Maintenance chemo

[Cici145]

So I have t updated in a long time (been lurking) but I’m back with a question. After nearly dying from an adverse reaction to Keytruda, my mom made a full recovery and has done very well on chemo. So much so that her oncologist moved her to maintenance chemo (Almita only). It’s been great and she’s done really well on it. My question is; has anyone been on this treatment? If so for what length of time? Thanks in advance!

[Pandora8205]

Hi i was on alimta until it stopped working almost a year tried optivo mext didn't work for me. On taxatere and crymiza. Not spelled correctly. 3 year staying stable. Side effects suck lasts about 5 days. Alimta was much easier.

[judg69]

I was on Alimta for 2 years. Obviously it worked well for me . I did always get Neulasta shots the day after, in order to keep my white blood cell counts at an acceptable level. All Best Wishes, judg69

[PegD]

I had 4 rounds of Carboplatin/Alimta followed by Alimta maintenance for 3 rounds before progression. Next was Taxotere and Cyramza from April 2017 - March 2018. I’ve been on Cyramza maintenance since April of this year. Wishing your Mom success with Alimta. Someone in my support group had good success with it for 2.5 years!

[ElmerFudd314]

I am age 69 and was diagnosed with g 4 nsclc in November 2017 which had also spread to the head. Being treated at the VA with a great team. Had 5 days head radiation including cyber knife then 6 cycles every 3 weeks of pemetrexed and carboplatin. Then the carbo was dropped and just getting pemetrexed for maintenance every 3 to 4 weeks. Have very few side effects from this. 3 pet scans have all shown improvement! The only hassle is it cuts into traveling, for instance out of Minnesota for the winter. Glad to beat the odds though and will have to take short trips.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to ElmerFudd314]

Consider arranging treatment at a facility in the state you want to stay in. A member of my support group gets her treatment here in Ann Arbor, Michigan May to January then at a Tampa hospital those winter months.

[Cici145 in reply to Denzie]

Id love to know what Dr your friend sees in Tampa. I assume she’s at Moffet. We are trying to arrange for a Dr there for my mom this winter.

[Jenniferroseolson]

After 8 rounds of carboplatin-pemetrexed, I have been on Alimta for maintenance chemo. I just had my 51st round (so 43 alimta-only). Diagnosed in April 2015. Stable since sept 2015 except for brain lesions found in May and October 2016. I have it every 3-4 weeks depending on my schedule. I typically am extremely fatigued and feel awful for 2-3 days with a couple crummy days around those. For example, chemo on Monday means I really am fading Tuesday night, stay in bed Wednesday and or Thursday, and spend Friday on the couch. Saturday is go-time to go to kids lacrosse games or coach my daughter’s volleyball team. I would love to hear from anyone else who has been on alimta this long or longer. Now instead of thinking about preparing my family to live without me, I’m daring to worrry about long term side effects as stage 4 backchats patients continue to live longer than ever before.