Update on my Mom

simplyklb · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject: Update on my Mom

Hi All,
My mom had a CT on Monday. We got the results yesterday. The news we got was not good. Sad

Her cancer continued to grow while on Tarceva. The onc gave her two options: find a clinical trial or do nothing. None of us are ready to give up. The onc is not ready to give up. We will be meeting with the onc and a research nurse to discuss clinical trials both near and far on Mon., Oct. 26th. The onc even gave me permission to look at info on the clinicaltrials.gov.

I have to admit that I was not surprised at the news we got yesterday. Mom never had the major side effects from Tarceva and that is indicator that it was not working, according to what I had read online.

This news comes at a bad time... Tomorrow marks a year since my dad passed away from small cell lung cancer.

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

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2404

((((Kristi)))),

Oh boy. Nothing like bad news AND bad timing. I'm so sorry for you two. We never got the bad reaction either, but didn't realize how fast my husband's cancer would return during that time.

He DID feel good during his time on that, so I hope your Mom had some decent time off the hard stuff.

On the upside -- my husband went onto Navelbine and had a 19 week run of it working very well.

Have hope and 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

dano · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

Kristi, sorry to hear this news about your mom. It is good to hear that her onc is still willing help her fight. Seems like I'm hearing more doctors lately telling the patients that there is nothing more they can do. God willing there has to be something out there to help. Next Tuesday I get my Alimta treatment again, there is a bit of of a love hate thing going there. I like the fact that it still works, but I hate going through my lows. I guess I should be glad that I have a reaction but it is hard to like being kicked in the head.
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

Kristi, I am so sorry to hear the "not so good" news. Please know that prayers are going up for all of you! But, I truly love the drive and determination that you all have, even the doctor. How awesome!

And I pray that God strengthens you and your Mom today on the anniversary of your father's death. That has to be even tougher to handle with everything going on with your Mom...

Thinking of you,

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

Trudy · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:46 pm Post subject: Praying

Hi Kristi,

Wow, what news about your Mother...
yet go for it and keep looking for another line of treatment.

and wow, again, that this news comes on the heels of your Father's passing...

You have been on my mind and heart for the last several weeks and know that my prayers are with you and your Mother.

You are a wonderful daughter, you are so supportive to your Mother.

God bless you and keep us posted
_________________
Trudy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
86 yr old Mother has NSCLC Stage 4 diagnosed April 2008

Trudy · Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:37 am Post subject: Question

Hello again Kristi,

I wanted to let you know that after my Mom's last CAT Scan, they saw that the tumors have grown, yet not significantly...

so they gave her the option to have a procedure called
"Radiofrequency Ablation" It is an image-guided technique that heats and destroys cancer cells.

I wanted to share this with you as another option to talk with your onc about.

Mom has 3 tumors, the largest being in her right lung lower lobe. This is the tumor they will target for.

She will be having this done this month Oct. 27.

What did your Mother's CAT Scan show and how many tumors does she have.

Oh I think of you so much!
blessings to you and your Mother
_________________
Trudy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
86 yr old Mother has NSCLC Stage 4 diagnosed April 2008

simplyklb · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

Thanks everyone!

Mom still has the original lung tumor that is over 4 cms now... I can't remember the exact dimensions now but it had definitely grown since the scan in August. She has lymph nodes that are near her aortic arch. There lies the problem... The lymph nodes near the heart.

I am see my mom declining. I can walk into the room at 10 AM and at 4 PM she is still sitting in the same chair. She finally told me that it makes her back feel better. She does not have constant pain in her back.. only when she moves or coughs. Frankly, I am worried.

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

terrismom · Regular Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 46

Hi Kristy.
Do they by any chance have your mom on the fentynal patch? My daughter has a met on one of her ribs. She was in terrible pain when she moved or coughed also until they put her on the patch. It was a life saver as far as her pain went. Just a suggestion
Prayers your way

Monell

simplyklb · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:46 pm Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

Hi Monell,
Thanks! How is your daughter doing?

Mom's not on any pain meds as she has no mets outside of the left lung and lymph nodes near her aortic arch.

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

terrismom · Regular Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 46

Thanks for asking. She is doing pretty good. Went to the dr today. Her cancer markers had been down to normal for the past 6 weeks, but today they have started to rise again. So now we will see in 3 weeks what they are going to do next.
How is your mom feeling? If her moving or coughing causes her pain, I have to wonder if some pain meds might help her. It is so hard to know what to do. This is a terrible roller coaster.
If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know. Just know that your not alone in this.

Prayers going your way
Monell

simplyklb · Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:45 am Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

If it is the cancer rearing its ugly head, hopefully the oncologist will get right on it.

Mom has pain when she moves. I need the oncologist to look at her back next week. The internist said it was muscular. My mom wakes up to nausea and vomiting and goes to bed with it.

I am afraid, very afraid.

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

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2404

Kristi,

Sorry to hear that things are getting strange over there with your Mom. I hope the doc will get this sorted out. You've been through so much and I'm sure you're living on the edge lately. ((((big hugs))))

Keep us posted and, as always, feel free to vent. It's scary to be in your shoes -- as you know.

God bless,
PBJ

Monell -- hope to see an update on your daughter soon too and that things will be stable. Prayers for all.
_________________
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

8widgets · New User Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 1 Location: York, PA

Make sure the biopsied/resected tumor is tested for KRAS and EGFR mutations.
Tarceva has been shown to only be effective in NSCLC tumors without KRAS mutations. Conversely, EGFR mutations show sensitivity to Tarceva/erlotinib. These tests are widely available - commercially, Quest and Genzyme both offer these tests. Turn around time is round 2 weeks. Best of luck to everyone in this fight!

simplyklb · Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

I have been offline since Thurs. night - dead DSL modem. Online with a borrowed laptop. Anyway, Mom has been increasingly getting sick. Took her in Friday PM for fluids. Her BP was fine.. They gave her fluids. We saw the NP who chatted with the onc... Decided to do a brain MRI. That was done today. We get the results tomorrow AM. I will have lots more tomorrow.

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

simplyklb · Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Update on my Mom

Hi All,
We got Mom's MRI results... They are fine... Nothing abnormal in her brain. Mom is getting a referral to a GI specialist for an endoscopy. We need to see what is going on with her esophagus. Mom will probably be starting in a phase III clinical trial in mid Nov. We see the onc on Mon. for a re-check.

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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