Lung Cancer That Mets To He Brain

Hi,

mid Jan 08, my dad complaint about his back pain and we thought it was just a normal pain and did not even bother to seek medical advise till late Jan when his condition deteriorate.

We send him to private hospital where he underwent MRI on his back. Scan result reveal something that could be very serious.

Early Feb, he was confirmed to be disgnosed with Lung Cancer (NSSLC)

(so is stage 4 i.e. advanced Lung Cancer)

Complication started to surface after biospy

- air in the lung

- small ops to "remove" the air

- few weeks later, RT on his back (10 sessions)

- next, difficult in breathing due to fluid in the lung

- another op. to drain away the fluid.

After the op. he is physically very weak and has lost about 8-9 kg

So can't go for chemo. Another scan reveal that his cancer had mets to his brain.

His oncology then decided that he should take Tarceva (100mg) as he is now too weak to go for chemo.

My worry is that his brain tumor may take his life away.

Is there any medication for cancer that spread to the brain?

As Tarceva can (if work on him) prevent the cancer from spreading but the drug will not travel to his brain and penetrate the cancer cells.

 Thanks.

Hi, my dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2 mths back.

It has spread to him back

On 5/3/2008 DonaldKel wrote:

Hi,

mid Jan 08, my dad complaint about his back pain and we thought it was just a normal pain and did not even bother to seek medical advise till late Jan when his condition deteriorate.

We send him to private hospital where he underwent MRI on his back. Scan result reveal something that could be very serious.

Early Feb, he was confirmed to be disgnosed with Lung Cancer (NSSLC)

(so is stage 4 i.e. advanced Lung Cancer)

Complication started to surface after biospy

- air in the lung

- small ops to "remove" the air

- few weeks later, RT on his back (10 sessions)

- next, difficult in breathing due to fluid in the lung

- another op. to drain away the fluid.

After the op. he is physically very weak and has lost about 8-9 kg

So can't go for chemo. Another scan reveal that his cancer had mets to his brain.

His oncology then decided that he should take Tarceva (100mg) as he is now too weak to go for chemo.

My worry is that his brain tumor may take his life away.

Is there any medication for cancer that spread to the brain?

As Tarceva can (if work on him) prevent the cancer from spreading but the drug will not travel to his brain and penetrate the cancer cells.

 Thanks.

 

 

Hi, my dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2 mths back.

It has spread to him back

Hi Donald,

So sorry to hear about your Dad.  But believe you will find the Tarceva is a very good choice to treat him.  Tarceva is one of the few cancer drugs that does cross the blood/brain barrier and helps attack tumors and prevent new ones from forming.

I have been taking it for 19 months now and have no mets anywhere, including the brain.  It has truly been a God send for me.   

I have stage 4 nsclc and am doing quite well on this treatment.  I still work every day and do all the things I always have.  I get tired in the evenings but that's to be expected.  If he gets the rash and diarrhea as side effects, do a search on Tarceva and you will find many postings on treatments that have been used by many to combat the side effects.

I wish your Dad the very best.  God Bless you both.  If I can help with any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. 

On 5/3/2008 DonaldKel wrote:

Hi,

mid Jan 08, my dad complaint about his back pain and we thought it was just a normal pain and did not even bother to seek medical advise till late Jan when his condition deteriorate.

We send him to private hospital where he underwent MRI on his back. Scan result reveal something that could be very serious.

Early Feb, he was confirmed to be disgnosed with Lung Cancer (NSSLC)

(so is stage 4 i.e. advanced Lung Cancer)

Complication started to surface after biospy

- air in the lung

- small ops to "remove" the air

- few weeks later, RT on his back (10 sessions)

- next, difficult in breathing due to fluid in the lung

- another op. to drain away the fluid.

After the op. he is physically very weak and has lost about 8-9 kg

So can't go for chemo. Another scan reveal that his cancer had mets to his brain.

His oncology then decided that he should take Tarceva (100mg) as he is now too weak to go for chemo.

My worry is that his brain tumor may take his life away.

Is there any medication for cancer that spread to the brain?

As Tarceva can (if work on him) prevent the cancer from spreading but the drug will not travel to his brain and penetrate the cancer cells.

 Thanks.

 

 

Hi, my dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2 mths back.

It has spread to him back

Hi ask the Dr about Gamma Knife to the brain.  Do Not let them do whole brain Radiation there are to many complications with that.  My husband is 33 yrs old did 15 treatments of whole brain radiation at the time of diagnosis he had 3 tumors in brain and 1 in the lung.  After the treatment he was sooooo immune surpressed he caught Herpes to the Brain left him severly brain damaged and after 2 months of being in a Medicated coma he woke up and now is doing better but since here is no treatment the cancer spread even worst.  So We are doing Tarceva now.  Speak to a Neursurgeon they can do the procedure it works very effectively and it only goes to the tumors not the whole brain.

Sorry Long Response

Hi all,

Thanks for all your reply.

Hope Tarceva can help my dad.

will see if he get worse when he go for his scan and blood test again end of this month.

Side effect on Tarceva so far on him, occasionally he get diarrhea.

Still searching for a drug that can reduce\remove tumor in his brain.

Thanks.

My husband has pneumonectomy for stage 1 nsclc March, 07 w/taxol & carboplatin after.

January, 08 - mets to lymph nodes (re-staged 4).  Affected lymph node removed and started Tarceva.

February, 08 - mets to brain - whole brain radiation, followed by RSR.

Took Temador during radiation and is now taking 6-TG and Temador every 8 weeks.  Supposedly these two chemos work together to kill cancer cells in brain (crosses barrier).

Working with MD Anderson - my husband wanted the most aggressive treatment possible.

At this time, no new mets anywhere.  One tumor in brain is gone and other is reduced by 42%. 

Temador side effects are tolerable and only last for hubby while he is on the drug.  Tarceva has actually been worse.

Good luck, God Bless and ask doctor about Temador.

Seems to be working.