User Information

Biography

Diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) Thanksgiving 2006. I was given 6 months without chemo, 18 months with it. So I started my adventure. I completed my 4 cycles of Taxol, Carbo, Avastin. My tumor marker went down from 2000 to 14.5! Then I went on Tarceva (Erlotinib) with Avastin as part of a clinical trial. I developed Interstitial Lung Disease, there were over 400 people in my study group and I was the only one to develop this. I was in the hospital for 8 days. So off of that, I stayed on the Avastin which gave me hypertension and severe headaches, therefore it was held often. So, my last PET scan and tumor marker were disappointing. A large new liver tumor with many smaller lesions and a new large lymph node on my pelvis. My marker has doubled in 3 weeks. I started on second-line treatment last Thursday, Alimptor. No side effects! It was a breeze and only took 10 minutes to infuse, as opposed to the 7 hours of chemo last winter. It makes me wonder if it could possibly work if it is so easy. I will have 3 cycles and then another PET scan.

How do I tolerate all of this? My friends and family rock. They are so caring and devoted. i am overwhelmed by medical bills, my two college age kids, and not working. I worry about my family and our home. But my support groups is wonderful. I see a counselor at the Cancer center. She works with my whole family and she is extraordinary. Please all of you, seek counseling if you don’t already see one. Ours is free as part of my care. She is funded by donations.

Cancer Symptoms

Pain. The metastasis is skull, spine, ribs, liver, lung and lymph nodes in chest and pelvis, liver, pelvis, hip. Half of my tongue is paralyzed due to c-spine involvement so talking, chewing, swallowing are difficult.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects

None

Radiation Description, Dates & Side Effects

Weill have gamma Knife radiation to brain lesions

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

Taxol, Carbo, Avastin (pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, confusion). Zofran was the BEST anti-nausea drug and I tried them all. Broken pelvic bone, NEUROPATHY (very bad so I am on an anti-seizure drug to control it). Tarceva, Alimptor…

Hormone Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

None

Bone Marrow Transplant Description, Dates & Side Effects

None

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

None

Fundraising Description

Friends collected a “Luxury Fund” for me to spend on anything. They wanted me to get massages and nail care but my bones were too fragile for massages, I broke my pelvic bone doing nothing at all. And the neuropathy in my hands and feet was so bad that I couldn’t stand them to be touched. I got many beautiful scarves, a wig, make-up, and took my kids to the movies. I had 3 groups bringing our family dinners