Lung cancer stage IV Maintenance treatment

Posted by ina3 @ina3, Jun 18, 2019

Hi,

My dad was just told that his lung cancer is shrinking again and no more metastasis in the brain too. 🙏🏼 So happy.

This was his second PET and MRI with the same results during more than 6 month period.

His meds are now Keytruda, Zometa, Alimta and Altuzan.

I am wondering for how long he should continue Zometa and Alimta? I want him to rest a little bit from chemo and continue Keytruda only.

Based on what doctors decide when to stop the chemo? What is recommended in this situation?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 18, 2019

Hi There @ina3. I'm so glad that you wrote back with your dad's progress. What a wonderful report and news about your dad! Hp hip hooray! What a relief this must to both of you after so long. I might have mentioned this before that we are not medical professionals. I do not know enough about your dad to even guess at this. Your doctor will be the best one to judge. I know just how you feel about wanting your dad to have a break but since he is doing so well on his present regime do you really want to chance a relapse? He obviously has had a pretty rough time so I would hesitate to do this. It really is up to your dad though.
Here is some information for you. I believe that your dad has infusion of Alimta every 21 day
https://www.alimta.com/side-effects-and-therapy-plan.html
Here is some information for https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-21757/zometa-intravenous/details
Has your dad's cancer spread to his bones?
How is he feeling? How is his quality of life? How are you and your family holding up?

schmeeckle64 | @schmeeckle64 | Jun 18, 2019

Thank you for sharing. I LOVE HEARING good news. I am doing Keytruda as well without chemo and am having good results so far. Wishing the best for your dad.

alamogal635 | @alamogal635 | Jun 18, 2019

That is great news! Don't know much about the medication and all it entails, but it is great to hear how well you father jis doing.

ina3 | @ina3 | Jun 19, 2019

In reply to @merpreb "Hi There @ina3. I'm so glad that you wrote back with your dad's progress. What a..." + (show)

Merry, thanks for your support and nice words. His quality of life is ok, i guess it could be worse. He does not have much side effects, the only thing that he complains is little bit of numbness in his feet due to neuropathy. I guess, he had a very energetic life style and its not the same now but still very, very thankful. Yes, it was spreaded in the bone initially but with zometa it was controlled.