My husband, age 54, has Stage IV, NSCLC -adenocarcinoma. Upper left lobe, mets to left adrenal gland and right lymph node in neck (which was removed.) He has had 2 of 6 chemo treatments of carbo/taxol/avastin. He feels great and looks good.
I had read a post where patients/family members were sending in their stage IV survival stats, but these had been submitted in 2005. It was extremely interestng and encouraging reading.
It seems that now that we are in 2008, survival rates may be increasing and I would be interested in reading these stories. Even if you post just the date diagnosed, type of lung cancer and mets, and how you are doing (or if a family member can tell us when passed.)
Thank you for sharing.
God Bless you and keep you healthy.
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NSCLC - new life expectancy stats
- By debs322
- Posted August 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm · 118 replies
- In Non-small cell lung cancer - Stage IV
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Exercise Cancer Tylenol Surgery Morphine Pneumonia Chemotherapy Tarceva Peripheral neuropathy Carboplatin Pneumothorax Dizziness Taxol Arthritis Ativan Avastin Sleep apnea Stroke CPAP Breast cancer Taxotere Pain Liver cancer Lung cancer Sunitinib
118 replies
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- By le_fairy
- Posted yesterday at 3:54 am
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HI There,
My boyfriend (46) has been dx with adenocarcinoma and is to receive chemo and radiation.
Can any of you please tell me what to expect when he starts treatment and how I can get him to eat more and stay positive.
I would really appreciate some feedback from you guys.
God bless
- By Sherri2
- Posted November 18, 2009 at 8:59 am
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Stage 3 NSCLC Had 6 weeks of Chemo and Radiation going on my second year..
Still working full time and taking one day at a time
- By 452alma
- Posted November 17, 2009 at 9:14 am
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Hello, I was DX sept. 06. Stage 3b adenocar. with pleural effusion, carboplatin, and something else, was my first line of treatment.
I am now on Alimta and Avastian and it has held me in check. I hope it works for a good long time.
I have been blessed with the work of all my DRs and friends, and family who have helped me with this uphill battle. This is a battle you must be willing to fight, just know you will not let it get you down. Hopefully this will remain my motto for a good long time. Good luck to all of us, and god bless
- By drawing3d
- Posted November 13, 2009 at 9:29 am
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I was dx'd Nov. 2007, Stage IV NSCLC, with lemon sized rumor in middle of my chest and a brain met the size of a healthy radish in my left cerrebellum.
My lung collapsed (three times) after bronchoscopy in hometown Florida hospital - almost died from that. Got out of the hospital, took up walking and deep breathing, and began to radically change my diet.
Went to MD Anderson in Houston. Had one treatment of Linac radiation (similar to gamma knife); had 7 weeks proton radiation to the chest, 6 very low dose treatments of chemo-therapy.
The tumor in chest started shrinking, shrinking... by summer, it was completely gone, SUV down from 22 to almost nil, no lymph node involvements.
Completely NED in chest...and later, when I had a craniotomy to remove the 'tumor" they thought was growing at a Seattle WA hospital one year ago, found it was d-e-a-d also.
I get new scans next month... if still NED (which I believe I will be), it will be 2 years for me.
I take NO medicine, not even a tylenol... All my doctors call me "extremely healthy". I am a DIET extremeist... I eat organic foods, nothing processed, and exercise daily, etc., etc.
Oh, and did I mention PRAYER?? :)
God bless us all,
Ellen
- By Val-in-Bama
- Posted November 12, 2009 at 8:33 pm
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My sister was dx Jan 2009 with stage IV NSCLC adenocarcinoma with 3cm tumor in right lower lung and mets to spine. Had surgery to remove T9 vertebra and was started on 150mg Tarceva in March. Her tumor is now less than 1cm and other than freakishly long eyelashes :) is doing great!! She is being treated at MD Anderson in Houston. We live in AL but she flies out there every 3 mos for scans. She goes again next week so please send prayers that she has great scans,,,
Thanks!
Val
- By Sveta1
- Posted October 31, 2009 at 11:10 am
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Stage4Survivor I was just wondering what your treatment protocol was and if you took any natural supplements or followed a special diet. My dad was dx in November of 07, its been 2 years and things got harder quickly when Alimta, which he was on for over a year, stopped working.
Thanks,
Lana
- By owesly
- Posted October 30, 2009 at 10:28 pm
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I know that the people who support Breast Cancer and all of the pink ribbons mean well, but when as I read the stories of the brave and wonderful people here, my heart wishes that they would put a ribbon in the white house for Lung Cancer for us as well and increase the research funding for Lung Cancer.
- By deebeefran
- Posted October 30, 2009 at 9:50 pm
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I was diagnosed May 2006 2b. Had a bi-lobectomy RLL with 4 rounds of Taxol and Carboplatin. I have remained NED since then. I still sweat out every scan and x-ray and doubt that I will ever get over that. Dianne
- By dsh65
- Posted October 30, 2009 at 9:43 pm
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bigmike 825... my husband is participating in a clinical trial through UCLA sponsored by Eli Lilly. Don't know where you live, but you might ask your onc if this would be available to you. My husband was diagnosed in August with NSCLC.. large tumor in right lung mets to both adrenal glands. Surgery not an option. Chemo is our hope. Anyway, this clinical trial uses Alimta, Carboplatin and Avastin together for 4 treatments, 21 days apart. If the tumors respond to this treatment, then he will receive Alimta and Avastin every 21 days for as long as it works. They have had really good results with this from what I understand, especially the Avastin and Alimta. We are scheduled for another CT Scan on 11/2 with results to us on 11/9. Will let you know how it goes. Talk to your onc about some kind of combo using Avastin. The side effects usually hit the second day after chemo and last for about a week. Fatigue, some dizziness and nausea. But, we were given meds for the nausea which helped a lot. Think it might be worth you looking into. Good luck and God bless. Let us know what you decide.
- By valn3
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 4:56 pm
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i was diagnosed june 2008 breast cancer and lung cancer. 2 different cancers. my lung was 3a with 3 of 7 lymphnodes positive. i was glad to see your posting. i try hard to stay upbeat,but sometimes a get a little down. your diagnosis was pretty close to mine. val
- By bigmike825
- Posted October 24, 2009 at 4:14 pm
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Well folks guess you can add me to the list too . Was told I have about a year with non small cell, Andeo (if that is right ) in my upper left lobe. After a Bronch as well as a new proceedure where they go down the estophogas and punch a hole through to get a needle biopsy of the surrounding lymph glands to see if it has spread that far ( It had ) I nearly died when after the proceedure they pulled out the intibation tube ( I was under general ) I was unable to breathe on my own . They reinserted it a 2nd time and then removed it after 2 hours and according to the Dr I " CRASHED " what ever that means? I know it means I still couldn't breathe ! However they did not re-insert the tube but put a very tight fitting mask over my nose and mouth to force air in me. . This did the trick and after 3 hours I woke up kicking and screaming ready to fight everyone there in intensive care... ! ! ! Probably because they also cathed me and the folly cath was not inflated right and it was very painfull ... Thank God I made them remove it after a short while ... So far this is my experience. Now I am gioing to chemo and radiation I am told ? I do not know which drug is the best for me so if anyone knows which drug seems to work best please let me know either on here or in an email to bigmike825@aol.com . Hope I did not step on anyone's toes by writing this here ? I really need to know so I can offer my wife and kids a bit if hope! , by the way I am 59 and VERY active ....I have stage 4 and it has already breeched my lung into the body cavity . Only my left upper lobe is so far involved they believe tumer is the size of a large gratefruit . Thankyou .... Mike... PLEASE HELP I DON'T WANT TO DIE JUST YET ...
- By thekeeper
- Posted October 7, 2009 at 11:22 pm
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My mom was diagnosed April 6th 2009 and is age 64 and has Stage IV NSCLC with mets to bone (primarily the ribs with some lesions on the liver) She did about 3 weeks of treatments before deciding that she would rather live the rest of her life out without feeling sick all the time. As soon as the chemo was out of her system, she really made great strides. A hospice nurse visits once a week and I am here 24/7 to take care of her. She now gets around on a mobility scooter, to weak to walk to far. Generally she is doing quite well, she keeps her pain under control with the help of medications and takes oxygen a few times per day and breathing treatments 3 times a day. Her attitude I think is what keeps her going, she is a spirited fighter with a great sense of humor and most of the time blames the breathing issues on the weather (I know she knows otherwise) but it seems to help get her through.
- By BeBeReader
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 8:04 am
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This is a good news post so read on.
My husband was diagnosed in Jan. 2005 with Stage IIIB/IV NSCLC after he went for a routine checkup with his internist. The small lesion in his lung had spread with many, many lymph nodes involved in chest, mediastium and down his left arm. Inoperable and we were told negative to radiation because the field was so broad. One radiologist just had a sad look and kind of shook his head.
Husband received a course of chemo concurrently with Tarceva (150 mg. per day). Tarceva, approved by FDA just 3 months before his diagnosis, was administered off label from the very beginning, this because he saw an oncologist at a research hospital (where treatments are years ahead of standard regime). He missed work for only the chemo days and 1 day when ill from chemo. Otherwise, worked full time and felt fine.
Husband was tested for the mutations at Columbia in NYC where he was treated and he has one of the mutations that make cancer susceptible to Tarceva. Almost immediately, a node palpable in his upper chest shrunk to the size of a pea and then over time all nodes normalized in size and nothing lit up on PET scan. NED.
Husband still going, looks great and feels fine. Next scan is in 11/09. He is now almost 5 years from diagnosis. Still on Tarceva daily - 150 mg.
- By Steelboss
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 6:10 am
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My wife dx NSCLC IV adenocarcinoma is stll kicking at 2 1/2 years.
- By slm-dem
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 6:07 am
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Hubby had 2x3cm and 4 lymph nodes involved in upper left lung 3/08. Upper left lung removed 4/08. No chemo or rad by choice. Mets to Brain found 7/09. 15 wbr treatments through 8/09. Ct scan 9/09 shows no new cancer anywhere else. Goes for mri mid October and will take it from there. Worked full time and felt great from 4/08 thru 7/09. No problems with rad in 8/09. very little tiredness, some swelling in feet, believed to be caused by steroid has been on since July but is being weaned off of now. We live each day as we always have and enjoy our favorite pastimes. However long he has to live, we will continue to fight the good fight against cancer and try to enjoy our life together.
- By freelove
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 1:04 am
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It was good to hear that so many people are doing great on Tarceva.Ill be starting on it in two weeks. Was on Avastin for three years.Im sure i will do good on it . Glad i was told about this site.
- By Keelah
- Posted June 30, 2009 at 6:52 pm
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I just passed my 1 year anniversary w/ stage4 w/ brain, adrenal glands and bone mets to my femur and hip. I am 51.
Don't get bogged down in statistics. They will only make you depressed. Like one of my doctors said, " I have never met a statistic.
- By salgal
- Posted June 28, 2009 at 9:30 am
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In March 09 was diagnosed w/ adenomous nsclc ..w/mets to right adrenal. After 4 rounds of avaston/alimta/carbo my tumors are better than 50% reduced. Onc is talking about stopping chemo and starting focused radiation. I am 69 and otherwise in good health. I have to believe that this is all going in the right direction..NED or better. Most of the time I do not think about the cancer.
- By Chemosabee
- Posted June 21, 2009 at 9:30 pm
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Hey! I was diagnosed with Stage IV in June of 2001. I just celebrated my 8th year of LAD (Life After Diagnosis) with a PET scan. Although stuff (adenocarcinoma) continues to metastasize, my quality of life is still pretty darn good. I only had two rounds of chemo and called it quits. I've since had some radiation to control some mets and pain. Good luck to you and your husband with your journey!
- By Von
- Posted June 20, 2009 at 5:17 pm
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G. WOW!!!!! Now THAT"S Great News!!!! Thanks for posting,,,,,Stay well, hugs and prayers, Von
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