Consultants Summery Diagnosis -- Comments & advise please

Hi Johnoo

I appreciate that choosing between treatment options must be difficult. However please remember that we are not cancer experts, just ordinary people who have either been/going through the cancer experience or are supporting someone who is. 

I can only give you my experience of chemoradiation. The entrance to my left lung was completely blocked by cancer, which also covered the top part of the left lung. Described as extensive but limited (hadn't spread beyond the lung). My treatment was 4 cycles of chemo alongside 33 days of daily high dose radiotherapy (Mon - Fri with weekends off)). I will be honest and say it was tough, especially from midway to the last session.  The effects of both the treatment and associated side effects are cumulative.  This was back in 2011 and I haven't had any treatment since.

The life span stats are never current and do not take into account improvements/developments in the treatments during the data period... Plus, they do not take into account that everyone is different as to how their cancer reacts to the treatment.

For what it is worth, my advice would be to discuss all the options with your Oncologist.

Whatever you choose, I wish you the best possible outcomes.

Kegsy x

Kegsy,

Totally understand you or I are not experts, but you do have experience as your reply shows.

Your comments re your treatment are very helpful, for which i thank you.

Will discuss with Ocologist when we meet on 18th May

Thanks again

Kegsy,

Further thought, what is a session of chemo?

Is it treatment every day for a week etc or do you get days off like Radiotherapy

Thanks in advance

Hi

Chemo tends to be given in cycles, depending on what format you are prescribed. 

Mine was in liquid form (cisplatin and episode). Each cycle was over 3 days every 3 weeks, with the chemo given  via a canula in the back of my hand. Saline is also used to flush the chemo through the veins and to add important fluid into your body. The aim is to get the chemo around your body via the bloodstream and for you to pee it out as soon as possible; hence the extra fluid..

Some chemo is given in tablet form, although I think for lung cancer it tends to be in liquid form.

Does this help?

Kegsy x

Kegsey,

Yes helps a great deal, many thanks