Long Distance Support Ideas

My sister was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer on 6/11.(A non/never smoker, athlete, and health nut). She is currently taking Tarceva and begins chemo next week. Does anyone have any ideas for helpful gifts as she begins her chemo treatment? Our family is scattered all over the U.S. and we want to do anything possible to help boost her spirits.

See my other post,(I think its below your thread). Your sister is going to beat this!

The one suggestion I would make to you is to talk to your doctor about holding off on Chemo.

My mom who is 60 and also a non-smoker, was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in March, originally, the plan was radiation (brain metastisis) & Tarceva This was about a 6 week process. With my mom's cancer, and the fact that she was recovering from two collapsed lungs, the doctors wanted her to be stronger before starting Chemo. They figured Radiation, Chemo, and Tarceva was just too much.

This may have been a blessing in disguise. After 6 weeks the doctor ordered an MRI on her lungs, which showed a reduction of well over 50% in the primary tumor (radiologist was amazed). The doctor who treated my mom also consulted with a doctor who my mom received a second opinion from (at Sloan) and they have actually decided to forgo chemo for patients who respond well to Tarceva.

I would recommend two things, first have your sister get tested for the EGFTR Mutation. If this test is positive (which is very common amongst the never smoker group), chances are your sister will respond to Tarceva.

Second explore putting off chemo with your doctor. Why put your sister through Chemo, if she does not need it. I am not a doctor, but I very much recommend at a minimum you have this conversation with your sister's doctor.

Finally, with all the new remedies coming out with cancer, and the fact your sister is athletic, young, and never smoked...the cancer doesn't have a chance!

Good luck and G-d Bless

To Curemom:
Many thanks for the suggestion. I will pass this along to my sister. She also had radiation on her brain (10 treatments). The doc is taking her off Tarceva for 1 week to give her a rest. He too did not want to hit her with all three at once. I'm very new at all of this, and appreciate any information you can share. Best wishes to your Mom.

Mary,
Here is the gift that I would suggest... Before I started my chemo I went out and bought a DVD player. This is one of the things that made my chemo enjoyable, and I do mean enjoyable. I would watch good funny movie or two and eat a lunch that I packed each time. I do not know what to tell you about Tarceva and chemo. I had stage IV lung cancer. I have been cancer free since November 2005. I took Tarceva along with chemo Carboplatin and Taxol. I think my dr wanted to be as aggressive as he could be. Cancer cells are all different and some react to different drugs. I believe it is possible to get a positive reaction with one drug killing some cells while other cells are multiplying. If this takes place then after the one drug has killed off all of the cancer cells it can, then those other cells will start to show as growth. You may have part of the cancer cells killed by the Tarceva while some other cancer cells are killed by the Carboplatin or Taxol. Your only proof that the treatment is killing all of the types of cancer cells is total remission. I would ask the doctor his reasons for what ever way he recommends and question him about the pros and cons. As a patient if they did not give me both, I would be thinking about that I am not doing all that I can to fight my cancer and I do not get a second chance to start my treatment. Chemo is not always as bad as some people think. I never had a bad day from any of the chemo or the Tarceva. I too, like your sister exercise a lot and I took a lot of supplements, and I think that is one reason I had such good results. I have been cancer free since November. You can read my story posted on Lance Armstrong’s web site type or pastes this address in your browser:

http://shareyourstory.livestrong.org

Click on FIND A STORY at the left of screen; enter HAROLD in the first name box and NAPLES in the city box. Then click on submit. Click on the last name in red next to HAROLD. If you would like more info let me know. After you read my story you will be able to e-mail me. Ernie (Harold)