More time?

zicka · Regular Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 21

I've only posted here a few times because it seems I keep asking the same questions over and over in different ways. I feel so stupid. However, I need to see if anyone here (caregivers) have ever had their spouse or family member have lung cancer for 15 months after diagnosis, and the sufferer mow the lawn, never get sick, eat and not lose (in fact, gain) weight, never have any pain, do projects for others, etc.?

This is all wishful thinking because I'm hoping someone will say that their loved one lived longer than the doctors expected. You see he goes for a P.E.T. Scan tomorrow and he's on the last type of chemo they can give him. We were hopeful at the last scan because the one before showed the tumor was dead in the middle and just a bit on the outside was active.However, when they did the last one, they saw 4 little dots in his stomach and the doctor asked if he wanted to discontinue treatment Rolling Eyes

He said, he'd like a little more time, thank you!!! So they put him on:
Taxotere
Avastin
Carboplatin (which he'd taken before with something else)
Decadron

He took 3 treatments of that....once a month.

He's been off for about a month and will now have the scan tomorrow. Every week of these scans I'm so stressed out I hardly know what I'm doing but I can't talk to him about it. So I am so glad I can come here and post. Each day I think I'm doing better but I guess the stress and dread are still deep inside me.

Thanks for reading this.

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

Sure! My husband lived 2 1/2 years with a Stage IV diagnosis and had many good times where he was golfing, helping do things around the house and for others, etc. He was held back from some activity due to oxygen 24/7. Never any pain, ate a lot, and did gain weight at times, or held stable.

There are highs and there are lows.

Enjoy the wonderful times!

Good luck with the scans. Keep us posted.

God bless,
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

Kronk86 · Regular Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

My father as well. They gave him about 3 months at first. He lived about a year.

Not as good as some of the others. My aunt is going through the same thing my dad went through right now. Stage 4 NSCLC. She was diagnosed in Jan 08. Still alive and fighting.

My dad would have been proud of his little sister for fighting so hard.

zicka · Regular Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 21

Thanks for answering. I feel a little better now. It's good to know others have been there and gotten thru the pain.

zicka · Regular Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 21

I just wanted to ask another question. Does anyone know of anyone who was told to quit meds/chemo because there was nothing more to give them, who lived for a time without taking anything?

This may be a dumb question but I felt I should ask it.

onecoyote · Senior User Joined: 15 Jul 2008 Posts: 150

Hello zicka,
My husband was initially diagnosed with NSCLC in June 2008, he tried one infusion of chemo in May 2009 but could not tolerate it. He has been without any treatment since. There is cancer progression but he is comfortable, mentally sharp and still eats like a horse. Granted he is terminally ill but he is not in misery. He has organized three large photo albums of his life with descriptions to leave behind for me. He has also written a blog on the computer about his life as a hunter/fisherman. All this he has done from his bed as he is too weak to move around much but the mind is not weak, thank heaven. I am thankful I have him in any condition as long as there is no pain.
Regards,
Charlene
_________________
Husband Danny, age 66,
diagnosed squamous cell June 6, 2008,
Right pneumonectomy performed with no adjuvant chemo or radiation on Sept. 2008
Metastatic lung cancer in the ribs, scapula and right kidney raised it's ugly head May 2009.
Renal cell carcinoma diagnosed May 2009
One round carbo/taxol, too weak to continue
Cancer racing like a freight train
Held my husband's hand when he passed away September 29, 2009

zicka · Regular Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 21

We got some good news yesterday. After talking it over my husband said if this P.E.T. Scan showed bad news he was stopping all chemo and just living until it was his time to go. I agreed with him. Even though he hasn't had the horror stories most people have had on here, I've watched him turn from 58 to 80 with the chemo and radiation for over a year.

So we went in to the doctor's with our minds made up. Can you believe he told us that the cocktail they were using had gotten rid of the small tumors in his stomach and the lung tumor was shrinking. We just couldn't believe it. I, though, felt we were due for some good news. Even though I know this is terminal, maybe we WILL have another Christmas together and he will get to celebrate his 60th birthday in September, God willing.

Just wanted to tell everyone.

simplyklb · Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: More time?

My mom was officially diagnosed May 30, 2008, with stage III lung cancer. She has battled this monster for nearly 15 months. Se was off treatment for nearly eight months before going back on treatment. She is doing great. I think that she has caught a little bit of a bug because she is hoarse and her cough has changed and she just had scans this week.

My dad was diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer on May 6, 2008. Sadly, he passed away on October 15, 2008. Sad

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

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