Diagnosed, Ready for Treatment

I mentioned before on this board that my husband had been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer about a year after my one-year anniversary of being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. . Now, with PET scans, CT scans, and a lung biopsy all behind us, and a visit to the onc. today, we are ready for treatment.

We know now that he has squamous cell NSCLC.  The dr. mentioned he probably had about a year with no treatment, and a little more than that with treatment. Next Thursday, Oct. 22, they want to start chemo. The onc. wants to do a combination of Taxotere (Docetaxel) and Cisplatin (Platinol). 

Has anyone out there been on this particular combo?  If so, how were the side effects, and how did it work on your cancer? My husband is very scared about how the treatment will affect him. Please share your stories with us, good or bad, so we know what to expect.

Thank you so much!!

Mary Ann

On 10/14/2009 teachoz wrote:

I mentioned before on this board that my husband had been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer about a year after my one-year anniversary of being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. . Now, with PET scans, CT scans, and a lung biopsy all behind us, and a visit to the onc. today, we are ready for treatment.

We know now that he has squamous cell NSCLC.  The dr. mentioned he probably had about a year with no treatment, and a little more than that with treatment. Next Thursday, Oct. 22, they want to start chemo. The onc. wants to do a combination of Taxotere (Docetaxel) and Cisplatin (Platinol). 

Has anyone out there been on this particular combo?  If so, how were the side effects, and how did it work on your cancer? My husband is very scared about how the treatment will affect him. Please share your stories with us, good or bad, so we know what to expect.

Thank you so much!!

Mary Ann

Mary Ann,  it must be a scary time for our husband, but there are many good stories of good things happening.   They're getting much better with the side effects and treatments and people are having a much better qualit of life for longer.   The stats are not keeping up with what the oncologists are seeing, they say.    Everyone reacts differently to certain treatments.   I just learned from my chemo nurse last week that they used to give a combo of nausea treatments.  I have 3 bottles of nausea meds I've tried.  The zofran worked the best, but I added one of the others to it this time, the one which helped me sleep a lot the first few days.   The worst part of any of the chemos too me is the nausea for a week or 2.   I also tried acupuncture,and don't know if it helped much because it was after I'd done the zofran, which I know was helping more.   Some people are helped by the acupuncture, tho, and once you've been in the getting poked mode for awhile with cancer, you don't react to getting poked as much.   I actually did not feel the needles.     If the nausea is too bad or if this regimen does not work for your husband, the onc. can try something else.   Quality of life is important here.    I also try to eat right, get lots of exercise, and enjoy many things.   A destressed life is very helpful.

Hi, Nevah,

Thank you so much for your reply. Actually, we had a nice informational session this afternoon with the Nurse Practitioner about the chemo process.  She made us feel much better.  There will be meds given through the IV to minimize side effects. She told us another man had the same treatment Joe will be getting, and had no side effects. They are ordering medication to be taken as needed after the chemo, as well. It sounds like they are well-prepared to handle any unforseen effects.

Joe is having his head shaved (what's left of it, he's already pretty bald - LOL) tomorrow, so he won't have to go through the trauma of watching patches fall out because that IS an expected side-effect of both drugs.

So, Thursday, next week, he'll begin the process. They said it will take about 4 hours for the whole process, and I will stay with him to make sure he's OK. We've been together for 35 years, and I just can't imagine not having him around.  We are both trying to stay positive, like we have with my Multiple Myeloma, and I know that attitude means alot when you're fighting these awful diseases.

We are also on many prayer lists across the country, and I know what that has does for my MM, also. It works.

Thanks for your support, and I hope things go well for you, as well.

Mary Ann

On 10/16/2009 teachoz wrote:

Hi, Nevah,

Thank you so much for your reply. Actually, we had a nice informational session this afternoon with the Nurse Practitioner about the chemo process.  She made us feel much better.  There will be meds given through the IV to minimize side effects. She told us another man had the same treatment Joe will be getting, and had no side effects. They are ordering medication to be taken as needed after the chemo, as well. It sounds like they are well-prepared to handle any unforseen effects.

Joe is having his head shaved (what's left of it, he's already pretty bald - LOL) tomorrow, so he won't have to go through the trauma of watching patches fall out because that IS an expected side-effect of both drugs.

So, Thursday, next week, he'll begin the process. They said it will take about 4 hours for the whole process, and I will stay with him to make sure he's OK. We've been together for 35 years, and I just can't imagine not having him around.  We are both trying to stay positive, like we have with my Multiple Myeloma, and I know that attitude means alot when you're fighting these awful diseases.

We are also on many prayer lists across the country, and I know what that has does for my MM, also. It works.

Thanks for your support, and I hope things go well for you, as well.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann,  I sounds like you got an answer to prayer right there:   all that information so you don't have to wonder and worry.   They are usually very good at that at an encologist's office.  They know you need it.   It's also good to have both of you there to think of lots of questions.   I have acquaintances where the husband had heart trouble and his wife was a nurse.   They would sit down together and write out any questions they might have before each appt.    "The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James.   You're so right about staying positive.  I was loaned a book in my first days after diagnosis about a woman who was determined to live and all the things she did to stay up rather than depressed.   She loved water, it gave her peace, and would go to a lake or beach right before any dr. visit.   She learned about prayer and how doctors in the operating room can feel the difference even when the patient doesn't even know the prayer is going on.   She made tapes to play for herself while in the pet scan or on long nights in the hospital, etc., of uplifting music, quotes, songs.    My family majors in distractions for me;   we had friends close until a few months ago who we could call to take a drive or play cards -- anything when I started to worry or feel blue.    The de-stressing is supposed to work like medicine.   My family, we have 5 children and attendant grandchildren with whom I just delight, has planned many family vacations and dinners etc., for me and for them, to get quality time.    Last dr. visit I actually in fun asked if they could prescribe massages and I came away with 10 weeks of massages prescribed, 2 times a week.   That destressing is serious.  Think the massages also work on toxins to keep the body healthy while poisoning those cancer cells. 

 I can certainly imagine your thoughts about possibly losing each other.    God will provide.   My husband is facing that, although we never know the length of either of our days.   We're working on purchasing a home and I ask him how he would like it when/if he's alone.   He says how would I like it if I'm alone.    He's wise to say that.   We just don't know.  I could have 5 more years.     He's mentioned that he gets to go through that grief thing and he works feverously to find things for me to do to help the treatment.  I know he works so hard to have some control and possibly power over this.    That grief thing cannot be fun.  I always thot it would be me going through it, because I'm younger than he is.   But, we just cannot know; we just must enjoy each day we have.

 That something about someone else having no side effects with the same chemo treatment Joe is going to get.   That is so true.  I breezed through Tarceva, but others had trouble.   I have medium trouble with carboplatin + alimta.    How are you doing with your treatments?

 Have a very good day today!

Hi, Nevah

Sorry I am just getting back to you, but between my husband and I, we are practically camping out in the dr's offices.  We always sit down, also, and write a list of questions to ask our drs. It is so important, because it's so easy to foget once you are in their office.  I also take notes so we can discuss things when we get home.

It sounds like you have a wonderful support system going. How nice to spend quality time with people you love. Our two adult children have been around more frequently, and we cherish the time together.

I am doing very well with my Multiple Myeloma! I had my two-month check-up in Boston on Monday, and the dr. was very pleased with my physical condition. I got the blood test results today, and even with all the stress of my husband's illness, my IGA blood protein level continued to go down! :) It actually dropped another  170 points in two months!! I have been in semi-remission for awhile, but now I am getting very close to remission. Thank you for asking.

My husband had his first chemo, and did very well. The only problems have been gastrointestinal, and losing his voice. Also, very low energy for several days in a row. It's getting somewhat better now. He goes for blood tests on Monday, then his next chemo will be on Mov. 12.

Continued good luck to you on your treatment. Happy Halloween.

Mary Ann