1. I am an early retired CPA and former equity partner (64) from Denmark and despite my education I should start from scratch when I should try to understand just a little about cancer
2. My wife is 65 - non smoker – and operated in February 2017 (½ of left lung removed and declared cured and no additional (radiation / chemo) treatment offered, as it was not considered necessary).
3. Ultimo October 2017 - because of pains in her left thigh/leg - she contacted the hospital and now the lung cancer (NSCLC – adenokarcinom -PD-L1 > 1%) had spread out to the bones (widespread mixed osteolytic and sclerosed bone metastases throughout the skeleton –stage IV) – the cancer in the bone was the same type as the cancer in the lung. There has not been detected/demonstrated ALK,ROS1,RET or EGFR.
4. We were told, that the survival period if no treatment took place probably would be less than 1 year and with treatment 1-2 years. She has now - palliative - received 10 x rays against the pelvis and 3 x chemo intravenously (Carboplatin og Vinorelbine) combined with chemo in tablet form after day 8 of the intravenously chemo. (2-line treatment offered is probably immunotherapy – but I am not sure and I now don´t know which kind). We felt we had no choice but to start with the proposed treatment! Conclusion from Hospital after 2 x kemo was as follows: Unchanged following follow-up on left side. Continued widespread bone metastases with increasing sclerosis - interpreted as a healing process. No new emerging disease manifestations
Question:
1. Is there any cure/treatment - other than the types we receive - in US which is expected to cure my wife's diesease or prolong her lifetime?
Reply # - February 18, 2018, 09:09 AM
Hi mogens,
Hi mogens,
Welcome to GRACE. I am sorry to hear of your wife's diagnosis and recurrence. The treatment for recurrence that your wife has received is pretty typical throughout the world, including here in the U.S. - radiation to relieve symptoms of the bone metastases, and systemic treatment to attack the disease wherever it may appear in the body. The response so far is what is called stable disease, which is a good result for stage IV lung cancer. At this stage, the cancer is not considered curable, but there are various chemotherapy agents available (in addition to those being used now) as well as immunotherapy. Her oncologist may want to test for PD-L1 expression, as high expression can indicate a greater chance that immunotherapy will be effective.
I would not place too much emphasis on the survival statistics she has been given. For large groups of patients they have some relevance, but not for individuals. How a patient responds to treatment makes a big difference, as some patients continue to progress rapidly despite treatment. In that regard, your wife is already having better results than many patients. In addition, statistics by their nature are historical, but today there are more options available, with others currently being tested, so patients are bettering those statistics all the time.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - March 17, 2018, 09:10 AM
Hello, Mogens
Hello, Mogens
What is the name of the drug your wife receive in tablet form?
Reply # - March 18, 2018, 10:31 AM
Hi masalovai,
Hi masalovai,
Some European countries use oral form of vinorelbine but isn't available in the U.S. From a previous discussion, "GRACE’s very own Dr. Pinder stated the following in January 2012 re oral Navelbine (aka Vinorelbine): 'Oral navelbine (also known as vinorelbine) does exist though it is not available in the United States. My understanding is that it is available in Europe (and possibly other countries?) and that it is similar in effectiveness to IV navelbine. Common side effects of carboplatin and navelbine include fatigue, low blood counts, nausea/vomiting, and numbness/tingling of the hands and feet. Medications are usually prescribed to prevent nausea and doctors usually follow the blood counts carefully.'"
http://cancergrace.org/topic/oral-vinorelbine
All best,
Janine