My dad is prodominatly squamous cell. He probably wont have the results with chemo that he would have if he were adenocarcinoma entirely. I am terrifed for him. I am looking for ANYONE who did respond to treatment who is either squamous cell or both. I cant believe this is happening.
Thanks everyone
Karen - Hi. I can just feel the frustration emanating from your post. I actually don't know what subtype my mom is. I asked my dad like five times and he still doesn't know. It's frustrating. He feels like they are in the best doctors' hands and while he is being really good about researching and stuff, is not going that far. And, I can only push him so far. Anyway, I can't help, but I'm just sorry you're going through this. The only thing I'm thinking is maybe in some ways my dad is on to something. Try not to get too caught up. He is only one person and he will respond as only he will. Information is power, but it can also be overwhelming. Just a thought.
We have my mom's follow up PET scan tomorrow and I am so terrified....so I know what you're feeling.
Pam
Oops, I thought your name was Karen, I read your screen name wrong!
Praying for good outcome for ur moms scan! It is frustrating isnt it? My dad also likes his doctors but getting information from them is a pain!
Hello there sweety.I am sorry I do not have squamous I have ademocarcinoma.I am sure you will find several people here that have it give it a day or 2.Good luck.Sincerely,kandy
Hi
My mom is 79 years old & has stage iv nsclc. She began her chemo ion May 1st. Carbo and taxol--4 treatments --3 weeks apart. After two they did a ct scan and there was some shrinkage --almost half. After the 4th trt. another scan --no shrinkage but no growth either. Her last trt was July 3rd and they still havent started anything else . Do you know if thats normal? Good luck to your dad . My mom actually tolerated trt pretty good. No nausea .Mostly fatigue. She continued to work 4 days a week during that time. The final chemo wiped her out . I bet your dad will have great success.
peace
pam
Hello,
My dad has squamous cell. He was diagnosed in Jan 08. It has been a struggle but we are hanging in there. Basically are lives have become a daily roller coaster. We just started Tarceva. My dad had one treatment of Alimta and it nearlly killed him. His Kidneys failed, Blood pressure dropped, heart beat irregular, Blood counts off, etc. etc. etc....
I've learned to appreciate the good days and I take no day for granted! I wish you the best.
Jessica
Hi,
My husband is stage IV, nsclc, squamous cell. He has had one chemo treatment. The 2nd treatment was postponed because he had such severe side effects from the carbo/taxotere combo. I was told they gave him a pretty hefty dose of chemo based upon his height, weight and "general good health". Now we are waiting (again -- the waiting is always maddening) for the insurance company to approve a PET scan. If the chemo did "something" the dr will adjust the dose of the carbo/taxotere; if the first chemo didn't help any of the tumors, then he said he will go with a different protocol. I hope this helped in some way. Jim was dx'd in August. If you want to "talk", please feel free to email me: ragdollz@rochester.rr.com
My best,
Clorinda
My mom had squamous cell and all I can say is that make sure they act quickly with treatment because squamous CAN be more aggressive than adenocarcinoma (not always, but sometimes.) In my mom's case it was. If there's an option of radiation and chemo at the same time (rather than, say, WBR for 14 days then chemo), make sure you discuss it and see if it's possible. With squamous, in my experience, you want to be as aggressive as possible as quickly as possible. Just something to think about...
Hello~
My mom is 54, with stage 4 nsclc-squamos carcinoma. She was dx in May of this year, with mets to the brain. She has had gamma knife radiation, which did rid the brain tumor. She has been on Cisplatin/Navelbine, currently on Carboplatin which she seems to be responding very good. There was a little bump in the road, where she started to cough up blood and was admitted into the hospital. Radiation stopped the bleeding, but it was a result of the tumor breaking up and responding to the chemo. Her white blood cell counts are low this week, but the oncologist gave her a shot of them. Overall, treatment has been successful so far, we will have her second ct scan very soon. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Hi there - My dad had squamous cell. He lived five years and had good results with chemo and radiation. The first diagnosis (2002), he had his lung removed - no chemo. The second time (2003) he had radiation and chemo (Taxitere/Carbo). He was cancer free until late 2006 when it came back. He was responding well again to the chemo - the tumor was shrinking (started with Alimta and a trial drug, but switched quickly to Gemzar). However, he got an infection (his vocal cord was paralyzed and food/liquid aspirated into his lung and caused infection) and had to come off the chemo for a few months. The tumor grew during that time and he never could get back to chemo. But it was working - his doctor was amazed. And he never, ever lost his hair.
I hope that provides some hope. Five years was more than my dad expected. And they were five good years. Hopefully your dad will beat him and hang around alot longer!
Hugs - Jen
I have squamous cell stage 4. I got a clean scan after a year of treatment. I still do chemo though...hang in there it can be treated and cured..
I was diagnosed with stage IV Squamous cell July 13, 2007. At one time I had one tumor 12 centimeters and twenty or more smaller ones, my PET scan looke like my chest was strung with Christmas lights. I could not take Gemzar, but was able to take Carbo/Taxol once a week the every three week dosage made me very sick, even ended up in the emergency room. My next course was Tarceva I looked like a walking staph infection and it didn't do anything. Then I was put on Alimta, it was amazing - the only side effect was mild fatigue and ten minutes of chemo is great. Right now I am on radiation for the last two hanger onners. One is behind my heart so they are using the Novalis Brain Lab radiosurgery on them, it is very exact. Nobody expected be to be here now much less a candidate for radiation. I am being treated at a place that I have not seen mention anywhere on this site, The University of Arizona Fasseas Cancer Center. It is in the top fifty in the country and one of the most respected cancer centers in the anywhere. My oncologist is considered one of the best in the country. If any one feels they need a second opinion they might consider the U of A, (the weather is beautiful this time of year). Remember there are always miracles. Tell your dad to never give up what works for one person may not work for another. His doctors will do what is needed to win the battle.
Best
My mom is 71 with squamous cell and after 23 radiation treatments and 6 rounds of carbo/taxol (final round was carbo/taxotere) her scan showed only scarring but no signs of cancer. The radiation really knocked her through a loop but she handled the chemo fine. The fatigue was probably the worst side-effect but it does pass. Your body needs a lot of rest to restore itself so take fatigue as a sign that there is healing being done. Her next scan is in less than two weeks so, God willing, it will come back good.
God Bless,
Liz
I am new here so I don't have much info for you. My husband has squamous cell stage 111-b. It is located in the carina area. It is inoperable and is 5.3 cm at this time. It is pushing on his esophagus and he is having a really hard time swallowing.
He has taken his first round of chemo which consist of cisplatin and etoposide. He will take a 21 day break and repeat the treatment again. He started radiation the same day and will continue that for 37 days.
I wish I could help with more info.
You guys are in my prayers.
Scaredwife
My mom(63) was dx almost 17 months ago with squamous cell stage IV lung cancer. Her first round of chemo failed, I cant recall name of drugs, doc called them the big guns, but didnt have any effect on her cancer. She was put on Alimta every 3w in summer 07 and had remained stable for a year and even some slight shrinkage in spots. Just this past July 08 there was concern over some growth, they took some pelvic mets out and she is back on Alimta and waiting on ct scan next week to see if she is stable or not. I know that there is talk Alimta is not drug of choice for squamous but she had been stable for a year on it at stage IV, I would have to think that if it werent working that wouldnt be the case? Good luck,Also Dr. West's site cancergrace.org has a lot of articles on different drugs and studies,etc.
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