Does anyone have any experience with having more than 6 sessions of
alimpta/cisplatin? Even though meso is rare, my mom has an even
rarer case. Out of 100 cases they see 3-4 like hers. She has a mass
in the center of her chest that has grown and is attached to the
esophagus, attached to the aorta. Usually meso does not wrap itself
like it has. She has it in the lining, in her main bronchial tube
and now think she may have it in her esophagus. She has a feeding
tube but continues to work 35 hours a week. The chemo really did
it's job for the first 4. In two weeks we will know if it has done
anymore. Dr. Sugarbaker just wants her to keep doing chemo because
there isn't much that they can do. Her doctor here is concerned
about giving her more chemo because it is so much harder on the body
after 6 and have to worry about kidney failure. So now it is a
guessing game to decide when they think the chemo has done all that
it is going to do. Then they go in for more biopsies and EGD (look in
esophagus)to see if there is tumor in there. If there isn't then
they will do exploratory but she will have to stop chemo for 6-8
weeks so she can heal. We are hoping that the tumors have shrunk
enough and come off everywhere it needs to to have an EPP. I was
just wondering what other people's experiences are. It is just so
hard to wait and wait. My mom was diagnosed in November. They gave
her 6-18. We are now past 6 months and she is fine other than chemo
effects. It is nice to have other people who know what we are going
through.

Stephanie L. Farina