Stage 4 lung cancer questions ...please answer

Hello, my partner was diagnosed two weeks ago with stage 4, non-small cell lung cancer.  This was determined, as he had just had a frontal lobe tumor removed nad the pathology report showed that this was a metastisis from his lung.  Next Monday we meet with the oncologist to discuss treatments which will include radiation and chemo.  I did learn that chemo is not as bad as it used to be, with the advent of new meds that inhibit nausea, vomitting, etc.

My questions are:  what can I expect going forward -- he has been a very healthy 70 year old male.  Since the neurosurgery two weeks ago, he has bounced back rather well -- 3 days in ICU, 3 days on the cancer floor at the hospital and was discharged last week.  His strength is impacted ...just not quite the enery as before, but he did have brain surgery, after al.  Also, his appetite which is typically very healthy has waned, too.  We strted Megase to help stimulate that -- it's getting better.  But he needs to be at the top of his game prior to beginning treatments.  I realize that everyone reacts/responds differently to treatments, but I am also wondering what I can expect as we progress through this illness.  Also, is hospice the primary/best resource to get further questions addressed?

ANy in-put would be so greatly appreciated!

Best regards,

 Richard

It really depends on the type of chemo.  My husband was sick most of the time during his chemo treatments.  He lost 90% of the hair on his body including his eye lashes.  Now that the chemo is out of his system his hair is growing back.  He had 6 rounds of chemo and 37 radiation treatments.  The radiaition was just as hard on him if not harder.  Yet I hear someone people who haven't had many problems with chemo or radiation. 

kzfamily

Hello Richard

My heart goes out to you.My wife has also got Stage 4 NSCLC in both lungs. She was diag in Nov 2007 and was given 6 months. Now 18 months later having gone thru three recomemded drug regime and one drug trial  (Alimta), she is stable on the drug Tarceva. Talk to your oncol ask him about Tarceva.

They say that cancer is not for sissies but they also forget to tell you that the caregiver suffers as much as the cancer sufferer. You will have to be strong for the two of you. You will have to have the patient of Job. You will have to have a thick skin. You will have to believe in a higher being to give you strength. You will have to get as much info from the net as possible. Talk to other suffers and learn from them.

Keep Strong

Alan

On 7/8/2009 Dasher1 wrote:

Hello, my partner was diagnosed two weeks ago with stage 4, non-small cell lung cancer.  This was determined, as he had just had a frontal lobe tumor removed nad the pathology report showed that this was a metastisis from his lung.  Next Monday we meet with the oncologist to discuss treatments which will include radiation and chemo.  I did learn that chemo is not as bad as it used to be, with the advent of new meds that inhibit nausea, vomitting, etc.

My questions are:  what can I expect going forward -- he has been a very healthy 70 year old male.  Since the neurosurgery two weeks ago, he has bounced back rather well -- 3 days in ICU, 3 days on the cancer floor at the hospital and was discharged last week.  His strength is impacted ...just not quite the enery as before, but he did have brain surgery, after al.  Also, his appetite which is typically very healthy has waned, too.  We strted Megase to help stimulate that -- it's getting better.  But he needs to be at the top of his game prior to beginning treatments.  I realize that everyone reacts/responds differently to treatments, but I am also wondering what I can expect as we progress through this illness.  Also, is hospice the primary/best resource to get further questions addressed?

ANy in-put would be so greatly appreciated!

 

Best regards,

 Richard

 

My mom went thru 6 cycle of chemo without any problem but collapsed after contract a pneumonia from my sibling! 

Prior this, pls make sure he got flu/ pneumonia / shingle shots in advance.  Prepare his sugar blood ct could b shoot up to the roof.

During chemo, pls try not to use metal spoon/fork but plastic ones.  Ginger will help appetice and nausea.  The turemic indian spice will help his cancer in control.

Make sure he eats a lot of berry fruits family to increase his antioxidant immune system.  Drink plenty green tea ( got the one with matcha ingredient).  For veggie try anything with a dark color - dark skin red apple, purple cabbage, purple potatoe, tomatoe, salad, fish / chicken than red meat, etc.  Make salmon fish chowder than let him eat mash potato or ensure milk.  Eat several times a day instead one big meal.  Eat yogurt to keep his stomach function properly.

Watch out perhaps crack skin, sore mouth (canker sore), swollen feet, UTI, etc... 

Best wishes,

Vic

Hi,

My mother has stage 4 lung cancer. Radiation does not hurt and the sessions are usually daily for a short period of time like 2-3 weeks for 15 min. a day. He will loose hair where they deliver the radiation, which may or may not grow back. The chemo we have not gone through, the doctor opted for Tarceva drug instead. It slows the growth of cells. The side effects are mild which the doctor can then give you meds to help. Mild nausea, fatique, loss of appetite.

Good luck and stay positive. Patients seem to do well when their routines don't change much and they do not listen to too many others telling them their stories which can be overwhelming, discouraging and confusing.

Look up essiac tea if you are into alternative therapies.  

I had exactly what your friend had 4 and  1/2 years ago.  Surgery to remove frontal lobe met (squamous).  This was followed by radiation to that area of the head, and then 5 rounds of Carboplatin plus taxol.  It all went smoothly and I had a great appetite.   The anti nausea drugts really make it better in chemo these days.  A year and a half later I had a big brain met in the back of my brain, and in the intervening time I had a lower spinal met.  The brain met was removed and radiated and the spine met was radiated.  Both did fine.  I was 66 by the way when this all started.  Somewhere along the way I had the lung tumor radiated, and a met or two in my chest radiated.  This month marks my 48th month of taking Tarceva on a daily basis.  It has been a wonder drug to me, but it has some pretty tough side effects.  If it works you have a bad skin rash which should be treated with Clindamycin.  I had nausea and diahrea, but those soon went away (2 or 3 months).  My fingers split but that got better with time also.  The best place I have found to get understandable information and tips on living with this cancer(mine is Stage IV nsclc) is right here on this site.  Take time to read what others say, and contribute your experience for other's benefit.  Good luck.  My 4 and 1/2 yrs have had a lot of good life, and good times.  Don't give up!!!!   And Prayer is the most powerful medicine of all.

Ed

PS...never lose hope, and get up every morning with the attitude that you are going to spit in the eye of cancer, and then go do something fun.  Look and see how pretty God's world is.  I made me a bucket list and did things like my first skydive when I was 69.  I started singing in the church choir, and took some good fishing trips.  Rest plenty.  Energy is not what it was before cancer.  As long as there is breath there is hop.  My motto is "Don't ruin today worrying about tomorrow". 

Again Good Luck, and enjoy whatever you can.

Ed

Dear Ed,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words and your uplifting thoughts!!  We WILL share our story/storeis with others and try to serve as an inspiration as you have!

Hugs,

Richard and Chuck