I was diagnosed with Nsclc of the squamous type in October 2008. My Pulmonologist referred me to an oncologist that he believed to be one of the best in the area. She started a Chemo round of Carbo, Gemzar, and Avastin. 3 weeks later I saw my lung doctor again and he asked if I had radiation, and I said no. He said he felt like i needed radiation as a tumor was blocking my airway and felt that a round of radiation would help relieve that. So I promptly made appointments with 2 other doctors who agreed with my lung doctor. I feel like I should have had the radiation as the first line of treatment. but the first doctor wanted 3 rounds of radiation every 3 weeks, before even considering radiation. so I am still hooked up to oxygen 24/7 cough a lot, I have extreme shortness of breath when I try to do things and I feel betrayed because this could have been fixed a month ago. Also the 2nd doctor told me I should not be on Avastin as it is not for nsclc squamous cell type and can cause severe bleeding and hemorraging. . It is used mainly on non-squamous cell. Avastin's website also states that it is for non-squamous cell cancer..
So my advice is to educate yourself, find out what you have, what type, what stage and ask about where it is what lymph nodes are involved, etc. If you have had a pet scan , the nodes are numbered as to the extent they may have cancer present. Ask about this, my highest is 19 which is a high presence of cancer but the rest are smaller and not certain. I have learned so much since changing oncologists, and with my daughter doing research we can now go to the Doctor prepared. visit the National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/CANCERTOPICS/PDQ/TREATMENT/NON-SMALL-CELL-LUNG/PATIEN T
There is a lot of valuable info we all need to know.
Good luck to all and God Speed
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