Stage 4 inoperative squamous NSCLC, now on Opdivo last line Tx

Hello @goldenretriever,

Thank you so much for sharing your story; I'm truly sorry to hear this.
I'm tagging our Mentor Linda, @llwortman, who is, (I quote), "a 9 year 5 month non small cell lung cancer survivor. I am alive because I was properly diagnosed at Mayo Clinic." Linda posted this in June of this year, (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ipf-how-to-cope-with-sick-feelings/), and I am certain she will join in with her insights.

I'd also like to invite @burrkay, @pearlgee @merilee @cheris @sistergoldenhair @shortshot80 @mryzuch @amws who have written about their or their loved ones' experience with non-small cell lung cancer.

While we wait for other members to reply, here are a few discussions you may wish to go through:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/non-small-cell-carcino-adenoma/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/opdiva/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/adenocarcinoma-lung-with-metastasis-pelvis-back-femur-bones-stage-iv/
@goldenretriever, I admire your resilience, and wish you all success. If I may ask, have other options been discussed, besides Opdivo?

So sorry to hear about your NSCLC!
I am a caregiver for my wife, who was diagnosed with Adenocarcinoma, stage 3a NSCLC in May, 2015. Her cancer had not metastasized at that time so Mayo removed 2 lower lobes of her right lung. After going thru chemo therapy, her scan the following year showed the tumors had grown and our Mayo oncologist re-staged her to stage 4 inoperable NSCLC.
He put her on Opdivo, but after 4 months of the therapy, the scans showed that she was not responding. The Mayo oncologist then ordered a lung biopsy, which was sent to Foundation One in Boston for a molecular study.
The study showed her mutation, although in her lungs was indeed a HER2 mutation, normally found in breast cancer patients. Our Mayo oncologist then put her on infusions of a trial doublet of herceptin and PERJETA.
My wife is still responding well to the infusions every 3 weeks. The last PET CT scan showed the tumors have stablized, for which we are extremely grateful. We are convinced that the Mayo oncologist who ordered the Trial is our guardian angel!
Although yours is a squamous cell (different that Adenocarcinoma), I would suggest you to talk with you oncologist about the possibility of having a molecular study done...best of luck...God bless!

Golden Retrevier, Sorry to hear of your problems. I am shortshot80 and I have two kinds of lung cancer. ONe is plain lung cancer and Left lung is mesothelioa which has no cure. I have had five sessions of raidiation on my right lung and now have had also two rounds of chemo. So far I am doing ok with the chemo with exception of "fatigue" Also I am 84 years old which doesn't help either. No sickness and no pain so far in my travels with the cancer. Just really tired. Hopefully they can find what to do with you that will help you. shortshot80 Nanacy

I apologize for taking so long to reply. We just spent 4 months in hospitals away from home. Three months were at the amazing Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Life Saving. No one, no doctor, (we saw 12) no nurse, not team member at this amazing healing medical facility told us anyone would die.
After lung cancer surgery I had many people tell me( including my insurance company) I would die!
Mayo Clinic lives up to their very Mission Statement. So my question to you is this:
Where are you being treated ?
I know many stage 4 lung cancer patients who have been given a good quality of life, with proper diagnosis and proper treatment.
Have you given Mayo Clinic an opportunity?
January 11, 2018 I will have survived lung cancer for 10 years...because of proper diagnosis and proper treatment. And to think, for two years
local doctors told me my symptoms were psychological ! Compared to the life saving doctors and their teams at Mayo Clinic. Living is all about
"quality of Life" and Mayo Clinic has certainly given me that.

Let's stay connected.
linda

Thank you for your response. We have not been to Mayo, however we have complete trust in his oncologist. He works here in Michigan, at the Johnson Cancer Center and also at Spectrum in Grand Rapids. We will see him again next week for another treatment and inquire about other treatments or tests if the Opdivo fails. At this point my quality of life is at a 4 out of 10, 10 being high. I am 73 years old, so taking that in to consideration, I think I'm not doing to bad right now. God willing, I will see Christmas and anything beyond that, we will deal with on a daily basis. I'm buying my dear wife a "forever us" ring for Christmas, and I am asking her, for a 1 year membership to the YMCA. Blessings to you, for a wonderful Christmas Season.

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate your time. I initially had three biopsy's so we know what they are dealing with. If they could have cut it out, things would look differently today. But it was to close to my heart, and now the new mutations are entangling one of my airways in the other lung. We will ask about other treatment options if the Opdivo isn't working. Will have a CT scan in January if all is well. So we will just hope and pray for good results in January .We just take it one day at a time, and enjoy our family and each other. Each day is a gift and we are thankful for what we are given. Blessings to you and your wife, and wishes for a wonderful Christmas Season.

Thank you for responding, my dear friend. I'm so glad you have not experienced any sickness from your treatments. I had the fatique with my chemo and radiation, as you have had. I'm 73. Right now, the Opdivo is not making me sick, so very thankful for that. I wish you many more days with the people you love the most. And continued success with your chemo treatment. Blessings, and warm wishes for a wonderful Christmas Season.

Not at this time. I imagine they are waiting for my first CT scan, which they do after the 6th or 8th treatment. I'm at number 4 next week. Next week, I will ask what my options are, if the Opdivo does not work. Thank you for the sites related to cancer, for me to read. Thank you also, for responding to my posting. Blessings to you for a wonderful Christmas Season.

I add my welcome, Goldenretriever. I'm intrigued by your name. Do you have a golden retriever?
It is reassuring to have trust in your cancer care team. Please keep us posted on what you find out this coming week.

In the meantime, you may also be interested in this discussion in the cancer group:
- Talking Frankly about Living with Advanced Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/talking-frankly-about-living-with-advanced-cancer/

Wow. Can't believe how long it has been since I've visited this site. To answer your question Colleen, we did have a goldenretriever. He was a light colored male named Jake. He lived to be 16 years old, then old age got him. So now, where did I leave off ? I had a very severe lung infection, and thought I was going to die. But it was caught and treated in time. My second chest Xray showed the tumor and the lymph nodes shrinking. The best Christmas gift I could have received. I continue on Opdivo. I'm on my 8th treatment. Continue to feel more sick each day. But not to the point I want to stop the treatment. I am seeing a palautive care doctor. He manages my pain medsl instead of my primary care doctor. But I see my primary care doctor for everything else. Right now, with this 55 degree day here in Michigan, I am getting anxious to get my corvette out of storage, and drive it again, for as long as I feel able. But of course, Winter WILL return. Thanks for your correspondence. Blessings