Recently diagnosed

On the 5th of July at age 52, I suddenly lost the use of my left arm. Thinking it was something simple, like a pinched nerve. I went to my local hospital and found myself hearing that I had a mass in my right lung and a tumor in my brain!

I consider myself fortunate to live near John's Hopkins because it makes access to the best quality of care very simple.

. I've so far undergone one chemo treatment with Cisplatin and Alimta as well as a Gamma knife treatment for the brain tumor.The Cisplatin has caused hearing loss and I'm concerned if this will continue to get worse with successive treatments.

I have friends who are doing more for me than I could ever imagine.and I feel overwhelmed by it. 

I am on cisplatin + alimta on 1st Aprill '09. But, I hv hard time with it , very bad nausea and weak . After the 3rd cycles , my oncologist told me it is because of cisplatin and he advise I can stop cisplation and just using Alimta .

I get second opinon and been given the same advice.

But, I am not having the hearing loss .

Suggest you check with your oncologist the hearing problem is due to cisplatin or alimta .

SK

My next chemo is scheduled for 8/20/09 and I've let my doctor know my concerns, but I'm trying to be logical about the whole thing. LOL

If the cost of remission is some loss of hearing, I believe it's a fair trade.

I think the most difficult part of all this is going to be keeping a positive attitude. Because of the brain tumor, I can't drive my car and other than the effects that (tumor) has on me, I feel pretty much the same as I did two months ago.

It is not difficult to realize, that regardless of anything I may experience on this new journey, it cannot possibly compare to what many others have gone through. Especially the family members who must watch the progression.

I can see the strain this putting on my mom and know that she had to go through this with my step father in the 90's as he slowly deteriorated from a botched brain biopsy. I hope I can continue to use that experience to give my family the comfort of knowing that I'm really ok, thankful for my life as it has been, and grateful for all I receive..