On Oct 31, 2009 11:26 PM wpsdaughter wrote:
My husband has stage 3b lung cancer and has just decided to stop the chemo. After each of the two treatments he has taken he got terribly sick with pneumonia as well as all the other things that come with chemo.
I respect his decision but don't know what happens next. I worry about taking care of him myself and if I have the capabilities to do it. Does anyone know what I can expect? I feel like I am walking around with a blindfold on. Any responses would be helpful
thanks
I am stage 4 lung cancer and I am on chemo ( carboplatin + Taxol ) 6 cycles last years , follow by Tarceva for 1 1/2 months. Then, I take a rest from treatment for 1 1/2 months.
I start again chemo with Cisplatin + Alimta on 1st April this year and I stop it after the 3rd cycle , because the side effect of nausea and tire is too much for me .
So, I stop the treatment for 3 months, to recover my immune system and body system . On 1st Sept, I start my chemo again with only Alimta and I just finish my 3 cycles.
I hv my CT Scan on Monday and result show no changes of the quantity and size of my tumor , but, good thing is that it is under control and doctor classify it as stable and under control. After discussion with doctor, I decide to take a rest again from treatment, maybe for couple of months and I will take a scan again before decide next treatment option.
Note : My condition in terms of quantity and size of tumor hv no changes since last year July , start from my first chemo , follow by Tarceva , April '09 chemo and Sept '09 chemo . Hv discuss with few doctor and the conclusion is that it is few possibility : the growth of my cancer / tumor is slow ; the chemo drug and tarceva did work in controlling the cancer cell and tumor , no doubts it did not help in reduce or eliminate it .
But, each cancer patient hv different condition and it is important for the patient to know how's he/she doing with the treatment.
Any decision to stop treatment have to seriously study and shud have good plan for proper diet and supplement to ensure the patient immune system will be good at any time and the patient shud monitor closely himself the changes of body system and discuss with doctor .
In my case, I am still maintain my regular chk-up with my chest specialist to know how is my lung function and so on ( as I believe that the Chest Specialist hv more knowledge of the condition of Lung and can give better advice on how to take care of our lung during the treatment or when we are off from treatment . The doctor for cancer treatment or oncologist is more on giving us idea of treatment or kind of treatment we shud take base on our condition )
The other thing that we need to know about chemo treatment is that the patient need to be strong and fit for the treatment, as all the chemo drug will affect our kidney and liver and also RBC/WBC and total blood count. It is the reason why the doctor always hv cancer patient to take blood test for RBC/WBC/Total Blood count and condition of liver / kidney , before proceed for treatment. If the patient can not meet the minimum require condition, treatment shud postpone .
It is also the reason why I stop the treatment after 3 cycles in April 09, as I feel I am too weak to continue and since CT Scan show my condition under control, so it is better for me to rebuild my immune and body system, before I start with other treatment option.
In your msg, you did not mentioned whether it is the first chemo for your husband and type of chemo drug and whether he feel pain or so on or short breath before or during the treatment.
Anyway, just to inform you that there is few type of chemo drug for Lung cancer and different patient hv different reaction to the drug .
Example : I am coping quite well with Carboplatin + Taxol ( except I loss all my hair .. :) ... ) Other than that I am okay . Then, I hv problem with Tarceva , too many rash on my face . And I am suffering with Cisplatin + Alimta . On Sept '09., when I start the treatment again, I do away with Cisplatin and use only Alimta , then, I am coping well with the treatment .
Few important things that I did and all cancer patient shud do is that 1) Keep positive 2) Execise , if the body system allow to do so , but, do not go for heavy execise which my put pressure to Lung and cause bleeding . What I doing since last July is to hv brisk walking ( one hour ) in the morning and ( one hour ) in the evening . 3) eat more vege and fruit 4) drink vege/fruit juice 5) take care of hygiene, as cancer patient can not afford to fall sick 6) be happy ... :) 7) Pray to Lord for healing .
I only can share what I am going thro' and wish the informations are useful /helpful for your husband .
SK