Diagnosis Stage IV, T3, N2, M1

samchaney · Regular Joined: 30 Apr 2008 Posts: 39

My sister had her 2nd dose of chemotherapy today and slept all afternoon with horrid taste in her mouth. She phoned me up and told me the diagnosis sent to her in the post.

What I am wondering is why did she only have two doses of radiation, then she has had two doses of chemotherapy and then a weeks rest and then I think she will have some more in the future.

I thought chemotherapy was given daily for weeks at a time with a rest in between.

She also says she has Adrenal involvement bilaterally. It is NSCLC. I think the chemotherapy is knocking her for six as she already has an eating disorder.

What is the prognosis for this type of cancer.

She even told me somebody gave her some holy water from Lourdes today. She sounds as if she is accepting of whatever is going to happen, but is trying to be positive. I am getting married on 1st August and hope she will be well enough to travel to me for the wedding.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1302

Hi Sam,

Here is a link that describes the staging and the prognosis at the bottom of the page: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Non-Small_Cell_Lung_Cancer_Staged.asp?sitearea=

Typically chemo is not given on a daily basis, except for SCLC, where you get a combo for three days in a row and then break for 3-4 weeks. They can give chemo once a week, depending on the type given. Usually first-line treatment is given once every three weeks, but I've seen people who are in a more weakened state receive a smaller dose in once a week sessions so it doesn't slam them too hard.

Did your sister get the radiation for bone mets? Sometimes they give a big blast to get rid of a painful bone met. If the radiation is for the chest area, it usually is given five days a week for however long is needed.

I certainly don't have all the answers because of all the variables.

Chemo is known to make the taste buds go whacky. She still needs to eat or at least drink something like Ensure or Boost to keep her weight up. Not much will taste good for those who get this side-effect. I've heard that eating with plastic silverware can help when it is a metallic taste in their mouth. My husband just said everything tasted like cardboard. Let her eat whatever sounds tasty to her, which I know is a tall order with an eating disorder.

I wish her good luck on getting to your wedding. Let her know you want her to fight because that means a lot to you. I hope she will be strong enough by then to travel, but that's another unknown.

I told my husband that I'd fly him to Lourde's when he was first diagnosed if I had to, so whatever is helpful to your sister's frame of mind is good. We had a lot of mass cards and kept them out on display during his entire illness because it helped him to know that he was being held up in prayer all the time.

Best wishes,
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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