Stage 4 Lung Cancer with brain metastases

Sent by  Penelope504 1 minute ago February 2, 2008
I turned 64 a few months ago and I must still be loved.  A year ago I was given about 4 months to live with a diagnosis of stage 4 lung cancer with two metastases in my brain.  I did not have any recognizable symptoms until I had a major seizure and was hospitalized, given CAT scans and x-rays.  The lung tumor didn't show but I was sent to a different island with more sophisticated imaging equipment.  Following diagnosis, Gamma Laser knife surgery was performed.  Chemotherapy was also recommended, in my situation, carboplatin and gemcitabine.  In addition, I was given steroids (dexamethasone) to make the chemo more tolerable.  While the chemo was not nice since I had no appetite, my hair was falling out and my skin hurt and body ached, it was the steroids which were intolerable for me.  I felt totally crazy and wanted to bite and hit people.  The chemo clinic doctor did not acknowledge that I was becoming psychotic and, until I called the poison center, I had no idea what else was happening in my brain.  I fought verbally with the chemo clinic doctor who recommended I take Kytril to avoid nausea.  Kytril cost my insurance $4000 per month.  The chemo doctor suggested I use it regularly.  I asked for a referral for medical marijuana and said I would eat bananas instead.  The doctor did not approve and noted that it would only cost me $12.50 a month with my Rx plan for Kytril.  After two chemo treatments, my lung was examined again.  The tumor neither grew nor shrunk.  I refused to take Kytril and discontinued chemo but continued Keppra twice a day.  I removed myself from all steroids and limited use of diazepam and did my best to rest and avoid seizures.  I have a medical marijuana prescription.  My kids recommended mushroom capsules and ginger for my brain swelling and Waiora drops in my water.  Since these are not difficult to take and I like the marijuana, I have kept on this regime easily and haven't had seizures in months.  The MRI which I took the other day showed brighter tumor spots but the neurosurgeon couldn't tell whether it was because the tumor has spread or that it is just because the MRI dye had been changed.  I will have to await my next MRI to see a more valid comparison, I guess.  Since I am not on chemo, my oncologist discharged me.  I am trying to find an oncologist who will appreciate my treatment choices and help keep me well informed about other treatment options.