Anyone had Concurrent Radiation and Chemo Therapies?

Posted by andycapp @andycapp, Mar 4 10:56am

Lower Left lobectomy is off the table. Surgeon said that even if I survived the surgery, my quality of life would be severely diminished (limited lung capacity).
So I will begin concurrent proton radiation and chemo therapies on March 9.
Has anyone here gone through these concurrent therapies? Any suggestions?

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I will have a CT scan tomorrow (5/15) and then see my medical oncologist to discuss results and next steps. Hopefully the CT will show that the combo treatment was effective (successful). Oncologist mentioned previously that Imunotherapy is next; so, we'll see.

I'm starting to feel better. I am still dealing with fatigue and shortness of breath, especially upon exertiion of any kind.

I'm still dealing with esophagitis but it's not as bad. My radiology oncologist said to keep taking famotidine until all esophigial discomfort is gone.

I am interested in know if we will wait to start imunotherapy until all side effects of the combo therrapy have disappeared.

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Profile picture for dsteel65 @dsteel65

My energy level dropped 2 days after last radiation. I got tired and breathless quick, my hair started falling out about the same time. And my taste buds were affected.
I gained most of my energy back by the time I started chemo. I was suprised that the first 2 days were really good.
On the 3rd day pain set in. Neuropathy in feet and finger tips, also intermitten stabing pain in various places that only lasted a few monents. Elbow ,both knees, temple and bowels. The worst was being achy from the knees to my toes

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@dsteel65 The fatigue and breathlessness can be from both the radiation and chemo (double whammy). I had/have the same side effects. They will take some time to dimimish. Hang in there!

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My energy level dropped 2 days after last radiation. I got tired and breathless quick, my hair started falling out about the same time. And my taste buds were affected.
I gained most of my energy back by the time I started chemo. I was suprised that the first 2 days were really good.
On the 3rd day pain set in. Neuropathy in feet and finger tips, also intermitten stabing pain in various places that only lasted a few monents. Elbow ,both knees, temple and bowels. The worst was being achy from the knees to my toes

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I have stage 4 nsclc has spread to kidney, a few lymph nodes and 6 tumors in the brain. They started with brain radiation, because my brain had already shifted 2.5cm off midline, and I was losing left side muscle control. I had ten radiation treatments in 2 weeks. I had my first chemo May 7.

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Profile picture for andycapp @andycapp

My last radiation treatment was on April 21st. I have started daily walks, starting with 30 minutes and now I'm as an hour. I need to get my strength back and put on some lost muscle mass (when I look in the mirror, I can see that I've lost too much weight)!

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@andycapp, congrats on finishing radiation. You’ve come a long way, and the walks will help. 🙂

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My last radiation treatment was on April 21st. I have started daily walks, starting with 30 minutes and now I'm as an hour. I need to get my strength back and put on some lost muscle mass (when I look in the mirror, I can see that I've lost too much weight)!

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It took a couple weeks for the pain of the esophagitis to go away. Fatigue was my biggest problem and to overcome it I walked a little each day. I tried to push myself a bit farther every day.

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Yesterday I finished 30 of 30 proton radiation treatments and 6 weeks of concurrent chemotherapy.

Ive been told that the next few weeks will be tough as far as adverse side effects go. Has anyone gone through the post treatment side effects? What can I expect?

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Something else you might want to look into is Maggie's Centres. They have virtual and in person meetings for cancer patients at a number of locations around the UK.
https://www.maggies.org/

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Thank you. He is having some treatment chemos, now shorter times. I will tell him about Roy Castle.

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