What To Expect From Stage4 Lung Cancer

My dad was dx with stage 4 lung cancer ( NSCC) on May 3 2008.It started as very bad back pain for weeks until he had his first seizure.  We were told that there were 2-3 tumors on the lung  and about 11 on the brain. The outcome doesn't look good from what we can get from the doctors.  He has finished his 15 treatments of radiation and has  started chemo yesterday. Last week he did have another seizure and  we were told that this is common with what is going on with the brain. He is now fighting with low blood pressure and  he can't be left alone. He doesn't talk about whats going on and i understand that this is all new but I'm worried about his mental state. I'm hoping someone can explain whta we should be looking for in the months to come. Thanks for listening!!   ala daughter

Sounds like my baby brother (he's 54), except he has fewer brain mets. He was a mess right after the radiation -- mentally out of it, barely walking; then he had some neurological symptoms and seizures and spent a week in the hospital. He was so obnoxious that I was thinking "He won't die of cancer. It'll be blunt force trauma, because I'm about to take off my clogs and pound those metastatic lesions right out of his head!"

Between the treatments and the medications, managing the side effects is a delicate balance. You can't tell what's the disease, what's side effects and what's emotional stress.

Two weeks after hospitalization, he's a lot better, but obviously still sick. He's a little depressed after making the decision to retire; I'm hoping he will be encouraged by paperwork that seems to assume that people who retire on disability are probably faking it. They keep telling you what you must do if you go back to work, or else...

It seems to me from what I've been reading that when the medical professionals start talking months, what they mean is "This is how much we can give you. It's up to you, now." With identical diagnoses, some people get up off their deathbeds and live until they get hit by a bus, and others turn in their resignations and "move on" two weeks later.

A lot depends on your dad's personality. If he's able to interpret I can't be left alone as everybody has to come over and watch the game with me instead of everybody thinks I can't do anything anymore, he'll do better. For my brother, I'm starting to think that maybe those two crazy cousins that nobody tells when they move might be a good diversion; maybe I'll give them his address next time they call...

That's one perspective for you.

Stay positive.  I've read a lot of stories on this board about many sites of tumors and they get them managed.  It probably depends on what chemo your taking and if it is working.  My dad had one brain tumor, so we had whole brain rad. and gamma knife to the one tumor.  That was 7 mths. ago and we haven't had any problems with new tumors or old tumor since then.  I would like my dad to be placed on Tarceva but it is a second line drug and hard to get approved for first line.  You may want to look into that.

 Good luck!