shanab1221
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Hello, my dad has stage 4 lung cancer and has been getting chemo treatments for 4 wks now and his dr has decided to switch his medication due to severity of side effects, so my queustion is. When he starts the new medication does it stop the terrible side effects from the first medication given?
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Reply # - October 30, 2012, 11:27 AM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
I'm sorry things have been so difficult on his initial treatment.
There isn't anything about starting the new treatment that leads to a decrease in side effects from the prior treatment. Instead, side effects from the current treatment will typically subside over a course of weeks, but it depends on the treatment that was given, the severity of the side effects, and the individual person. In addition, if the new treatment has some overlapping side effects, such as low blood counts and fatigue that are common with many anticancer treatments, the side effects may persist because of the contribution from the new treatment as well.
Good luck.
-Dr. West
Reply # - October 30, 2012, 11:34 AM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
Hello shanab1221, welcome to Grace. I'm so sorry your dad is having such a hard time on treatment. Usually when a chemo drug is stopped so do the side effects.
I am a moderator here but don't have a medical background. My husband was diagnosed with nsclc squamous cell stage 4 over 3 years ago. As well there are many members here who are doing well, going back to school even after and during treatment. So it is possible to do well on chemo or at least get by with a decent quality of life for some time. Also he may already be getting it but your dad could probably use help from a friend or family member helping to manage the side effects that are manageable. I'm not at all saying he isn't getting the help he needs, there are easily side effects that just can't be mitigated, especially blood counts. I'm just adding to.
Could you tell us what he is taking and to what drug or drugs he is changing. Also if you would like more input let us know what side effects he is experiencing and what his diagnosis is.
I hope your dad has better days ahead,
Janine
Reply # - October 30, 2012, 12:52 PM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
I believe he has non small cell lung cancer stage IV. He has had 4 treatments of carboplantin/taxol, his side effects are so severe that he can not do any tasks on his own. He can not dress himself or even walk very good, very confused and extremely dizzy. His Dr. says that the side effects are taking over and not letting the meds work. I am not sure what the new med is going to be. He is in excrutiating pain and has no appetite what so ever. He drinks plenty and I mean plenty of water and tries protein drinks and ensure. He has had a B-12 shot and is starting to take folic acid. Every possible side effect you can get from these meds except the nausua he has bad. He is suppose to get the new treatment on Thursday but not sure on if we can get him out of bed to go. I am at a complete loss and am scared to death. I dont know how to help him.
Reply # - October 30, 2012, 01:44 PM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
That does sound very severe.
I am going to contact one of our palliative care specialists for more input. Please don't be put off by the term palliative care. It just means that a person is stage 4 and will receive treatment to extend the length of life with while providing support for the best quality.
You should hear back within 12 hours.
Janine
Reply # - October 30, 2012, 03:13 PM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
It sounds like he's getting geared up to start Alimta (pemetrexed), which is given with vitamin B12 and folate. That is often quite well tolerated, especially if given as a single agent. I hope he has an easier time with it than with carboplatin and Taxol (paclitaxel), which can definitely be hard for many people.
Good luck.
-Dr. West
Reply # - October 30, 2012, 03:20 PM
Reply To: changing chemo medication
Dear shanab1221,
I'm so sorry to hear about how your father is doing. You are both going through so much. Based on what you've said, it sounds like he's gotten to a point that the treatment is doing more harm than good. I would agree with what has already been said; a new treatment doesn't mean that the bad side effects go away. There are a lot of options for treating his symptoms in the meantime. Focusing on his symptoms now would likely help to get him feeling better--for example, medication for his pain. Oftentimes, pain is a barrier to getting good rest and can contribute to other symptoms.
When a patient can no longer get to clinic because they're in bed most of the time, that is concerning and a sign that chemotherapy would do additional harm rather than benefit. This is something to discuss with his oncologist in light of how fragile your father is, and you could also discuss your questions around how you can help him best at this time. Another resource, if it's available at your clinic, would be a palliative care consultation to help with your father's symptoms and to support you and your family.
-Dr. Harman