Would Like To Talk To Someone Who Was Trated At Ctca

My name is john and I live in northeast PA and have lung cancer also with brain tumors was diagnosed last august I had surgery and radiation on my brain with success. Also had chemo on my lung with good results but my doctors wanted to do radiation and chemo to stop the tumor in my lung. I had 32 radiation treatments and 7 chemo treatments which I finished yesterday. Was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience if so would love to here from you and your experience at CTCA. Thank you.

John M.

Dear John,
I don't know what CTCA stands for, but as a Caregiver I'm interested in your treatment compared to my husband.

What Stage are you and how many mets did you have in your brain? My husband had 4, maybe 6, and was refused CyberKnife because our hospital has a policy of no more than 4..... So he had WBR 15 times. I was very upset by this, but it didn't help.

Can you explain your "good results" regarding chemo? My husband just completed his second treatment with Carbo, Taxol and Avastin and hasn't eaten a good meal (a lot of ice cream and sweets, but little stayed down) since. I hate the sweets, but he's so thin. DX 7/5/05!

Any comments? I'm interested in hearing from you as the patient and how you felt and are feeling now about how you are handing your recovery. My husband does not address that option of dying, but believes that if he does what his doctors prescribe he'll live forever. this is the most upsetting item I deal with because he is Stage IV with mets everywhere.

So thankful for your insightful response,
Marie

Thank you for responding to my e-mail. I will explain the best I can. CTCA stands for Cancer Treatment Centers of America. They are hospitals who specialize in cancer and cancer treatments. They have hospitals in Chicago, Tulsa and soon Philadelphia, PA. They do have a web page were you can chat with an oncology specialist. I did chat with and talked to one on the phone. I also plain on visiting one. I believe they could help you and your husband.

As for me I have small-cell lung cancer with 3 brain mets. I was diagnosed a year ago this month. I had a large tumor removed from the base of my brain and then had radiation witch worked very good. They are all completely gone. Then had chemo on my lung for about 4 months. Finished up with both treatments this past March. In June I had a pet scan and it showed that I still had cancer in my lung so my doctors decided to go with chemo and radiation which I just finished up. I had 32 radiation and 8 chemo treatments. I go for a pet scan to see if that did any good. I go in October. That will determine if I go to CTCA then. As far as chemo drugs go if you would like to know what kinds I had I will get that for you. Well I hope I helped a little and hope to hear from you soon.

I wish you and your husband good luck and will be praying for the both off you.

Hope to hear from you, John

Dear John and Sweetpea,
My Name is Duray and I live in western Washington State. I called CTCA and went to them for a second opinion for treatment of IV-B lung cancer which had also gone into the lymph nodes of my chest last February.
After PET and CT scans they prescribed 30 radiation and 6 six hour chemo treatments. My wife and I stayed there in their (out patient) rooms and ate in the cafeteria for the 6 weeks of treatment. At the end of the treatment we went home for 5 weeks and I returned for x-rays and CT scans which showed no more cancer in the lymph nodes and the cancer in the lung greatly reduced. Took 4 more 6 hour chemos 3 weeks apart and the another 5 week break.
I returned for a CT scan 3 weeks ago and I don't have any more cancer and don't have to go back for a check-up until November. They have the latest in radiation equipment and procedures and I would encourage anyone to at least check them out for a second opinion. If it means any thing to you to be treated in a christian atmosphere, then this is the place to go. THEY CARE.

Hi All,

My father was just diagnosed with lung cancer. We have been waiting to get in with a pulmonary oncologist at Baylor (Dallas, TX) but he has had horrible trouble with a nose bleed that will not stop due to his coughing.

Anyhow, I have read a copy of the lab report which consisted of x-rays and CT scans and things do not look very good.

As a family, we have talked about MD Anderson in Houston. I am interested in CTCA - it seems as if they are more in tune with treating the situation (disease, person's overall health, nutrition, etc) versus just the disease.

Is there anyone else who can provide additional info on CTCA?

Thanks!
Loou