NSCLC adenocarcinoma, Wife Shirley
7/12 LLL removed Cancer Free
8/13 Mets to Midstinum
12/13 Rad/Chemo (Cisplatin, Etopiside) complete, Cancer free, started Avastin and Alimta Maint. (Genetic tests nothing)
3/14 Pet scan: Cancer free, Avastin and Alimta Maint.
6/14 Pet Scan: Mets to epicardial fat. Avastin and Alimta Maint continued.
8/14 Mets; jugulossubclavin, paratracheal region, subarinal region , right infrahilar region, left adrenal gland. Started Taxol, Carboplatin, Avastin.
12/14 Stopped treatment, not tolerating.
12/24/14 – 12/27/14 Hospitalized for Dehydration and Pleureal infection.
1/1/15 Pet scan: Some tumors gone, some bigger, bone mets, new tumors, bilateral adrenals
1/13/15 Started Gemzar / Navelbine Day 1/8 / Zometa every 4 wks.
1/26-2/6/15 10 cycles WBRT for numerous turmors, incl Pons. 4mg X 2 decadron
4/7/15 Recommended from ONC to pursue Hospice.
Was told today that the tumors should be gone by this time from WBRT. Because everything has pretty much stayed the same and a few new foci were noted best to pursue hospice. Is this the right course? Should the tumors be gone by now? Could they stay stable and unchanged for a period of time? Start with hospice and opt out and rescan in a month or 2? Go for QOL for the time remaining? Thank you as always, Bill Urban
Reply # - April 7, 2015, 09:08 PM
Hi Bill,
Hi Bill,
I'm so very sorry Shirley and you are going through this. Am I right to understand the "few new foci" are in the brain if so it's not likely wbr given in January will destroy the new tumors. If the new tumors are not in the brain and chemo isn't helping then there may be an opportunity to enter an immunotherapy trial.
Hospice is a very real and appropriate choice if Shirley isn't able to continue chemo (and the immunotherapy drugs have there own difficult side effects). If she enters into hospice care she can work full time on quality of life without anti cancer treatment. And you're right a person can go into hospice service and leave it. The only negative comment about hospice is that they wished they'd entered earlier.
As you know it's not possible for anyone here to know Shirley's individual course. A second opinion is appropriate if you're not comfortable with the choice of stopping treatment as well as finding a possible trial. It may also be helpful to know that most trials don't allow people who have uncontrolled brain mets.
I hope this helps,
Janine