Can You Tell Me About The Chemotherapy Camptosar Platinal Decadron

Hi,
My mother has small cell lung cancer and has had her first chemotherapy treatment this week using CAMPTOSAR (Irinotecan Hydrochloride) PLATINOL (Cisplatin) DECADRON (Dexamethasone) I would like to know more about the chemotherapy she is on has it been used a lot? What were the pros what are the cons? And if anyone knows if this chemotherapy is good or could something better be done? Any info about clinical trials or protocols? I'm not sure if what she is doing is one so that would be helpful too. If you need any more info from me such as her treatment schedule you can send me a message. I am really wondering about this treatment plan and if its being used widely or? Also I want to know if there’s something out there that is better and if this doesn't show results then what to do next. Please any info would be appreciated.
Thank You

it's PLATINOL* (in the subject line typo)

Hi, my brother has non-small cell lung cancer and has been on that same combo of chemo. Nat (my bro) did not have any major side affects that would have been expected while on chemo only occasional nausea and fatigue. Maybe that’s because of his age (38)…but on the down side that combo didn't work for him and the cancer has metastasized through his bones on his back and ribs as well as both lungs again (had a lobectomy on 4-24-03).

I STRONGLY urge you to insist on the traditional cancer diagnostic testing if she feels any new pains. Nat was having bad back pains and we kept bringing him to the doctors and emergency rooms to determine why he was having these severe pains (3 months in duration) and all they did was give him pain meds. Finally his oncologist sent him for an MRI and that’s where they saw the tumors growing on his hipbones and tailbone. So again if she feels any new pain PLEASE, PLEASE get tested, that combo didn't work on Nat.

May God Bless and cure the cancer.

Hi,
Thanks for the information I was wondering if you could contact me either through these boards to discuss what now your brother is on how you went about changing treatment if you have second third opinions what his nutrition/diet plan is and what steps you are currently or going to take in the future. If you could help with any info it would be appreciated.
Thank You

Hi Patricia,

Nat has since then done 10 extensive radiation treatments, which made him very weak, and now they have started him on Iressa. Iressa is a new drug, which shows promising results in preventing the tumor growing, by preventing absorption of certain proteins that the cancerous cells need to grow. Iressa is a pill, which is taken at home therefore no trips to the hospital for chemo, and since Nat's blood counts are low now they wont do traditional chemo anyway.

I've done a little research on Iressa and it does look promising however the down side is that the studies done in China showed that a high percentage of the patients had bouts of pneumonia in which many were fatal, I guess because of the weakened immune system. So either way there’s a double-edged sword. But I will resume him on the Iressa and monitor him more intensely for any signs of pneumonia.

By the way how are things going for you? I hope and pray things are well.

God Bless