Had my 6th round of Chemo 2 1/2 weeks ago. Had a CT Scan, PET Scan and MRI of my brain this past week. No more tumors in my brain. My larger tumors in my lung and lymph nodes have shrunk. The smaller ones in my lung shrunk...the smaller one in my lymph nodes is gone. However, the cancer found a new place to take up residence. There is a small tumor at the base of my spine which has been causing pain in my shoulder, neck and back. And a small tumor in my liver. I can't tell you how angry I am. We can take care of the tumor in my spine with radiosurgery. The liver tumor is what scares me. I am going in to a clinical trial that combines Tarceva with another drug that is referred to as a Cox-2 inhibitor. I have to be off chemo for 3 weeks (which will be Monday) and then have blood work done and have my urine tested.I pray to God the Tarceva takes care of the tumor in my liver. It is small, like I said..5mm. I feel like I take one step forward and then two steps back.
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
My PET Scan Results
- By TheHmip
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 1:25 pm · 8 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage III
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
8 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By cuddles53
- Posted July 2, 2009 at 9:58 pm
- Report post
You can count on me to say some prayers for you to have a full remission and recovery.
May god bless you, and keep you safe.
Sandy
- By chessie-too
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 4:59 am
- Report post
Good luck with your clinical trial. Tarceva is a great drug. Hopefully it will take care of the new tumors.
Good luck and God Bless. Please keep us posted.
- By curelungcancer
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 8:04 pm
- Report post
Have you considered RFA on the liver met? Radio freguency ablation? It took care of my liver met just fine. It's been six month and liver is clear. Most of my doctors said they wanted to just watch it and keep me on Alimta (chemo) but I said I wanted it gone and they did it for me. You can be your own advocate.
Prayers and love to you.......
- By TheHmip
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 8:30 pm
- Report post
thank you so much for the information. I was not aware of the procedure, but you can bet I will ask my Dr about it. Was your met in the liver? Mine is....
- By curelungcancer
- Posted July 3, 2009 at 11:18 pm
- Report post
I read your early posts and you have a great attitude and a belief that you will survive. Believing you will survive is a huge part in my opinion. It's curious to that so many women non-smokers are getting lung cancer. Were you on any hormone replacement by any chance. I believe that's what caused mine. Yes, my met was in my liver. Plus I had brain mets all gamma knifed and I'm doing just great. I keep telling myself every day, my body is healed. It likes to hear that.
I would get your vit D levels checked also. If they are low make sure you get them up to 50 and stay away from sugar, caffine and acidic foods. I eat only foods with nutrients. I quit red meat, pork, diary and sugar, if you can do that all the better. You don't need any more hormones from meat and plus they create inflammation which you don't need either. Plus drink lots of water preferrably PH balanced. Lot to do but worth it.
- By TheHmip
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 3:36 am
- Report post
I have such a huge support system...I have a very large extended family and a lot of friends that keep me going. My husband has been fantastic through all this even tho it is tearing him apart to see me go through this. I was on hormone replacement (I was using the patch) but only for 2 years. I retired 2 years ago and decided since I didn't need to be at my best and make sure I got a good nites sleep, I stopped using the patch. It was the lowest dosage available. I'm not sure that's what caused my cancer. I had sterotactic radiosurgery to get rid of the tumors in my brain..they've only been using this procedure for about 3 1/2 years and as I posted, the tumors in my brain are gone.
I go back to the cancer clinic on Monday to have my blood work, and urine tested. They will also do an EKG and the normal physical stuff. I will be give the cox-2 inhibitor for 5 days to see if I have any reaction to the drug. I should start the clinical trial by the 15th.
My Dr is keeping a close eye on my Vitamin D levels. One of the side affects is weakening of the bones. I have been taking Calcium +D AND vitamin D for a few years now... I don't eat a lot of red meat(maybe once or twice a month) and since I started chemo, coffee just doesn't taste as good as it use to. However, don't think I can stay away from dairy products. I love cheese, and milk.
Thank you again for all your wonderful suggestions.
- By curelungcancer
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 12:43 pm
- Report post
Your welcome. Sounds like your in good hands.
- By staceym
- Posted July 4, 2009 at 11:06 pm
- Report post
Sounds like you are really keeping your self in good stead mentally and physically - sending you prayers for good results.
Add to the discussion