On 8/24/2008
Marilyn56 wrote:
Hi
I am from boston treating at mass general dx with nsclc may 30th with mets to brain, lymoh nodes and bones , had 2nd round of chemo. can you give me some info on your mom and when was she dx. and how she is doing
thanks
marilyn56
Hi Marilyn,
The history of my mother's cancer--
A very small mass was discovered in her right lung during an x-ray that was part of a pre-op for a hysterectomy she was about to have. A needle biopsy confirmed it was cancer. She had what was believed to be a successful lobectomy in Feb. 07. There was no other sign of cancer, and no follow-up treatment was reccommended. That May she finally had the hysterectomy. She did well with both surgeries, despite her age (78) and the fact that she was a diabetic.
Last August my mother began to run fevers. They were due to a return of her cancer which had metasticized, but was still only in her right lung. (The remaining part of her lung had expanded to fill the cavity and the cancer was in the same location, but now in multiple spots.) Her oncologist told her she could start with chemo or take part in the study I mentioned. She fit several of the criteria, but not all. The facts that she was a woman and her cancer was Adenocarcinoma were in her favor. That she had been a smoker, was not. She had quit at least five years prior, but people seem to feel that Tarceva works best for people who have never smoked. We were very hopeful that Tarceva was going to be the answer for us, but it wasn't. Her cancer grew during the month she was on it, and her oncologist felt that was long enough to know it was not going to work. My mother had none of the common side effects; no rash, which many people feel is an indicator that Tarceva is having some success.
My mother started with radiation treatments soon after fiinishing with Tarceva. Radiation was originally not reccommended, but one tumor was pressing on the site where she had surgery. It was decided she would have ten rounds of radiation to try to make her more comfortable, and then she would begin chemo. She became quite ill with very high fevers as soon as she started the radiation and had to be hospitalized. Her cancer was aggressive and never behaved the way that her doctors thought it would. She was able to complete the radiation, but she was never strong enough to go through chemo. She died last February.
Everyone's cancer is different, so I don't want you to read this and feel disheartened. A woman I was working with at the time my mother had her lobectomy started at the same point. Her mother went in for surgery in Boston and the surgery was a disaster, while my mother's was a success. In her case, they were not able to remove the tumor. After a long recovery, she went through chemo and radiation simultaneously. Today, there is no sign of her cancer and she is living a good life. I was listening to someone on the radio the other day who had lung cancer and was told he had maybe six months-- thirteen years ago! I believe that our story was greatly affected by my father's death one year before my mother's diagnosis. She was a fighter by nature, but life without my dad was not really worth living to her. They had known each other since childhood and his absence left too great a hole. I was even a little surprised that she was willing to fight at all.
I stay on this board because I found it so helpful during the time I cared for my mom to be able to ask questions of people who were experiencing the same things. I learned a lot and want to share that whenever I can.
How are you doing with your chemo? How are you feeling? Are you able to eat? My mother struggled with nausea, and we found that acupuncture was helpful. Let me know if I can help you in any way. Roz