chemo/rad

Update on Mother in law which was diagnosed in Jan 2007 with 111b lung cancer, they started her on  6months of chemo(Carboplatin & Navelbin) then added Avastin only after 3 rounds she got very ill put in hosiptal for 2 weeks with severe pain mainly in knees,hips an back. they ran MRI, CT, bone scan all came back clear they could not understand why she had such pain. She was on oxy, apatch for pain (don't remember name) after being home for 1 week she is pain free, however the Oncologist decided she would only recieve Avastin but when she went in for treatment he had changed his mind an said she is done with chemo. He says we are fighting a ghost since her tumor was removed with surgery but had 6 out of 9 nodes cancer positive.  Only explanation was he thought she had, had enough. But she started Radiation this week. My question she is 71 not in the best of health no excerise period, she is weak nausea all the time dosent eat much at all which she has no appeitte. She started at 159lbs an now down to 116lbs.  Her cough is horrible but no blood or mucus showing up. If a person can't handle chemo do they normally handle radiation better? The Oncologist is very vague they really don't tell you anything an that frustrates me to no end. From the time she moved in with my husband an me she has gone down hill. If she can't handle radiation then what do they do next? He had also mentioned putting her on a form of chemo pill however he changed his mind on that also. Just lost need help an answers or just a better understanding of the process.... Because believe me it's not clear.

has she had any effusions (fluid around the lungs)?  The RT should help with local control and is fairly well tolerated but it doesnt address the systemic disease.  This will almost certainly return since she had positive nodes and didnt get all her chemo.  Tarceva may have been the pill he talked about and could help some.  He may be worried about side effects. It sounds like he is moving toward palliative care.   If you are not happy with your ONC and his approach then look for another one who explains things better and is willing to fight.

 

I'm a nurse and have worked with many different personality types of doctors.  YOU have to make him explain things to you.  Tell him that you don't understand why he's doing what he is and you want to know ALL the details of what he's doing and why he's doing it, for how long is he doing it and what the expected outcome is.  You have to be an advocate for your mother and I'm sure the doctor will give you the answers if you ask him the specific questions.  I even find myself not asking the questions at times and then later I'm kicking myself.  Be forceful.

thanks for your reply so far she has had no fluid in or around her lungs. My personal opion he chose to stop chemo treatment is because I don't think she can handle it health wise. But still he could have tried the pill. But she even said she is glad they quite the chemo. I was not able to make her last appt when he chose to stop treatment my husband went with her an he dosen't ask questions like I do. I have put the Dr on the spot with very straight forward questions an he chose not to answer them maybe because she was present. Maye I should try an make an appt with the Dr with out her present.