My dad has non-small cell lung cancer Stage IIIB. After treatment with carboplatin and docetaxol, the cancer spread from right lung to left lung. He recently was treated with Alimta and Avastin as recommended by oncologist at UCLA Oncology Center. Within 1 week, his coughing / spitting up significantly reducted. Today he received his 2nd treatment with the two drugs. His oncologists believe the reduced symptoms is good sign that treatment is killing cancer. He will have CT in 1-2 weeks so we will know at that time if the drugs are shrinking the tumor nodules.
So far, he has had less side effects than the initial chemo with carbo / Dox. However, he is extremely fatigued which is one of the major side effects.