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Suggest Treatment For Stage 3 Non Small Cell Lung Cancer
Question: My sister was diagnosed with stage 3 non small cell lung CA in Sept. of last year. The prognosis was terminal with a 5 year life span if tx. was helpful. The diagnosis was reached thru an MRI, cells in her sputum, and symptoms.
Well, the winter was hard, and she was dependent on public transportation which often refused to traverse the backwoods road on which she lived. Subsequently, she had received only 4 radiation tx. and only 1 chemo tx.
In March, she moved from CT. to Fla. with me. Her primary referred her to Hospice, and we started to prepare. Near the end of XXXXXXX she started to experience some lower back pain. She had already lost one kidney to CA in 2009, so we scheduled a pet scan to check the remaining kidney, and lo… the CA was gone. Not in remission, or significantly less, but gone. No trace at all. I will attempt to send the film from which this dx. was reached.
My question is this. How could this be possible, and can this conclusion be reached by a pet scan alone? Should we go for a second opinion? Please respond soon.
Well, the winter was hard, and she was dependent on public transportation which often refused to traverse the backwoods road on which she lived. Subsequently, she had received only 4 radiation tx. and only 1 chemo tx.
In March, she moved from CT. to Fla. with me. Her primary referred her to Hospice, and we started to prepare. Near the end of XXXXXXX she started to experience some lower back pain. She had already lost one kidney to CA in 2009, so we scheduled a pet scan to check the remaining kidney, and lo… the CA was gone. Not in remission, or significantly less, but gone. No trace at all. I will attempt to send the film from which this dx. was reached.
My question is this. How could this be possible, and can this conclusion be reached by a pet scan alone? Should we go for a second opinion? Please respond soon.
Brief Answer:
Complete response
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your sister was diagnosed with stage 3 non small cell lung cancer the average 5 year survival rates vary from 7% to 19%.
Treatment at this stage generally consist of combined chemo radiation.
Her current PET scan after treatment is most probably showing complete response (CR) which is the disapperance of all target lesions. If lymph nodes are included in target lesions then each node must achieve a short axis <10 mm.
Sometimes after completion of treatment Complete Response can be achieved although it is very rare.
You need to discuss the PET scan findings with an oncologist.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
DR De
Complete response
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Since your sister was diagnosed with stage 3 non small cell lung cancer the average 5 year survival rates vary from 7% to 19%.
Treatment at this stage generally consist of combined chemo radiation.
Her current PET scan after treatment is most probably showing complete response (CR) which is the disapperance of all target lesions. If lymph nodes are included in target lesions then each node must achieve a short axis <10 mm.
Sometimes after completion of treatment Complete Response can be achieved although it is very rare.
You need to discuss the PET scan findings with an oncologist.
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards
DR De
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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