Chemo, Surgery, Radiation, What Now?

I am a 48 year old woman diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in 9/01. After chemo, surgery and radiation, what now? My oncologist told me last year that very few people live past 5 years with lung cancer (gee, thanks a lot). He had mentioned before a pill that would keep new tumors from forming, but when I asked about it he said "lets keep it on the back burner for now". What do I do now?

Hi Sue,
I have inflammatory breast cancer not lung cancer but my words of advice for you would be to seek a second opinion. Whatever the type of cancer it's YOUR life and if you are at all worried or concerned by the treatment protocol then for peace of mind you need to check all the options available to you. I am becoming more convinced that as patients we need to be proactive and take some responsibility for our own treatment. Even the best of oncologists cannot be correct 100% of the time.

Dear Sue
I also have lung cancer. Non small cell carcinoma. Don't listen to the idiot that responded to your question. Most medical doctors have a rotten bedside manner. Believe me I am a nurse. First things first. Have you had surgery? Chemo and radiation? Have you totally changed your diet? Are you taking supplements? There is a wonderful book out by Kim Dalzell, PHD. It's called Challenge Cancer and Win! It is great. You also need coral calcium. There is a great book out by Robert Barefoot. I have been taking his products and feel great. Also, prayer, healing and Reiiki (healing touch) massage therapy. Plus Anderson cancer center is using Advexin for Lung cancer. Its been quite successful. Hope I was helpful. Remember 40% of survival is diet. Also, your attitude is vital. Take care, Olga

I am scheduled for surgery on my lung on Aug 26/2002 at the University of
Michigan. I have one of the top surgeons in the country on Women's Lung Cancer. After that it is up to me. We have to help ourselves, because the medical community does not believe that diet, prayer, healing has anything to do with the body. Most MD's do not study nutrition like the holistic doctors do. They are clueless, if you can't cut it out, burn it, poison it, that is the extent of their training. Just remember cancer is big business in the US epecially the pharmaceutical companies.

How long have you been taking coral calcium? Were you taking it along with chemo and radiation? Also, do you feel that it has had any effect on your cancer? My brother has esophageal cancer and I have heard about Robert Barefoot and coral calcium and was wondering if my brother should try it along with his regular treatments. Thanks Vickie M.

Gee! Just 4 days ago I got diagnosed with the same thing nonsmall cell Lung Cancer, specifically Adenocarcinoma. The is a 9cm tumour on my right lung. I plan to contact somebody at Memorial Sloan Kettering and let them review the scans and biopsy report.
Was the surgery a resection or pneumonectomy? I am told mine needs to be taken out.
My readings say 17% of people with our type of condition live more than 5 years! A little, huh sue? My name is Guch. Any input you can give will be greatly appreciated I am 61 years old from Malaysia.

Hello, Sue. I was just reading your message about non-small lung cancer. My mom was also diagnosed w/the same thing in 3/99. She had chemo and radiation and was in remission for about 3 years until recently when she was told she had brain cancer. Which was from the lung cancer. So therefore, she received surgery which I was told was a success and to my knowledge the doctors thought it was too. About 6 weeks later she began to get sick - vomiting, dizziness and what not. So I ended up taking her to the emergency room where I found out the tumor was back. Anyhow, with the tumor coming back so soon they would not be able to do surgery again. The doctors said they would have to perform radiation on just that spot hoping but not making any guarantees it would go away. Radiation was performed for 15 days and it was a success, she was doing great. Then about a month later she caught a cold and wasn't feeling to sporty so she began to take other medicines to get better all of which were approved by her doctors. Two days later she begun to vomit again so I take her back to the doctors office. And of course, they were concerned and give her a MRI and later that day we found out her old tumor was fine and 2 small tumors had occurred. My mom put her head down in disbelief and I tell her its ok but really in the back of my mind I wonder is it really? The doctors sent us home with a prescription for a steroid (decadon) that will help reduce the swelling and later calls to say they are going to put her on a chemo pill. If this doesn't work fast enough they’ll give her a chemo shot in the back, and if this doesn't work they’ll try radiation as a last method. Which goes into my question - I thought cancer patients could have only so much chemo/radiation?

First of all, your doctor sounds very familiar. He is a typical oncologist. They will never admit that there are survivors. I tell you this - the survival rate looks very scary if you look at it the way it sounds. Now if the 5-year survival rate is about 5% that means that 5 out of 100 survive for 5 years. That also means that 2 out of 50 survive 5 years or 1 out of every 25. Now when you look at it that way the odds get better. The name of the pill you are looking for is Iressa. I believe it has just recently finished the clinical trials and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. If your doctor refuses to look at it you refuse to look at him and find one that will. Now I am speaking with some personal experience. The man I love was on chemo and doing very well until they took hope away from him. It was then that he started having anxiety problems that his oncologist refused to address. Every symptom was blamed on the cancer. To make a long story short he ended up in the hospital for treatment of the anxiety when it got out of control. It was then that they started trying everything without looking at precautions and ended up killing him with drugs. We had asked about Iressa early in his treatment but were told that was something to look at later. The later turned out to be the day before he died. I believe the only reason it was offered then was because they knew that they were overdosing him and he would not live to receive it. They also knew that I had an appointment with CTCA the following week should he survive the unreasonable amount of medication they were giving him. I say find another doctor and another treatment place. Check out CTCA and do it soon. Don't give the cancer or your oncologist a second chance to kill you. Lillian