Chemo delayed due to pneumonia - 1289318

fanos
Posts:18

My daughter (NSCLC Stage 4) was given chemo (carboplatin, pemetrexed) with out the benefit of Neulasta and developed pneumonia 2 1/2 weeks ago. Two followup xrays indicate no improvement. The pulmonologist and oncologist will not continue treatment of the cancer until a bronchoscopy determines the problem so that it can be treated. Her chemo has already been postponed 3 weeks but the Drs see no urgency in diagnoses of the "pneumonia" which has not responded to antibiotics. So is it protocol to wait until next week with no cancer or pneumonia treatment or should a bronchoscopy be performed ASAP? Reason given: no rooms available until next week! This is NOT a third world country!!!

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catdander
Posts:

Hi fanos,

Neulasta isn't automatically given with this type of chemo treatment more often it's given when certain white blood cells fall below a given number. If she's not responding to the antibiotic it may be necessary to preform a more encompassing panel of test. Sometimes rarer forms of virus or bacteria are the cause such a c diff bacteria.

No matter what the cause it's quite common to hold treatment when complications arise, most often without a detriment to anti cancer therapy.

I hope your daughter turns around soon and this will be just a bump in a long smoother road ahead. I'm very sorry she and you are going through this.

Janine

catdander
Posts:

Let add that seeking advise from a pulmonologist may be a good way to move forward on recovery from pneumonia.