My Treatment Story



February 2017 - Diagnosis with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Adenocarcinoma
                            FISH test confirms ALK Positive, no PDL-1

March 2017 - Crizotinib (trade name, Xalkori)
                        Whole Brain Radiation (WBR)  - 10 days
                        Dexamethasone (steroids) for brain swelling/edema
                     
March 22, 2017 - 911 Call; Emergency Room/Intensive Care/Hospital for 1 week
                             Collapsed Lung/Chest Tube; Atrial fibrillation; Malnutrition;
                             Severe Steroid-Induced Diabetes, temporarily placed on insulin;
                             Septic Shock; HONK Syndrome (Hyperosmolar Non-Ketotic coma);
                             Hyperkalemia; Hyponatremia; Dehydration; Pleural Effusion;
                             Placed on Blood Thinners to prevent blood clots

April 2017 - Rehabilitation Center/Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy to regain strength
                      Slow tapering off of Dexamethasone; discontinued insulin as blood sugar normalized
                      3 weeks PT/OT and then home; walker/wheelchair due to weakness and dizziness
                      Thoracentesis 5x over March, April, May, and June
                      Development of Lipo-Lymphedema

June 2017 - Placement of PleurX Catheter for daily drainage of pleural effusion

Summer/Fall 2017 - Manual Lymph Drainage and Compression for Lipo-lymphedema
                                   Physical Therapy, rebuilding strength, restoring nutritional reserves
                                   Palliative Care home visits

January 2018 - Fainting Spell or Seizure (unseen so we don't know which)

February/March 2018 - Switched to Alectinib (Alecsensa) for presumed brain progression

March 2018 - Worsening of Lipo-lymphedema in legs; legs cracked and weeping fluids
                         Development of cellulitis (skin infection on leg), sinus infection
                         Antibiotics (doxycycline) for cellulitis and sinus infection

September 2018 - Removal of PleurX Catheter after pleural effusion finally resolves

Ongoing - continuing treatment with Alectinib, blood thinners, etc.










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