Husband's NSCLC now spread to liver as pembrolizumab not workin

[Goingcuckoo]

We've just seen the oncologist who says the tumours in his lungs are bigger and he now has tiny spots on his liver. He was diagnosed in Sept 18 with NSCLC and a malignant pleural effusion. The effusion is still there but fluctuating between hardly any and 150ml. Pembrolizumab is not working, of which he's had 6 months already. Now being put on pemetrexed and Carboplatin. He's also got to have a bone scan as he now has pain in the groin which could be bone mets. My husband looks healthy and has a good appetite and just had his 60th birthday. Can anyone on this site offer any hope for this chemo to work?

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

So sorry for this new development. It’s frustrating when one treatment fails and we have to look at another. The new line of treatment your husband will receive is considered standard of care for patients who can’t have immunotherapy. It’s replaced earlier standards because it proved in clinical trials that it could extend life with progression free survival.

I send hope that this is a success. His overall health will help him here.

[PegD]

I was diagnosed in 2016 with nodules in my r Lung w/ pleural effusion. Carboplatin and Pemetrexed was my first line. Typically, they do 4-6 treatments with this combo before dropping the Carbo and staying w/ Pemetrexed (Alimta) as maintenance. This treatment can be very effective and I know of people who have been on maintenance Pemetrexed with good results for a long time. Denzie is correct, your husbands good health will be a plus. Wishing you all the best.

[Presley11]

We are pulling for you🙂

[Jenniferroseolson]

Similar to PegD’s situation, I was diagnosed in April 2015 stage 4 NSCLC with a few lung nodules, pleural effusion, spread to adrenal gland, liver, spine (and subsequently brain). I just had my 60th (not a typo!) Chemo treatment of the pemetrexed (Alimta). When I was diagnosed, the standard of care for first line treatment was carboplatin plus pemetrexed. That standard of care has changed since that time (which is why your husband received the immunotherapy first but I didn’t.) I have not had immunotherapy.

Yes, there is hope! The cancer in my chest, abdomen, and pelvis has remained stable since September 2015 under continued maintenance chemo (pemetrexed only) after 8 rounds of carboplatin plus pemetrexed.

Also, make sure he has had MRI of brain. Chemo cannot cross the blood brain barrier, and Lung cancer unfortunately likes to spread there...had I known that, I might have had brain Mets and “lesion” diagnosed sooner instead of just assuming my headaches and vomiting were chemo side effects.

Praying for you tonight

Jennifer