My father (75) was recently diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma (T3N3, suspected malignant pleural effusion, no organ metastases). PD-L1 is 30%, EGFR/ALK/ROS1 negative. He is starting treatment with Carboplatin + Pemetrexed + Keytruda. He will also receive 5 rounds of palliative radiation before chemo starts. It has been 7 weeks since the diagnosis and we got the plan yesterday. He starts in two days.
We received very little explanation from the hospital, so I’m trying to understand what to realistically expect from people who have gone through the same regimen. We didn’t even get a chance to talk to an oncologist, only pulmonologist - and that was also a very brief conversation where we were told that she does not have time to answer our questions.
For those who had this combination:
How effective was it for you or your loved one?
When did you first notice signs it was working?
What side effects were the hardest during the first cycles?
Did cough, breathing issues, fatigue or sleep problems improve over time?
Are there any tips that helped with tolerating treatment?
I know everyone responds differently, but hearing real experiences would help a lot right now. I am really scared and this lack of communication has been terrible for my mental health because I am a type of person who likes to understand why decisions are being made and what to expect from the treatment.
Thank you.