Bg1970
After recently being recently diagnosed non-small cell lung cancer (stage 3b) I am wanting to reach out to other men similar age to me who are battling this illness. I have the efgr mutation and have been taking tarceva since 1st July. I am coping well on tarceva - I describe it as my one-pill per day miracle drug ! It's been a challenging time in my life. I am 44. Twice divorced and I have 3 beautiful children from my 2nd marriage who both inspire me to passionately fight on but who also bring out deep emotions in me when I am with them - being the fear of leaving them too early. I am adopting a holistic approach to my illness. I have a a high pressure corporate role and my company has been very supportive of me and I have been on extended medical leave since the 13th July. During this time I have taken up yoga and mediation. I have reluctantly cut out my greatest vice - an appreciation of a good drop of wine - and have a daily drink of super vegetables and fruits (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, berries, nuts, bran). I have even tried kinesiology that looks at the energies in ones body. I have continued my daily exercise regime of numerous push-ups and sit ups to remain as normal as possible but the reality is life is no longer normal and i, like the rest of you, accept it but it does not, and should no,t mean my life is ruled by the illness. Bruno
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BMcD
New Contributor
I am still waiting to hear what the medical oncologists might offer me. My non small cell lung cancer has spread to my brain and I'm in palliative care and just coping with whole brain radiation. I don't know the drug tarceva, but I suppose most hope is in the new drugs and treatments that are being discovered every day. Stay alive for as long as possible. Clive James recently said just when his leukemia treatment stopped working, they offered him a new treatment and he's in remission again - and still reading and writing and working. we should be so lucky. My children have grown up and the youngest is due to get married in December. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it, and decided that when your kids are young is the best time of your life. Enjoy every minute. We never had enough, we were always broke with 3 kids, but it wasn't about money or stuff but the time we spent together with family and friends. Good luck.
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Bg1970
Not applicable
Thank you for your response. I wish you all the best. We all have a different journey in life. It is precious and short and agree to enjoy each day. God bless you ... Bruno
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topenddownunder
Contributor
Hi...I was diagnosed with NSCLC nearly 16 months ago, and ..wow ..its been a ride and a half.My Cancer is stage 4 (cancer in the pelvis) which I have had Radiation,but only mild for pain management.The Chemo I started on was Gem/Carbo which worked well in reducing the tumor (60% over 3 months) but unfortunately knocked the blood cells around too much.Two hospital visits with virus associated with neautropenia, and two blood transfusions, for low red blood cell count.We then tried Alimpta, which was great on the bloods, but didnt kill the Tumor, over 6 months it grew back to nearly the original size.Now i`m on Nivolumab (or Opdivo) which is ammunotherapy.Side effects are minimal and everything was going well until my body rejected the last Transfusion (Allergic Reaction)The Oncologists are working on ideas to try and administer it next week, so I can have CTScan and see whether it is working.I Have heard of others on it and have had good to very good results.During my Journey I have tried, and mostly still using different supplements and dietary changes.Like you I have the "smoothies" and fresh vegies and fruit and also take Wheat Grass Tablets and Astragalis supplements (they were recomended from Oncology Pharmacist).If you need to chat, or just vent just let me know. I hope all is going well Greg & De
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BMcD
New Contributor
Hi Greg & De It was so lovely to hear your voices and your stories. I find the sharing incredibly moving, and while each journey will no doubt be individual, for me there is comfort and resilience just hearing about everyone's experiences. My oncologist suggests I rest and recover from surgery and radiotherapy for a few weeks and then do a whole body PET scan before thinking about anything else. I have found radiotherapy to be challenging and fatigue extremely difficult to cope with. It's taken a while to keep going out and moving around in the real world, because hospital time just eats your life up. If you feel up to it, please stay in touch and I will hope for the best for all of us. Things would have been very different just a few years ago. Cheers
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topenddownunder
Contributor
Hi B McD....Have you enquired about Nivolumab? I have been on it for 2 months now and am about to have first ctscans etc.I heard on the news that they are trialing it on brain cancer (Olivia Newton John is helping with this cause....she lost her sister to it two years ago)There are great outcomes coming out about Nivolumab (also marketed as Opdivo)and being immunotherapy the side effects are nowhere near as bad as Chemo. Keep us informed Greg & De
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topenddownunder
Contributor
Please feel free to add me as a "Friend"..if you want.. that way i can get emails instead of having to post... Greg & De
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