with the pharmacist?” I was desperate, can you tell???? And the pharmacist said “Oh yea, they did call in something for her. I have the script right here, but I have to mix it up.” I thank God for blessing me with persistance!

The concoction is called Magic Mouthwash, and I only saw one of the ingredients that the pharmacist put in there – Benadryl liquid. I am going to try and find out what the other ingredients are. Mama can swish and swallow every four hours and can swish and spit every hour. Her throat doesn’t hurt at all any more, but the tongue pain is still there, just not as bad. Nurse practitioner also told her yesterday to swish with warm salt water as well.

As far as gum pain, she has really never had any. But, several weeks ago, she told me that her gums were bleeding when she brushed.

I may also have her try the B-50 too. Thanks for the suggestion!

I appreciate you, my friends, and am praying for you all – patients, loved ones, and caregivers!

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hello my friends,

I haven’t given an update on how my mom is doing in quite awhile. God has continued to bless my mom with a good quality of life Very Happy

– just a lot of hip pain and problems with mouth and throat pain. The Magic Mouthwash that they prescribed for her works well, and she also gargles with warm salt water. I’m beginning to think that she’s become immune to the Lortab for the hip pain because it just doesn’t seem to be working.

Mama’s eighth chemotherapy treatment was on October 7th – my birthday. I was really busy at work and unable to accompany her and my dad. Anyway, she called me when she got home and said “My lab work showed something was the matter with my kidneys, so they only gave me half of the chemo treatment. The doctor said it was caused by the chemo and it was normal”. So you know I had plenty of questions that she could not answer.

When she went for her weekly visit on the 15th, I was unable to make that appointment as well due to work obligations. So I went to her appointment yesterday, and was eager to find out what the problem was with her kidneys. The nurse pratitioner advised that her blood creatinine level was elevated on the 7th, so they only gave her the Alimta, and not the Carboplatin. At her visit on the 15th, her creatinine was normal. Yesterday it was elevated again, so they gave her IV fluids for about 1.5 hours and told her that she needs to drink more fluids.

She is scheduled for a scan next week, and they are hoping to determine if her hip pain is arthritis or related to the cancer/mets to the spine. I am eager to know the status of the cancer, and how she’s progressing and responding to the chemo treatments.

Last weekend we were blessed to be able to go to see my daughter cheer again – it was her college’s homecoming. It was kinda cold that night and I was worried about taking Mama out in that “night air”, but she insisted on going, and told me that she “asked the nurse practitioner and she said I could go!”. So I wrapped her up good, with coat, scarf, hat and gloves, and off we went. They won the game, she saw her baby cheer, and we had a great time! We had one close call while I was rolling Mama in the wheelchair to the stadium. First of all, I am NOT a certified wheelchair driver! LOL! We hit an uneven section on the sidewalk and the wheelchair abrubtly stopped while Mama’s body kept going! Shocked

Fortunately she was able to catch herself! We laughed about it, but on the way back to the car after the game, I was very aware of the “even-ness” or I guess I should say "UNeven-ness" of the sidewalk!

I continue to pray for all of you here. I pray for healing, I pray for good days, I pray for strength for us all, and I pray that God ease the pain – the physical pain, as well as the emotion pain that this disease inflicts on patients and their family. I pray for all those whose loved ones have lost their battle, but help us to know that they are at peace and pain free, in a wonderful heavenly place that we can only imagine…

Take care all,

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

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