1. < Lung Cancer

Need some suggestions: Making treatment decisions for lung cancer

Posted by thetwoofus @thetwoofus, Aug 30, 2022

This is our 1st post. The two of us are in this together. She's 75 and has lung cancer, I'm her George and she's my Gracie and I don't know what I would do without her. She's 7 years into it and doing extremely well. You'd never know there was anything wrong. But now they peeled a cancerous lump off her carotid artery. The doctors don't know exactly what it is but they say it's cancer. They seem to be headed towards chemo and radiation to the neck as a follow up treatment. She's 75, 5' 2" and only 102 lbs. We're not sure what her odds would be for getting though this at that weight and age. I guess my question would be ... are those treatments survivable at that age and weight level? Is there a weight level that treatments should not be attempted? The radiation treatment will be in her neck next to the carotid artery.
I also have another question. We would like a recommendation as to a good doctor or center in Colorado Springs or Denver that specializes in radiation to the neck and any other recommendations that would help. Thank you so much.

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bpb | @bpb | Sep 1, 2022
In reply to @thetwoofus "She's been on Tarceva and now on Tagrisso for the lung cancer but I don't think..." + (show)
@thetwoofus

She's been on Tarceva and now on Tagrisso for the lung cancer but I don't think they have a targeted therapy for the neck cancer, which they surgically removed, because
they don't seem to know what the cancerous neck tumor exactly is or where it came from. I would guess that's why they're suggesting chemo with radiation and haven't suggested any immunotherapy. I think our big question today is ... do we say yes or no to chemo and does it matter where we go to have this done? Sorry our questions are changing from day to day based on the direction and info the doctors are giving us. Originally we were concerned about having a good doctor for the neck because that was scary because it was right up against the carotid artery but that seems not to be an issue now because we don't think we're going to have radiation to the neck. So at this point we're left with the questions of chemo or any other therapy if there is any that would address the neck cancer. This is all because of the neck tumor and not the lung cancer, I guess?
So I think we are at the point of, do we say yes or no to chemo and does it matter where we go to have this done? Or at least I think these are the correct questions we have and this is where we're at.
Thank you for responding.

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Hi,

I just want to say no need for any apology about questions and situation changing. That is the nature of the situation. Sending good vibes. I am sure you will make the right decision for you and your Gracie's situation.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 18, 2022
In reply to @thetwoofus "She's been on Tarceva and now on Tagrisso for the lung cancer but I don't think..." + (show)
@thetwoofus

She's been on Tarceva and now on Tagrisso for the lung cancer but I don't think they have a targeted therapy for the neck cancer, which they surgically removed, because
they don't seem to know what the cancerous neck tumor exactly is or where it came from. I would guess that's why they're suggesting chemo with radiation and haven't suggested any immunotherapy. I think our big question today is ... do we say yes or no to chemo and does it matter where we go to have this done? Sorry our questions are changing from day to day based on the direction and info the doctors are giving us. Originally we were concerned about having a good doctor for the neck because that was scary because it was right up against the carotid artery but that seems not to be an issue now because we don't think we're going to have radiation to the neck. So at this point we're left with the questions of chemo or any other therapy if there is any that would address the neck cancer. This is all because of the neck tumor and not the lung cancer, I guess?
So I think we are at the point of, do we say yes or no to chemo and does it matter where we go to have this done? Or at least I think these are the correct questions we have and this is where we're at.
Thank you for responding.

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Hi, TheTwoOfUs, how are you and your wife doing? Did you decide to go with chemo?

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1 reply
thetwoofus | @thetwoofus | Sep 19, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi, TheTwoOfUs, how are you and your wife doing? Did you decide to go with chemo?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi, TheTwoOfUs, how are you and your wife doing? Did you decide to go with chemo?

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Well, the recommendation is to do chemo sort of light version with 4 treatments of reduced potency chemo along with keytruda and stay on the Tagrisso. They also said radiation somewhere below the neck but we're not yet sure we want the radiation. She's due to have a port put in next week and then start chemo. We agreed it seems to be the best thing to do. We also feel we have the option to stop chemo at any point and that any chemo is better than none. The only issue that may be stopping us now is that for some reason, her leg muscles seem to be cramping up causing lots of pain and she can't walk. We don't know what's causing that problem. We haven't yet gotten an answer from the doctor as to what the labs show, if they do show anything. So that means we may not let them start the chemo therapy until they fix the leg muscle issue. We haven't yet been able to ask the doctor if Targresso could be causing the problem. So that's where things stand today but could possibly change tomorrow.

REPLY
2 replies
dedehans | @dedehans | Sep 20, 2022
In reply to @thetwoofus "Well, the recommendation is to do chemo sort of light version with 4 treatments of reduced..." + (show)
@thetwoofus

Well, the recommendation is to do chemo sort of light version with 4 treatments of reduced potency chemo along with keytruda and stay on the Tagrisso. They also said radiation somewhere below the neck but we're not yet sure we want the radiation. She's due to have a port put in next week and then start chemo. We agreed it seems to be the best thing to do. We also feel we have the option to stop chemo at any point and that any chemo is better than none. The only issue that may be stopping us now is that for some reason, her leg muscles seem to be cramping up causing lots of pain and she can't walk. We don't know what's causing that problem. We haven't yet gotten an answer from the doctor as to what the labs show, if they do show anything. So that means we may not let them start the chemo therapy until they fix the leg muscle issue. We haven't yet been able to ask the doctor if Targresso could be causing the problem. So that's where things stand today but could possibly change tomorrow.

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This may or may not be helpful as not thought on chemo but I am plagued with leg cramps (maybe from meds) and I wear leg warmers to bed every night. I often wear in the daytime if bothered. I like the Amazon Debra Weitzner leg warmers for 80's super long ribbed knit for parties....they don't fall down and they keep my legs comfortably warm....

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @thetwoofus "Well, the recommendation is to do chemo sort of light version with 4 treatments of reduced..." + (show)
@thetwoofus

Well, the recommendation is to do chemo sort of light version with 4 treatments of reduced potency chemo along with keytruda and stay on the Tagrisso. They also said radiation somewhere below the neck but we're not yet sure we want the radiation. She's due to have a port put in next week and then start chemo. We agreed it seems to be the best thing to do. We also feel we have the option to stop chemo at any point and that any chemo is better than none. The only issue that may be stopping us now is that for some reason, her leg muscles seem to be cramping up causing lots of pain and she can't walk. We don't know what's causing that problem. We haven't yet gotten an answer from the doctor as to what the labs show, if they do show anything. So that means we may not let them start the chemo therapy until they fix the leg muscle issue. We haven't yet been able to ask the doctor if Targresso could be causing the problem. So that's where things stand today but could possibly change tomorrow.

Jump to this post

@thetwoofus, I agree that it is a comfort to know that you and your wife have the say when to start and stop chemotherapy. Has the leg issue been addressed since you last posted? Did you see @dedehans suggestion about the leg warmers?

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