Mom Just Diagnosed with Stage IIIa - Treatment questions

momsjourney · New User Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 1

My mom lives in Hong Kong and she is just diagnosed with Stage IIIa lung cancer.

She has a tumour at her right lung which is around 3cm in size. According to the PET scan, she has some lymph nodes which are a bit hypermetabolic, suspicious of local involvement.

Her other medical conditions are diabetes, high blood pressure, and she had heart surgery last year.

Due to the government hospital system in Hong Kong, the doctors have not been very helpful in determining the treatment plan for her lung cancer. They said surgery is not an option due to her other health problems. Radiation therapy is not even given as an option. The only treatment they said is chemo. The doctors said there are 4 kinds of chemo, did not even give the names of the chemo. Just said all of those have diff effects on diff patient. Most of the time only 10% of the patients respond to a certain drug. Basically just ask us to pick one out of a hat.

Is is true that only 10% of the patients respond to a certain chemo? Which one is the most effective chemo for Stage IIIa?

As I started researching on this topic since my mom was diagnosed, it seems radiation therapy plus chemo therapy is the most beneficial course of treatment for stage IIIa, can you think of any reasons why radiation therapy is not recommended for my mom?

Thanks,

Jenny

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

Hi Jenny,

So sorry to hear about your mother's recent diagnosis. In the whole scheme of things, this forum is somewhat of a comfort, and a good place to read about the journeys of others, and get support from patients and loved ones who understand what you and your mom are going through.

I would ask your mom's doctors to discuss the various chemo options in more detail with you. I don't think that they should expect you to pick one out of a hat! Shocked

We're not sure if my mom will need radiation or not. It depends on how successful the chemo treatment is. But I suggest you ask more questions, and the docs should be able to tell you why they are not recommending radiation.

Please keep us posted with updates.

God Bless,

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

Kronk86 · Regular Joined: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 20

Hi Jenny,

As "thinkpink" said, i would ask the doctor's what chemo treatment is going to work best.

From my own experience dealing with cancer, Cysplatin and Carboplatin seem to be them most common for the vast majority of lung cancer.

Chemo has very different effects on everyone. I would never put a percentage on how effective it is going to be, that really depends on the person.

I also agree that you need to ask more questions about the radiation. I know that is can stress the heart depending on how close the mass is in proximity to it.

Just take a deep breath, write ALL the questions you have for the doctors down, and then the next time you speak with the doctor ask them.

When my father was diagnosed, i would always go into the doctors office with a list of questions and then forget to ask them.

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