Hi, my mom was recently diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC. I have been frustrated with the organization and process of getting an official diagnosis and testing. And now they are planning on chemo and also radiation to one of her metastatic sites (but not her lung), but they keep putting it off....needing ONE more DR. visit here or there for something. They won't start *Chemo* until AFTER she meets with the Radiation Oncologist! She's even had her med-port in for almost a week already. Its been over a month since they discovered both the primary tumor in her lung and her other sites of metastasis. We've already contemplated looking into a true Cancer Center (although its 3 hours away vs. 20 minutes at our current hospital), but don't want to waste more time rehashing things out with Dr's and such.
How fast do tumors usually grow? Could they already be significantly larger by now?
Do they usually always do Chemo and radiation at the same time? They are telling us they do, but the radiation is not even to her lung.
Any advice for dealing with the medical system and unorganized offices/Dr's?? I WORK in the *system* and yet now its totally failing my own mother and I'm feeling very frustrated and helpless!