Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

autransin · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

Hi,
I am in need of some help. My Mom was diagosed about (2) months ago w/NSCLC stage IV. All the test came in and the Dr. Told us that she had only one Tumor about 2 c.m. in her right middle lobe. Well they did a PET scan and a few others only to find that it was in the luymp node in the tube that is between the lungs and some under in right arm. She is only 61 and in good health. She went thru about 3 weeks of Rad. and now she just started her Chemo. She gets one complete cycle and rest for 3 weeks and so on for 2 to 3 times. We have had some issues with the Dr. who she is under. They have check everything else and it has not traveled any other parts of the body. I know that it is bad just to have this but is she a little better off then some with more spots. Anything would help.

1. Effexor
2. Avastin
3. Carboplatin
4. Taxol
5. Neulastin

Thanks,
Bill

autransin · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 10:12 am Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

Okay people. I really need a quick response on this. I just talked to my Dad and my Mom is going downhill fast after her only first chemo which is taxol / carbo. She is having serve pain in the middle of her back and says that it feels like a lump in her throat. I thought the sore throat thing was due to her Rad. treatment but she has been done for about 4 weeks or more. I need HELP!!!! Her Dr. does not seem to have a really good bedside manner.

Bill

Crystal1111 · Regular Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Florida

Why are they calling in stage IV if it hasn't spread to other parts of her body? Is it because it's in some lymph nodes or because of the size of the primary tumor? Just curious. I'm sorry to hear that she is not handling the chemo/radiation well. What symptoms did she have before her 2 month diagnosis? And also, does she have any other health problems, i.e., heart, diabetes.? It does sound like a bad bedside manner from the doctor. Do you feel comfortable with the place in which your mother is receiving treatment? You and your family are in my prayers.
_________________
Crystal
Daughter of Sue,
50 years old
Recently diagnosed with
Stage IV NSCLC
Started first round of chemo May 11th

autransin · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

Crystal
Thanks for the words of comfort. The Dr. is the one who called it stage 4. I thought that if it went out and in the lympho nodes the it was stage 4. Her CT and PET scan came back with nothing on the brain / bone / liver. She goes in tomorrow for her CBC blood work to check and see how her blood count is. Dad is going to have a sit down tomorrow and see what the Dr. deal is. I am getting stuff ready to pull her and take her to somebody else.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

My Dad was was in stage IV, and it was only in his lungs.

autransin · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

That is where we are so stumped. I have read about people having 2 or more spots and on the brain and liver and they are only stage 3. How does the title of stage 4 match up with (1) spot in the lungs and the lymph nods? I understand that all but stage 1/2 the cancer has move outside the Lungs. If iam reading the stuff wrong please point in the right direction.

Crystal1111 · Regular Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Florida

I think there are 3 criteria to determine the stage of lung cancer. I can't remember what the 3 categories are. I think distant organ metastasis automatically makes it stage IV, which in my mother's case I can understand. I just don't understand how it can be stage IV if there is no distant metastasis with Non-small cell lung cancer. I'll have to do some more research.
_________________
Crystal
Daughter of Sue,
50 years old
Recently diagnosed with
Stage IV NSCLC
Started first round of chemo May 11th

autransin · Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

crystal,
You hit the nail on the head. I am getting no where with her DR. It sucks that i live out of state. Maybe anyone can tell me if its normal for a DR. to just write NSCLC stage 4. I thought their was 3 different kinds. Moms cancer is in the right middle lobe and they said that the lympo under arm and some it the tubr that joins the lungs.

adr22367 · Experienced user Joined: 17 May 2005 Posts: 78

Is there more than 1 tumor on the lung? More than 1 tumor is also considered stage IV.

autransin · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 10:46 am Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

no that has been asked time and time again. Only 1 on the lung. The 2 other spots are under her right arm in the lympo and in the tube that ties the lungs togther.

autransin · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject: Re: Mom w/NSCLC stage IV

When will the bad news stop. My Mom is on her way to see a throat Dr. for the lump feeling in her throat. We were told that this a side effect of the rad. / chemo. Strange thing is that she had no issue during the rad. and she has been done for almost 5 weeks. All the Dr. could really say is that its common. To me it sounding alot like Thrush. I would be okay if they gave her some pills to help it. But they said that she needed to go there so that could put a scope down there to see. After we find out whats going on i think its time for a second look and a change in Dr. If anybody in the peru IL area knows of one please let me know...

Crystal1111 · Regular Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 27 Location: Florida

Could it be because of the size of the mass in her lung?
_________________
Crystal
Daughter of Sue,
50 years old
Recently diagnosed with
Stage IV NSCLC
Started first round of chemo May 11th

nurse_ally · New User Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

[quote="autransin"]When will the bad news stop. My Mom is on her way to see a throat Dr. for the lump feeling in her throat. We were told that this a side effect of the rad. / chemo. Strange thing is that she had no issue during the rad. and she has been done for almost 5 weeks. All the Dr. could really say is that its common. To me it sounding alot like Thrush. I would be okay if they gave her some pills to help it. But they said that she needed to go there so that could put a scope down there to see. After we find out whats going on i think its time for a second look and a change in Dr. If anybody in the peru IL area knows of one please let me know...[/quote]

I just wanted to say that my father in 04-05 went through chemo and radiation. The radiation continues to work for approx 3 months from the time the treatments stop. (I say this inresponse to a previous post of yours) Aside from this my dad got the "lump" in his throat after and then lost his voice and has had no voice for almost 1 year. What has occured is they damagedthe vocal chords with the radiation. His whisper has gotten progressively worse and he just had a bronchoscopy 3 weeks ago where they found that the reccurence has really infiltrated the trachea (the tube that connects to the lungs)
My father's initial diagnosis was NSCLC in the left upper with spots in the lymphnodes around the trachea. This time he has some infilitration into the right lung and MANY 3cm sized nodules in the medialstinal space and lymp surronding the trachea.

I think I can relate to what you are experiencing with your mother.
If you ever want to chat feel free to pm me!

Has anyone spoke to her about the Tarceva and velcade study? She sounds like she is in somewhat the same spot as my father and he is signed up for this study and he begins next week.

Thinking of you and praying for you and your mother.
Allyson

Seamus · New User Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 1

This is my first post although I have been reading the forum for some months.
My dear wife was diagnosed NSCLC stage 4 last November. Secondaries in Lung, bone and renal glands. Treatment was radiotherapy to relieve pain in pelvic bones. Too weak to even attempt chemo so was put on Tarceva 150 mg per day and a patch for pain control. After 8 days had severe reaction leading to dehydration. in hospital for iv fluids and recovered enough after 4 weeks to try tarceva 100 mg per day. Same result after 7 days. After 3 weeks rest she was able to tolerate 100mg every second day.
After two months of this we had to take another break of 2 weeks.
Now suffering dizzy spells and we are afraid of a fall as bones very brittle.
We have already got longer than we expected with no lung symptoms. I have been advised that liver bloods are showing signs of progression and our time remaining may now be short.
_________________
Seamus

autransin · Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 10:07 am Post subject: UPDATE!!!!!

Good news for a change. Went to be with my Mom this week for her second round of chemo and did we get s shock. My Dad dropped Mom off for her 4-5hr treatment. He said that they meet with the Dr. and he told them that both lympho nodes were clean and that she had no more fuild on the lungs and the one in the center was gone.!!!! He said that he wanted to go ahead and finish the 4 round cycle just to be safe and then if all is good then they will put her on some kind of meds. I'am trying not to get really worked up. I now take one day at a time and thank God for letting me hold on the my Mom for a little longer. Thanks all for the kind words.

Bill

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