Non-Small Cell Cancer Stage IIIB - Cancer: Lung Message Board

sawbuck44 · 03-09-2004, 06:58 AM

What is the survival rate for this type and stage of cancer? I look at sites and see a timeframe of 1 to 5 years, I've also seen 15 to 18 months. This is the frustrating part of this disease - you never know!

mephoto · 03-09-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawbuck44

What is the survival rate for this type and stage of cancer? I look at sites and see a timeframe of 1 to 5 years, I've also seen 15 to 18 months. This is the frustrating part of this disease - you never know!

My dad was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer, stage IIIA, he went on for a year then the cancer spread to his bone and it became stage IV at that point. Dad passed away 6 months later. So from his initial diagnosis till he passed away was only 18 months. You have to remember though that everyone is different. Not much worked for my dad. He tried chemo, radiation, Iressa, nothing was combating this thing.

Just take things one day at a time. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
K.

sawbuck44 · 03-09-2004, 12:08 PM

Why if he began with radiation and chemo, would they want to stop chemo?

mephoto · 03-10-2004, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sawbuck44

Why if he began with radiation and chemo, would they want to stop chemo?

Dad had one round of chemo, before his lung surgery (to shrink the tumor) and two rounds of radiation, one round before his lung surgery to shrink the tumor and then one round of radiation when the cancer came back to his bone. After all of his treatments he was feeling better, he was back on his feet, then within a few months the cancer returned to his lungs. He was offered chemo but he declined. He tried Iressa for 6 weeks but the tumors in his lungs were just multiplying. The cancer was so aggressive at this point the chemo would not cure anything, maybe only slow it down and make him live another month or two. Dad's feelings on this were, why should I go through with the chemo, I am going to feel lousy again and it will only prolong my suffering. The family respected his decision and we then called hospice. 6 weeks later dad passed away peacefully in our arms.

sawbuck44 · 03-11-2004, 06:23 AM

It's okay...the doctors wanted him to stop so his rib would heal. He isn't stopping.