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Chemo only treatment

Posted by coffeeislife @coffeeislife, Jul 19, 2023

Does anyone have experience with only chemo as a treatment option? I'm mostly wondering in this treatment plan if PET scans have been done only after the chemo is finished, or if there is a midway PET scan to see if the chemo is working/medication needs to be adjusted.

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jwkelly72 | @jwkelly72 | Jul 19, 2023

I do and have experience with immunotherapy too. I recommend that if you can do both then try. My immunotherapy was axed due to health insurance issues but when I was on both then things were better for me.

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1 reply
socalkelly | @socalkelly | Jul 20, 2023

My husband did immunotherapy about 3 months post surgery and while he tolerated it well he developed BOOP - which is an non-bacterial pneumonia in his lungs. Treated with 60mg of prednisone for 4 weeks (he felt AMAZING due to steroids). After he stepped down off of them for a while they stopped immunotherapy. After a PET Scan the cancer had spread to lungs and the cells in his lymph nodes took a strong hold - so he's in his second round of Chemo (Oxyplatin and Folfox). Hoping for the best. He's in that awful chemo treatment mode...

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1 reply
coffeeislife | @coffeeislife | Jul 25, 2023
In reply to @jwkelly72 "I do and have experience with immunotherapy too. I recommend that if you can do both..." + (show)
@jwkelly72

I do and have experience with immunotherapy too. I recommend that if you can do both then try. My immunotherapy was axed due to health insurance issues but when I was on both then things were better for me.

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@jwkelly72 thank you. I'm inquiring based on treatment my family member is receiving. It does include immunotherapy as well. Most things I read are about chemo and radiation together so I wasn't sure if the chemo/immunotherapy has been the treatment course for others.

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coffeeislife | @coffeeislife | Jul 25, 2023
In reply to @socalkelly "My husband did immunotherapy about 3 months post surgery and while he tolerated it well he..." + (show)
@socalkelly

My husband did immunotherapy about 3 months post surgery and while he tolerated it well he developed BOOP - which is an non-bacterial pneumonia in his lungs. Treated with 60mg of prednisone for 4 weeks (he felt AMAZING due to steroids). After he stepped down off of them for a while they stopped immunotherapy. After a PET Scan the cancer had spread to lungs and the cells in his lymph nodes took a strong hold - so he's in his second round of Chemo (Oxyplatin and Folfox). Hoping for the best. He's in that awful chemo treatment mode...

Jump to this post

@socalkelly thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sending tons of prayers your way! My family member is doing chemo and immunotherapy. Surgery is not an option.

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