Chemotherapy for an elderly lung cancer patient with chronic lymphocytic leukeamia (CCL)

A 74 year-old man was admitted because of dyspnoea on exertion. He was diagnosed to have CLL on a bone marrow examination four years previously. The chest xray revealed a mass in the right lung with pleural effusion. Transbronchial biopsy of the rumor revealed a diagnosis of adenocarcinorna. Further investigations revealed liver and bone metastases. The patient was informed of the diagnosis and the risk associated with chemotherapy for lung cancer, particularly severe myelosuppression and the unfavourable influence on CLL. Two courses of combination chemotherapy with carboplatin and caxotere were given after informed consent. Grade 3-4 myelosuppression (NCI toxicity criteria) was not observed and the lung cancer did not show any change.