Help for third line sclc

• By Marg
• Posted July 2, 2009 at 5:31 pm
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Mike just finished his 5th line of chemo. He hasn't ever been in remission, but has had regression, then progression, then regression....

You can read my profile to see what he has had. Keep the faith, don't stop fighting. Attitude is almost everything. God is the rest.

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• By 8wall
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 7:41 am
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Hi
Well I am having very good success second line smlc
with the 3 drugs "CAV"..it is an older treatment thats been around a long time..my nurse said wednesday to me (I had my 4th chemo)that they use it for 3,4,5th lines too and its been successful..
perhaps you should look at it ..I think you should be able to pull up my past postings for the names of the 3 chenicals..if not let me know i'l get them to you..
Where you also going to get another opinion?just a thought ..Never give up your doing the correct things
Bravo.
Dan

Dan

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• By rabcar
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 2:42 pm
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Hi Dave,

We first let me tell you that it's not over until you decide. That decision does not rest with your doctor. My wife is starting her 3rd clinical trial within the next 2 weeks. She had only had the standard first line treatment of cisplatin/etoposide which put her into remission for 2 years.

Her oncologist basically told her the same thing and no other treatment options were offered. I called her an idiot and walked out. That was 4 years ago.

Currently, my wife does have sclc ext, but you wouldn't know it by looking at her. She still works full time and feels good. She has no cancer in her lungs, but she has 2 small tumors in the liver and various other hot spots.

Her first clinical trial was with Amrubicin for 11 cycles. She had a great reduction in her tumors, but was never put into remission.

The second trial was with a new drug that doesn't have a name, just numbers. I couldn't tell you anything other that it didn't work and she only had 2 cycles.

The third trial will use carboplatin/etoposide with an added experimental drug called MP470.

In any event, I didn't mean to ramble. I just wanted to show that there are always options. As for us, we intend to fight this cancer until hell freezes over and if your oncologist is not willing to do the same thing, then fire his butt and move on. God speed.

rich

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• By DWSC
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 4:25 pm
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Hi Dave,
I agree with Dan and Rich; get a second opinion and/or a new onc. My mom is on her second line of chemo using Topetacan. Her first line was Cisplatin/VP-16, which worked for about 7 months. If this line doesn't work, we'll find something else that does! Don't ever give up.
Delia

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• By kq182
• Posted July 3, 2009 at 4:52 pm
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Hi, I totally agree with the other posters, it may be time to find a new onc, NEVER give up, keep a positive attitude, and fight, Take care, Karen

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• By D_Thompson
• Posted July 4, 2009 at 7:20 pm
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I thank all of you for your encouraging replies. I have not given up hope by any means. Remission may have been the wrong term in my post. After my first line of chemo and rad I had about 50% reduction in my tumor with no growth for a year. Do any of you have suggestions as to where to get a second opinion. I live about 90 miles south of Atlanta Ga.

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• By kathrine00021
• Posted July 5, 2009 at 8:33 am
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Dave - I agree with everyone here. There are a lot of drugs out there. My husband passed away recently but he went through five lines of chemo. The reason he passed was more from the complications from fluid in his lungs rather than the actual cancer.(He couldn't do chemo for a month during his last line because of surgery.) But when he did the chemo he had shrinkage in his tumors. Some drugs out there for you are the clinical trial amrubicin, irinotecan, and taxol. And I know there are probably others. We had an onc that looked at all options. You need to find and onc that will do the same. I will say some prayers for you. Good luck and keep the faith.
Kathrine

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• By rabcar
• Posted July 5, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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Dave, I don't know a lot about Atlanta, but you might contact the folks at Winship Cancer Center there in Atlanta. Maybe they have some clinical trials or could point you to someone that is closer to you. Here is the address:

1365C Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322

Like I said, I don't know much about them other than they are affiliated with Emory college. I like clinical trials because the seem to think outside of the box more often and can try a variety of therapies that would otherwise not be used in the mainstream. Good luck.

rich

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