Husband 66 Has Nsclc Stage Iiia

On June 5th, 2008 my 66 year old husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stage IIIA. Surgery is not an option due to the tumor being 6.9 X 3.9 in the right upper lobe with lymph not involvement.

He will be starting his treatments on  Tuesday 6-24.

This will be his treatment plan:

His Chemotherapy will consist of going the first week 3 times (6-24-06 to 6-27-06) and then no chemo for 3 weeks and then back for 3 times the fourth week. For a total of 4 months. The two agents they will be using on Harvey are Platinol (Generic name- Cisplatin) and VP-16; VePesid (Generic- Etoposide). The Platinol needs to be drip in slowly so he will be there each chemo day for an average of 5 hours.

Then he will also have his radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks starting 6-24-06.

All of this just has me so overwhelmed and just devastated right now. I want to help my husband in every way I possibly can. I would appreciate any support and knowledge of what he will be going through.

God Bless,
Bernice

You have come to the right place, my prayers and thoughts are with you.

On 6/21/2008 zuma95 wrote:

On June 5th, 2008 my 66 year old husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stage IIIA. Surgery is not an option due to the tumor being 6.9 X 3.9 in the right upper lobe with lymph not involvement.

He will be starting his treatments on  Tuesday 6-24.

This will be his treatment plan:

His Chemotherapy will consist of going the first week 3 times (6-24-06 to 6-27-06) and then no chemo for 3 weeks and then back for 3 times the fourth week. For a total of 4 months. The two agents they will be using on Harvey are Platinol (Generic name- Cisplatin) and VP-16; VePesid (Generic- Etoposide). The Platinol needs to be drip in slowly so he will be there each chemo day for an average of 5 hours.

Then he will also have his radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks starting 6-24-06.

All of this just has me so overwhelmed and just devastated right now. I want to help my husband in every way I possibly can. I would appreciate any support and knowledge of what he will be going through.

God Bless,
Bernice

Dear Bernice (that's also my mother-in-law's name) I'm so glad you found this site.  My husband, age 57 was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer, one of the hard ones to treat, also known as Oat Cell.  His also was inoperable.  He had almost the same chemo treatment you husband is facing and he did very well.  Not once did he throw up.  He did get very tired especially when he had both chemo and radiation at the same time.  but, my husband was (and still is) able to work every day.  You'll receive great support on this site so I hope you stay with us and keep us posted as to your husband's progress.  Also try (it's hard) to take care of yourself.  If his appetite diminishes, let us know.  there are posting on this board about it.  One of the wisest things our oncologist told us was: "Tom, this is YOUR cancer".  Everyone is different.  There are many survivors.  My husband was diagnosed in December of 06.  He will celebrate his birthday in July. Even tho my husband's last PET scan (6/13) told us there was still some lymph nodes affected the doctor said he's doing great and he doesn't want to see him for 3 months.  Praise The Lord. 

I know it is very overwhelming to you right now, but all will fall into place.  If you feel overwhelmed by all the info, tell the doctor to talk more clearly and maybe even have a third trusted person with you who is a little less removed from the devestation of having the news.  Perhaps a dear friend or neighbor.  Rely heavy on this site and all the support you will receive and perhaps even your church.  I don't know what I'd do without my church and God and this site.  Our prayers are with you.

Kathy

On 6/21/2008 zuma95 wrote:

On June 5th, 2008 my 66 year old husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer - Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stage IIIA. Surgery is not an option due to the tumor being 6.9 X 3.9 in the right upper lobe with lymph not involvement.

He will be starting his treatments on  Tuesday 6-24.

This will be his treatment plan:

His Chemotherapy will consist of going the first week 3 times (6-24-06 to 6-27-06) and then no chemo for 3 weeks and then back for 3 times the fourth week. For a total of 4 months. The two agents they will be using on Harvey are Platinol (Generic name- Cisplatin) and VP-16; VePesid (Generic- Etoposide). The Platinol needs to be drip in slowly so he will be there each chemo day for an average of 5 hours.

Then he will also have his radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks starting 6-24-06.

All of this just has me so overwhelmed and just devastated right now. I want to help my husband in every way I possibly can. I would appreciate any support and knowledge of what he will be going through.

God Bless,
Bernice

Hi

I can understand how you and your husband feel.  Cancer is so unpredictable and scary. 

In 2006 I had 2/3 of my right lung removed, adenomacarcinoma and nonsmall cell carcinoma and it was completely gone BUT in 2007 they found cancer in my middle chest.  I had 7 weeks of chemotherapy with radiation and it is now gone.  They say a miracle.

Still the dr won't remove the porta-cath because it can come back.....so that's where I am.

Prayers, positive thinking and hope. 

With radiation I found that drinking aloe vera juice with tea and honey helped my throat and the internal burning effect of the radiation.  Aloe vera on the location site also helps. 

My prayers are with you both.

Hi

I was also on cisplatin and etoposide....  Joan

Hi Kathy,

Thank you ever so much for you very encouraging post. It means so much to me to be able to discuss my husbands cancer with someone that understands. My husband and I talk about it all the time and he is very positive about going for his treatments which is wonderful.

I was surprised to hear your Mother-in-Laws name was Bernice. I haven't come by very many in my 53 (almost 54 years).

My prayers are also with you and your husband.

Thank you again!

Bernice

Hi Joan,

I am so happy to see that you have beat the cancer! Miricles do happen and I am prayer for one for my husband. He is such a loving and caring man.

Could you tell me a little about any side effects you may of had with these chemo agents that my husband will be starting Tuesday. I just want to be able to do anything I can to make this easier for him.

Thank you so much for you encouraging post and my prayers are with you for a very long life with the miricle you received :)

God Bless,

Bernice

On 6/22/2008 zuma95 wrote:

Hi Joan,

I am so happy to see that you have beat the cancer! Miricles do happen and I am prayer for one for my husband. He is such a loving and caring man.

Could you tell me a little about any side effects you may of had with these chemo agents that my husband will be starting Tuesday. I just want to be able to do anything I can to make this easier for him.

Thank you so much for you encouraging post and my prayers are with you for a very long life with the miricle you received :)

God Bless,

Bernice

Hi,

I remember getting weak and tired, low blood count.  They monitor this so that they can give him something to make him feel better.  The best advice is to let the nurses know how he feels  because they can add things to the chemo and let the dr know.  Chemo has improved alot and hopefully he won't have too many side effects. 

I had chemotherapy and radiation at the same time.  It worked.  Hope this works for your husband too!

 Joan

On 6/22/2008 JB43973 wrote:

 

On 6/22/2008 zuma95 wrote:

Hi Joan,

I am so happy to see that you have beat the cancer! Miricles do happen and I am prayer for one for my husband. He is such a loving and caring man.

Could you tell me a little about any side effects you may of had with these chemo agents that my husband will be starting Tuesday. I just want to be able to do anything I can to make this easier for him.

Thank you so much for you encouraging post and my prayers are with you for a very long life with the miricle you received :)

God Bless,

Bernice

Thank you Joan!

I remember getting weak and tired, low blood count.  They monitor this so that they can give him something to make him feel better.  The best advice is to let the nurses know how he feels  because they can add things to the chemo and let the dr know.  Chemo has improved alot and hopefully he won't have too many side effects. 

I had chemotherapy and radiation at the same time.  It worked.  Hope this works for your husband too!

 Joan