Lung cancer with immunotherapy and infection
Father was Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer EGFR and KRAS Sep 2022. Tired first line treatment chemo with target therapy. Found cancer relapse and metastasis progressed to brain Sep10th 2023. Had the first PD1 Immunotherapy and chemo therapy on Sep’21. Symptoms are including fever, and severe cough. Since 26 September, he has cough with phlegm and fever with snot. His white cell and C-reactive protein increases compared to normal range. My question is could it be pneumonia or some cold ? Or both? What should we do?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.
Hi @cinderellapong, I'm so sorry that your family is going through this, but I'm glad that you found Mayo Connect. It sounds like your father has really been through some hard times over this past year. What is his oncologist thinking or recommending at this point? I hope they are monitoring him closely.
Right now, he is at home. His oncologist suggests him to use some anti inflammatory drug. I don’t know whether he should go do another CT scan, he just did one 10 days ago. His fever comes and goes, during the day he feels fine, at night, fever comes and coughs more severe. What should we do?
@cinderellapong, this has to be a scary time. I'm sorry, but no one can provide sound medical advice over this, or any other, forum. I can sympathize with you, and the feelings of helplessness. Don't be shy about calling his doctor to report how the night went, and report concerns or decline in his condition. Keeping the office updated is a good way to get the feedback and attention that he may need. If his condition worsens overnight, don't rule out a visit to the Emergency Room. Do you have a home pulse oximeter? If yes, are his readings dipping?
his reading is constantly 90-94. I just want to know how effective immunotherapy is …
@cinderellapong, Those are low O2 numbers, no wonder he isn't feeling well. If you haven't seen this already, there is a fairly long discussion regarding immunotherapy. Here is a link to that discussion: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/immunotherapy-and-chemo/