Chemo delivery options - 1266077

Sat, 09/20/2014 - 00:15

luvmymom2

Posts:9

My mom got through surgery to remove her upper left lobe and is 11 days in recovery. I think she is doing extremely well for having major thoracic surgery. Page was diagnosed with stage 2 sarcomatoid lung cancer localized in her lung with a tumor and one lymph node in the lung involved, and they got that out. Our question is about adjuvant chemo options? Is there a different option like pill form that could be used in smaller doses than the full chemo treatment for this type of cancer or is that not recommended

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Reply # - September 20, 2014, 06:01 AM

HI luvmymom,

JimC

Posts: 2753

HI luvmymom,

So happy to hear your mom is doing well after surgery. Though there are oral therapies such as Tarceva and Xalkori which target specified genetic markers, they have not been shown to be effective in the adjuvant setting.

It is possible, however, to give chemo in reduced doses, at times spreading the total amount of the drug over more frequent infusions to help minimize symptoms, so you may want to speak to her oncologist about that possibility.

JimC
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Reply # - September 20, 2014, 08:33 AM

Exacctly right. Adjuvant

Dr West

Posts: 4735

Exacctly right. Adjuvant chemotherapy is often favored in patients with node-positive cancer, but it is appropriate to individualize the recommendation, both in terms of whether treatment is favored at all -- anticipated benefit may not exceed the risk in patients who are older and/or frail -- and what chemo to favor. But at this point, there is no oral therapy that is an alternative to chemotherapy with an anticipated benefit in the post-operative setting.

Good luck.

-Dr. West

Reply # - September 21, 2014, 11:31 AM