Chemo doesn't work..what i can do?

My mom dignosed lung cancer stage IIIb non small cell on April 28. She did the first chemo on last 3 weeks and scheduled to do the second round chemo on 6/16/2009 this coming tuesday. But today she went to hosptial since her chest so painful and drain out the fluid inside of her lung. And then we called the oncologist. He said that's mean the chemo doesn't work for my mom's cancer. 

 Now here is my question:

1. Should we still continue to do the chemo? If yes, should we try a different chemo medicines or others? If no, what we can do?

2. Can we ask our doctor to get a tarcvia? is it too early to use Tarcvia? Can we use Tarcvia and do the chemo at the same time? 

 Any good recommendations for my mom? Thank you so much

HI

 sorry to hear about your Mom. My husband has stage 4 stomach cancer went through 5 chemo treatments and chemo did not work so he is starting a new chemo treatment tomorrow with new meds. praying this works. Did her Dr. recommend a new medication? or what options did they give her?

Diane

I am not sure if it is normal but didn't work for my husband and 1st. treatment didn't work for my aunt either and she started a 2nd treatment and it did work she is in remission now ( lung cancer.) I guess it works for some and not for others. My husband was tested after 3rd. treatment nothing changed no more no less so we took it as good news because it did not spread but after 5th treatment he got so much fluid in stomach so they drained 7.4 liters of fluid and it was cancer so chemo did not work that's when dr. decided to change medication.  I would talk to dr. and see what options for your Mom and I would try another medication because it is possible for 1 medication to not work & another does.

My prayers are with you & your Mom

Diane

So do you guys think should i ask the doctor to do one more chemo for my mom to see is the chemo good for my mom? And also i should ask the doctor to have other chemo medicines if the second round of the chemo doesn't work (hopefully it works). At the same time, ask the doctor to request Tarceva..

 God bless all of us and our family!

But mostly, i do see most patients they got a Tarceva treatment after the chemo doesn't work. I did some researches about the chemo and Tarceva. Most of the lung cancer patients, they will start chemo first. And they will try to finished all cycles of chemo. If chemo doesn't work, they will switch to Tarceva.

But here is my question, will doctor know about is it work since my mom only do the first round cycle of chemo? I heard most of the doctors and patients said they knew the result after 2 rounds. Even the chemo doesn't work, they will retry the chemo and do the tarceva together...

Use tarceva alone is better or with chemo? Confused....

On 6/15/2009 Support all fighters wrote:

But mostly, i do see most patients they got a Tarceva treatment after the chemo doesn't work. I did some researches about the chemo and Tarceva. Most of the lung cancer patients, they will start chemo first. And they will try to finished all cycles of chemo. If chemo doesn't work, they will switch to Tarceva.

But here is my question, will doctor know about is it work since my mom only do the first round cycle of chemo? I heard most of the doctors and patients said they knew the result after 2 rounds. Even the chemo doesn't work, they will retry the chemo and do the tarceva together...

Use tarceva alone is better or with chemo? Confused....

Just because the first chemo did not work doesn't mean another won't.  You need to confer with the oncologist and see what he suggests as the next step.  There are many combinations to use. 

As for tarceva, it is usually given after other IV chemos have failed but can also be used as first line at the discretion of the doctor.  Tarceva is a pill form but it is chemotherapy, just the newer targeted drug therapy type.  I have been on it with stage 4 cancer for almost 2 1/2 years.  It does have some side effects but none that you can't deal with. 

I would get in touch with her doctor and ask what his plans are.  If he says nothing else can be done, find another doctor ASAP. 

Good luck and God Bless

Hi,

My mom also had the same kind of Cancer NSCLC. She was diagnosed last March of 2008. She also did about 3-4 rounds of chemo & it wasnt working for her. The doctor had done a surgery on her to remove the cancer from the lypmh nodes, her cancer was spreading from stage IIA to Stage 3B within 3 months. Her Onocologist prescribed her Tarceva & she has been on it since June 2008 & still taking it. She has had alot of side effects with tarceva such as skin rash & change in taste buds. She is currently still taking tarceva & chemo at the same time. She went back for a PET Scan & there was no changes in hr condition, i guess the tarceva & Chemo is helping her not to let the cancer spread. I am so heartbroken to see he suffering at this point.. I hope this information can help you out. God Bless you & your family!! I give all my prayers to all cancer survivors..

On 6/14/2009 Support all fighters wrote:

My mom dignosed lung cancer stage IIIb non small cell on April 28. She did the first chemo on last 3 weeks and scheduled to do the second round chemo on 6/16/2009 this coming tuesday. But today she went to hosptial since her chest so painful and drain out the fluid inside of her lung. And then we called the oncologist. He said that's mean the chemo doesn't work for my mom's cancer. 

 Now here is my question:

 

1. Should we still continue to do the chemo? If yes, should we try a different chemo medicines or others? If no, what we can do?

2. Can we ask our doctor to get a tarcvia? is it too early to use Tarcvia? Can we use Tarcvia and do the chemo at the same time? 

 Any good recommendations for my mom? Thank you so much

What kind platinum chemo based drugs were used?  There are many other combinations can be used/ treated for NSCLC.

Chemo is more toxic and side effects than oral pills - tarceva for example.   I recall u said your ethnic background is Asian and nonsmoker, you should ask the Onco to try tarceva immediately. The side effects are very minimal.  You can also ask for gene mutation test to assure if your mom fits in this mutation demongraphic for the pill. 

As you are in UCLA, they might be limited on clinical trials - which NSCLC have so many avail...  check clinicaltrials.gov for additional info. If UCLA onco tried certain platinum chemo base it would prevent your mom to try new drug on clinical trial.

Best wishes,

V