A good friend was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the right lung at the end of Dec 2007. An mri this week shows 7 tumors in the brain. She has not started any chemo/radiation yet. She is 52 and in good health. I lost a brother to a brain tumor so understand the severity of the mets. I'm doing research as quickly as I can to help she and her husband make an informed decision about what to do...if anything. The local drs are recommending 4 weeks of full brain radiation followed by tarceva.
Before, there was probably a goal of cure, this time, the treatment may be able to extend life, but would not be likely to free him of lung cancer. This means that controlling the disease is temporary - though there is a wide variability as to how long this actual time period is.
A second opinion is a good idea, but make sure that all the details are made available to the next doctor.
Stay positive.
Asians, women, non-smokers, and those with adenocarcinoma histology. This drug still has been found to benefit males, smokers, and those with squamous cell histology, but to a lesser extent.
Edema (fluid accumulation in any body part, resulting in swelling) has been reported as an adverse event in 37% of pancreatic cancer patients taking Tarceva, although this side effect has not been reported in lung cancer cases.
However, the type of edema associated with Tarceva use is either generalized or involves a swelling of both legs. Swelling in only one leg may not be due to this drug. Unilateral leg swelling may be due to a local infection (cellulitis) in that area.
At the time they saw no sign of cancer outside the lung. Now, however, after 4 rounds of chemotherapy the disease seems to have spread during treatment with taxotere and cisplatin: it's now in the liver, bones and adrenal glands. His original tumor was EGFR positive that is why Tarceva came up as a viable second step. The doctors are now hestiant to give it to him, though, because they are not sure if the problems caused by his bone mets could handle treatment by Tarceva.
Hi,
Your concerns are valid. Lung cancer is afterall, the biggest cause of cancer mortality. For this post, I can only work with the stage information, your doctor likely has better estimates.
Much of the answer here depends on how much the disease is affecting her daily living. If she stays in bed most of her waking hours, then treatment may only make an impact on symptom improvement. If she is able to maintain a fairly active lifestyle – then treatment may help extend survival .
Hello I am a caretaker. My client was diagnose with lung cancer stage IV. It has already spread to the spine, both lungs and the lymph system. Doctors triede Tarceva for 3 weeks but her body had a very bad reaction. For the spine they did radiotherapy. But since she was diagnose 3 months ago she has lost aalmost her voice. she is using oxygen for the major part of the day but doctors don't wan't to talk about time. no more medes will be given and she was reffer to hospice....
My grandfather is a heavy smoker and he had been smoking for a long time; two packs of cigarette a day. He is in his late fifties. Couple of months ago, he had been complaining about chest pains. When we decide to see a doctor, the doctor said that it was a mere muscle sprain or something like that. He gave some medicines but my grandfather still complains about his chest hurting. Roughly around last three weeks ago he suddenly had a high fever and was admitted to the hospital.
Your general health at the time of diagnosis and response to therapy, other coexisting health conditions like emphysema, and complications of cancer. However, the overall 5-year survival rate of stage 4 cancer is less than 10 %. The median survival time is about 8 months. You must disclose this to your mother so that she knows what to expect though this is a very sensitive issue and best decided by the close family. Wish you all the best. Take care.
Yes, they have statistics, but the last thing we need is a number in our heads. I had a lobectomy for lung cancer, and was told at the wonderful cancer center I went to that the assumption is that the cancer is gone. When it is operable, that is good! I had only 2 chemo treatments and decided the poisonous sickness from that was not worth it. Focus on living a healthy lifestyle, do the things you love to do, and laugh a lot.
If we consider lung cancer,the survival would depend on extent of disease (cancer stage). If we assume non-curative disease extent – lung cancers generally have shorter survival.
It may good to discuss these questions with his doctor, then discuss diagnostic options (if there is still a question of what it is) or therapeutic options.
Hi. The survival rate depends on what specific treatment was used in the clinical trial, and what organ the squamous cell carcinoma originated from (e.g. lung, head and neck, skin, unknown primary site, etc.). I can answer your question better if you can give me more details regarding the patient being treated (age, sex, etc.), the type of cancer being treated (lung, head and neck, etc.), and the treatment being given. Hope to hear from you soon.
Hi There...
I have had a upper right lobectomy on Sept 14 2001.Stage 1A BAC lung cancer...no chemo or no radiation..clear margins and no lymph node involvement.. ..it's been a little over five years now. cancer free. PRAISE GOD...and thou I realize that 5 yrs is maybe the magic number for most lung cancer survivor's...is it also meant for BAC Lung Cancer...I have heard not so....
Thank you for any information you can give me....
The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is calculated based on averages. Each patient’s individual tumor characteristics, state of health, genetic background, etc. will impact her survival. In addition, levels of stress, immune function, will to live, and other unmeasurable factors also play a significant role in a patient’s survival.
This is a question that is almost impossible to answer. There are statistics that deal with generalities but none of them actually deal with any one specific case. I have never relied on published percentages as I feel there are too many variables in each person's cancer as well as the response to the therapy. You might search for Statistics of Survival Rates on the Internet but I wouldn't ever depend on them for myself.
In lung cancer, there are assays for quantitative testing of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), which confers sensitivity to some drugs used in lung cancer like Iressa or Tarceva. The cost of testing can range from a few hundred dollars (e.g. ER/ PR assays) to around 3800 dollars for the Oncotype DX test.
Thank you for your response. I was afraid that you were going to say the survival rate is low. She has fought a tough battle for the past 2 years. I PRAY some day there will be a cure for the horrible disease. Thanks again.
my 83 year old aunt was dx with stage IV Lung CA 2 months ago, it was seen on CT back in May and we have been told it has doubled in size in the past 6 months. She is not a candidate for treatment and is refusing even palliative tx such as Tarceva. PET Scan showed no evidence of cancer in brain, liver or bone. Because she is experiencing no symptoms she is hesistant to participate in a home hospice program.
Recommended
