I've searched on the net for information on this cancer, with no avail. Does anyone have any knowledge about this particular type of cancer, studies, protocols, etc?

She lives here in Fullerton, California and was treated at St. Jude's Hospital and now is looking for ANY possibilities of treatment.

-three categories: squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, and large cell. Radiation is generally designed to attack cancer in a defined area, and is unlikely to provide a cure for metastasic cancer.

There are different chemotherapy regimens, each of which has statistically about a 20% chance of success. Some oncologists use cisplatin based chemotherapy, others vinorelbine, and some gemcitabine. Various combinations have been tested in clinical trials. No one knows the optimal mix, we only have rough statistics about success. It is conceivable that there are different rates of success within the lung cancer category.

I would go to another oncologist and discuss other types of chemotherapy. While the chance for success is not great, there is certainly a possibility of a short-term remission or reduction in tumor size. She might be eligible for certain clinical trials too. So while the outlook is bleak, to call it hopeless is an overstatement.

Note that some doctors shy away from additional chemotherapy for seriously ill patients for fear of legal liability if the chemo makes things worse. Regardless of the doctor's concerns, with a young woman like this, I would be as aggresive as possible in seeking treatment. To summarize, her options are:

1) Another type of chemotherapy, vinorelbine, gemcitabine.

2) Clinical trials using the drugs listed about or others.

3) New and somewhat experimental interferon or interleukin gene-based therapy, perhaps used in a clinical trial.

Feel free to look at our website lungcancerclaims.com and the lung cancer support group, ALCASE website. For new treatments, go to medline. www.healthgate.com

-My wife went through 11 cycles of Vinorelbine and Taxotere. She is still alive since last year's diagnosis of a type of adenocarcinoma. Others have had good luck with Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, etc. We were treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center, located in Houston, TX. I highly reccommend it though make sure your insurance company is ready for the hit.

Another drug undergoing clinical trials for all sorts of cancers is Topotecan (Aka Hycamptin). My wife is currently receiving it intrathecally and after 6 weeks of treatment, we've been told very good news today. And if/when a new drug called Epothilone is finally released for a clinical trial, go for it. Lab results show astounding success.

If your oncologist takes your sister off of any treatment due to low white or red blood cell counts, this too can be treated with drugs such as Neupogen and Procrit, respectively. Keep in mind that these are extremely expensive drugs.

Tell your sister to tell the oncologist to be aggressive if she wants to live. In addition to blood counts, tumor size and location, prognosis, etc, they also gauge a patient's performance. In other words, have her appear as a strong as possible. A strong-sounding and looking patient will be given a chance any day over a weak patient.

Don't forget you need to build an overall support structure. A patient and hospital cannot work in a vaccuum alone together. There is the need for support groups, love, compassion, nutrition, prayer, lots of visitors, etc.

I hope this helps. We've been through the ringer and continue to do so at the present time.