I'm Mitchell, 24 from TN. I am the oldest of three brothers. My mom married our dad and had me when she was 16. We've always been so close in age, we're best friends really. People always ask if she's my sister!

My mom was diagnosed stage IIB with involvement in one lymph node. She had a lobectomy two weeks ago and is having a difficult time with pain and breathing in her recovery. Soon she'll be discussing adjuvant chemotherapy with her oncologist.

It's so scary. Are there any other long term survivors of IIB out there?

Mitchell,

Welcome! I sent you a PM. I'm sure there will be survivors and family members along to respond to you. This is a great place for support and information. Take care.

_________________
God Bless You!

Tina

"Charlie didn't let life happen to him, he let life happen through him." Rev. Joe Green, 4/19/06

Husband Charlie, lived 27 months with stage IV NSCLC, adenocarcinoma,
51 yo at diagnosis; 53 at death
daughters now 19 & 13, niece 16
DX 01/09/04, Died 04/16/06 (Easter Sunday)
Treatments: (1) Carbo/Gemzar & radiation, (2) Navelbine and rad to neck lymph node, (3) Vanderbilt clinical trial of Targretin, (4)Alimta, (5) Tarceva, (6)Taxotere & rad to lymph node next to aorta, (7) Gemzar, (8)Etoposide, Carbo and Avastin with brachytherapy for bronchial tumors, and (9) CPT-11.
03/17/06 Charlie able to go with Rachel to get her "dream car"
04/16/06 Easter Sunday - taken to Heaven after having been able to go to our church drama on Saturday, helping me make Easter deviled eggs Sunday morning, enjoying a good family dinner and long talk with his dad in Florida
_________________________________
My Uncle Dave, SCLC, died in Feb. 2007.
My Dad, SCLC 06/11/07, 86 years old, quit smoking 32 years ago; 8/1/07 signed up with Hospice; passed to Heaven on 10/08/07.
Aunt Catherine, brain tumor, died in Feb. 2008

Feb. 28, 2008: My Mom likely has NSCLC
Mid-March: PET shows high SUVs; she is not healthy enough for biopsy or treatment; she falls and gets a bad leg wound and infection; aggressive daily painful treatments to save her leg.
June 10: CT shows stable disease; leg wound finally healing.
Sept: CT shows progression.
Late Dec. 2008: admitted to hospital for shortness of breath. Radiation started due to tumor pressing on her spine. Goes home on New Year's Day. Admitted to Hospice a few days later as palliative rad. continues for 3 weeks.
Late Jan. 2009: falls and breaks hip; repaired the next day and goes to rehab. facil. 4 days later...AMAZING!
Ups and downs at rehab. facil.
Transferred to Hospice House - wonderful people!
April 6, 2009 - my mom passes on with my brother and I by her side

You may already know this. But, thought I would pass the information along...click on the My Mail link above to get my PM.

_________________
God Bless You!

Tina

"Charlie didn't let life happen to him, he let life happen through him." Rev. Joe Green, 4/19/06

Husband Charlie, lived 27 months with stage IV NSCLC, adenocarcinoma,
51 yo at diagnosis; 53 at death
daughters now 19 & 13, niece 16
DX 01/09/04, Died 04/16/06 (Easter Sunday)
Treatments: (1) Carbo/Gemzar & radiation, (2) Navelbine and rad to neck lymph node, (3) Vanderbilt clinical trial of Targretin, (4)Alimta, (5) Tarceva, (6)Taxotere & rad to lymph node next to aorta, (7) Gemzar, (8)Etoposide, Carbo and Avastin with brachytherapy for bronchial tumors, and (9) CPT-11.
03/17/06 Charlie able to go with Rachel to get her "dream car"
04/16/06 Easter Sunday - taken to Heaven after having been able to go to our church drama on Saturday, helping me make Easter deviled eggs Sunday morning, enjoying a good family dinner and long talk with his dad in Florida
_________________________________
My Uncle Dave, SCLC, died in Feb. 2007.
My Dad, SCLC 06/11/07, 86 years old, quit smoking 32 years ago; 8/1/07 signed up with Hospice; passed to Heaven on 10/08/07.
Aunt Catherine, brain tumor, died in Feb. 2008

Feb. 28, 2008: My Mom likely has NSCLC
Mid-March: PET shows high SUVs; she is not healthy enough for biopsy or treatment; she falls and gets a bad leg wound and infection; aggressive daily painful treatments to save her leg.
June 10: CT shows stable disease; leg wound finally healing.
Sept: CT shows progression.
Late Dec. 2008: admitted to hospital for shortness of breath. Radiation started due to tumor pressing on her spine. Goes home on New Year's Day. Admitted to Hospice a few days later as palliative rad. continues for 3 weeks.
Late Jan. 2009: falls and breaks hip; repaired the next day and goes to rehab. facil. 4 days later...AMAZING!
Ups and downs at rehab. facil.
Transferred to Hospice House - wonderful people!
April 6, 2009 - my mom passes on with my brother and I by her side

Welcome, Mitchell. Wishing your mom the best outcome. Don

_________________
72-yr old, married 47 yrs. Wife Lucie diag. 10/02 NSCLC (adeno carcinoma) w. multiple bone mets (skull, rib, upper spine, left hip and right fibula); non-smoker.

Radiation: 10-12/02 (spine, fibula); 03-04/03 (hip); 06/03 (sacrum); 07/04 (rib); 12/04 (skull); 04-05/05 (right fibula - recurrence).

Chemo: (Carboplatin/Taxotere), 02-05/03 - effective in reducing tumors; 07-12/04 (Navelbine) to treat recurrence in other lung, lymph nodes, rib - effective in reducing tumors; 08-12/05 (Navelbine/Gemzar) to treat recurrence in hip sacrum, spine, rib, shoulder, and liver - held everything stable; Alimta 2-4/06 - no effect; Carboplatin/Taxol/Avastin,5-9/06 - effective in reducing tumors.
Zometa monthly for bone strength.

Staph infection, systemic, 12/02 - second port-a-cath installed. Bilateral pneumonia, 08/03. Septic staff infection, congestive heart failure, 09/06 - deceased

I am 11-yr. prostate cancer survivor, Stage II (two bouts). Also 9 yr. heart bypass surgery survivor.

Avatar Pic: Don & Lucie, 02/06

Welcome aboard IIB is very survivable especially with surgery. Enjoy the time together and with Chemo should have many good years together. I have a friend who is/was IIB and has made 2 surgeries and 1 Chemo follow up. None after first surgery, I think that was what caused Recurrence. Shew is doing great right now.

_________________
April/03 My Wife Deborah, age 46, diagnosed adenocarcinoma NSCLC
1/20/2006 Admitted to hospital Respiratory distress
1/23/2006 Ran to the light and is waiting for us to be rejoined in the Kingdom Of Heaven Her journey is Over but mine lingers on for Now!!!
4/23/07 DEb is joined in Peace by her Puppy Dawg Daisy from Cancer
8/30/07 Got new Pup named Mocha!!

"No matter hnow much it hurts, No matter how alone you feel, Your friends will help you get through anything!!"
Scrubs!!!!Yes the comedy show!!!

The Reason I advocate
If you would like to see our family photos Click on this link!
http://deborah-wallin.memory-of.com/

My memory-of Link is good to go now if you want to see it!!

Hi Mitchell. Welcome. Wishing your Mom the best results! The surgery is tough, I know. It takes a while for those ribs etc to calm down. Glad to hear her Doc is planning chemo. That is tough too but it will really increase her chances of not getting it back again. You see microscopic cells could be there which the chemo could kill before they find a new nesting place and begin to multiply. Keep us posted.
Donna G

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NSCLC, 4 cm Pancoast tumor, diag. 12/3/97 Cisplatin and VP 16, Radiation, R upper lobectomy, more Cisplatin and VP 16. Celebrating 16 yrs of survival ! Click here and read MY STORY

http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?f47&t=9092

Hi Mitchell,

I'm so sorry your family is going through this right now. You will see that there are many IIB survivors here and I'm sure your mom will be another.

Sounds like you and your mom have a great relationship and I'm sure you will be a tremendous help to her.

Please keep us posted.

Trish

_________________
48yr. old, married, 12 yr. old daughter.
8-15-05 - Took myself to the ER. X-Ray shows mass on right lung. Hospitalized 4 days - broncoscopy, pet scan, MRI, CT, port-a-cath. Dx NSCLC Stage IIIB,adeno with squamous characteristics. Quit smoking after 30 yrs.
Radiation x 25.
Chemo - Taxol, Carboplatin x 2; reaction to Taxol 2nd infusion.
Taxotere, Carboplatin x 4 - reaction to Carbo on 6th infusion.
Taxotere weekly.
Mediastinoscopy shows lymph node with cancer, hilar region. Pneumonectomy not possible. Good news is cancer is confined to right side.
Radiation x 10 - right hilar boost.
Taxotere weekly x 3 then every 3 weeks x 2. Last treatment scheduled for Feb. 3.
Pet scan scheduled for Feb. 17.

Mar. 1, 2006 - Hilar lymph node is completely clear! Lung tumor has shrunk more than 50%. Will do 3 rounds (every 3 weeks) of Taxotere to knock the remaining tumor into oblivion. After that, will probably begin Tarceva.

4/25/06 - New PET/CT scans.
4/28/06 - Onc. declares the tumor "virtually dead". Although some residual tumor remains, little to no activity is seen. Began Tarceva 4/29. Not NED but real darn close!

6/27/06 - Onc. visit -- all tumor markers are NORMAL!!!
PET scan July 27 - Stable - Residual disease cannot be excluded. Again, not NED but I'll take it.
Next onc. visit is August 27. Continue on Tarceva. Moving right along...
9/25/06 - Celebrated my 49th (yikes!) birthday. Next PET scan on 10/26.
10/31/06 - PET Scan - Stable! Next onc. visit Jan. '07

Nov. '07 - Tarceva stopped working. Tumor growth detected. Back on chemo -- Gemzar/Navelbine this time.
Feb. '08 - Thoracentesis.
March '08 - Finish chemo. Thoracentesis.
April '08 - Hospitalized 9 days for pleurodesis and broncoscopy. Results show malignant cells in bronchus. Begin 4 weekly brachytherapy treatments. Hospitalized after 1st treatment due to reaction to Dilaudid.
June '08 - 2 more brachytherapy treatments to reach back-end of tumor.
Pet Scan scheduled 7/15/08.
Feeling great, working full-time, hoping for the best for all of us.

Mitchell, I replied to your post in the other forum category. I want you to hang in there. Your Mom (and probably your brothers) need optimism and hope, and with some work, you can provide that. Mary Colleen

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[size=9] 9/04: Husband,age 49 had small mass appear on routine chest x-ray in judged by radiologist to be infection.
10/04 - 9/06: 2 years of recurrent pneumonia/bronchitis.
7/06-9/06: 13 pound weight loss.
9/06: Diagnosed with IIB squamous cell NSLC, lower right lung, via investigative bronchoscopy.
9/06: PET measured SUV of primary tumor at 19. Lesser uptake in some nodes.
10/06: Bilobectomy (right lower and middle lobes) performed

10/10/06. Tumor 3cm; 2 positive hilar lymph nodes; clean margins, clean mediastinum. Some vascular invasion. Partial lung collapse. Lesions on the right adrenal and liver, judged on PET to be benign, will re-scan in January. (T2N1M0)
Excellent surgical recovery, except for continued weight loss...eating, but has lost about 22 pounds total.

11/9/06: Began chemo with Cisplatin and Gemzar. Chemo continues through January'07.

1/24/07 Finished chemo 1/22. First 2-3 round of chemo, moderate side effects. Last 2 rounds, severe side effects: nausea, weakness, fatigue, bone pain, dehydration, weight loss, blood count issues. Took temporary leave from work. First CT planned for 1/25/07.
1/26/07: Chest CT clean - no issues!

2/07-3/07 Feeling well, becoming active again, back at work, looking forward to starting life over.

4/07: Developed noticeable memory problems and unusual vision symptoms. Brain MRI on 4/16. Has a 2.75cm tumor in occipital lobe of brain.
Tumor (brain met)removed 4/26.
Will begin WBR after surgical recovery.
Has lost significant amount of eyesight due to tumor and surgery.

May/June 2007: Whole brain radiation. Side effects: fatigue, headaches. On leave from work since April.

July: Recovering from WBR.

August 2007: New problems: loss of appetite, disabling headaches. Clean brain MRI and spinal tap. Probably late, temporary effects of WBR.

October 2007: really finally recovering from WBR. Hoping to go back to work in the near future. Some minor recurring back pain.

Hoping for the best, believing it can happen.

Hi Mitchell-
I want to provide some positive energy here as a stage IIa survivor of 4+ years. I had 2 lymph nodes involved. My surgery was 2/02 and at that time follow-up chemo was not recommended, so I didn't have it. I would jump at the chance to change that because research has shown that adjuvant chemo is very beneficial in preventing recurrence. The pain after surgery is VERY significant, but continues to abate each and every day. One thing that really helped me was to start a walking exercise program as soon as possible. My first baby steps were to the end of the driveway, but I went further every day. My heart goes out to your mom and all your family. Feel free to ask any questions.

My best,
Tiny

_________________
"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever." Lance Armstrong

"Every moment is a breath-taking, transitory experience, never to be repeated again." - Don Juan Matus

Tiny
Age 58 at dx; lifelong non-smoker
12/01 dx NSCLC bronchoalveolar-type adenocarcinoma (BAC), Stage IIA
2/02 Lobectomy RLL; no chemo or rad
6/03 MRI = "empty"
3/05 Bone Scan = negative
2/08 CT = "No Evidence for Metastases or Recurrence"
Enjoyed 6+ years of NED
1/09 CT/PET:Recurrent disease: multiple new nodules in both lungs, mediastinal lymph nodes, and spot on liver.
2/3/09 Bone Scan: Degenerative arthritis (hooray!)
2/4/09 Started Tarceva
~~ picture: Temple of Poseidon, Greece 4/08 ~~

Hi Mitchell.

Congratulations for bringing our "Tiny" out of retirement.. She was one of my first customers at the pub! All of 'em seem to do well at the pub. Send your mom over for a coke, coffee, wine, beer, mixed drink..or whatever. You can come too even if you're not of age...


Your Mom has so much going for her, Mitchell. It is a frightening diagnosis, that is for sure. She has one difficult part of the journey behind her. She will get her strength back.
She is young, she has much to live for, she is healthy, yes? All these are in her favor. She has your support and love. How cool is that?

Listen honey... I am lllb and still kicking! 4years out now. Still a spitfire.

Just make sure she gets good nutrition, drinks lots of water. Did I mention drinking lots of water? Gets plenty of rest and as much exercise as she can handle. oh and lots of water. Prayers from anyone and everyone count.

I will be saying a few for her... how about that?

Starts out.. "dear Heavenly Father..."


love,

Cindi o'h

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Cindi NSCLC lllB Dx:11/02 at age 47
squamous cell carcinoma. T4N3M0 poorly differentiated (grade 3)

Aggressive, Curative Treatment:
Chemo (carboplatin/taxol weekly) and 8 weeks of daily radiation.
then taxotere 3 cycles
tx ended 6/03

NED every 3 months
Moderate Asthma
11/03 heart attack and stent
transient pleural/pericardial effusions
hypothyroidism
significant radiation pneumonitis
1/05 pneumonia
interstitial fibrosis
9/05 pleurodesis (talc procedure)VATS procedure to resolve chylothorax and effusions. Now loculated effusions.
ll/05 PET/CT clear/NED
10/06 CT Clear again!
12/06 heart/lung troubles
Biggest problem remains shortness of breath. (SOB)


Celebrating FOUR years since diagnosis: 11/02
2 brothers lost to lung Ca. Dick died at 37 from nsclc. John died at 42 from sclc