Prognosis of Lung to Brain

Hi. My mother(73) was recently diagnosised 3 weeks ago with lung cancer that has spread to her brain. She was found outside not knowing where or why, and didn't even recognize her own children.After a CT scan was done on her brain and a exray of her lungs it was discovered that the upper right lobe of her lung is 80% covered in cancer and that she had a couple of lesions on her brain. She has smoked for over 50 years and chose not to tell us that she has had spots on her lungs for over a year prior to being admitted in the hospital. She doesn't like doctoring and opted for silence. The episode she had that put her in the hospital was caused by one of the lesions bleeding and causing stroke-like symptoms. She has since regained most of her recoginition and seems to be functioning reasonably well mentally. They have said she is terminal but can't give us a prognosis and have yet to prescribe a treatment to help her. Does anybody have any experience in this matter. Should we actively be seeking treatments or is it too late for that. Do the lesions on her brain heal or do we expect them to bleed again. If anyone has had any experience with lung to brain (bleeding lesions) please let me know what the prognosis was. Thanks

Fivesplenty - I am sorry I am unable to give you any information re brain mets but wanted you to know that I will keep your mother and you in my prayers. dotdot

Thanks dotdot for the prayers we will need them

Hi Tammy, I am sorry to hear about your mother. I don't know if this will help or not but wanted to respond. My husband was DX May '05 with non-small cell adenocarcinoma lung cancer which metastasized to his brain and both adrenal glands. He had craniotomy to remove his brain tumor and went through radiation for both the lung and brain. He is also going through chemo. He is doing very well. The drs didn't expect him to do this well. The normal expectancy for stage iv lung cancer is 6 months - 1 year. This certainly isn't eched in stone. It is only stats. There are many different treatments your mother could go on. Do they know if it has spread anywhere else? This is the problem with cancer, especially stage iv lung cancer, it tends to spread quickly. I will be praying for you and your mother. Please write if I can help with any questions you may have. Laura

Thanks for your message and prayers Laura. My mom chooses not to treat her cancer at all. She is now 5 weeks since diagnosis and seems to be doing well but now her feet have started to swell. If I remember correctly from my father dying from colon cancer, this cannot be a good sign. Thanks again for your note to me. Tammy

Laura P. Hi, I hope all is still well with you and your family. This is the first post I have put on any cancer support site. Your response regarding the lung to brain mets was what I have been looking for for weeks now. My 51 yr old mom was diagnosed with NSCLC Bronchioalveolar Stage IV cancer about 3 years ago, and has been involved in the Iressa trial with some success seing as how we have had an extra 3 years to be grateful for. However in Sept.05 we started noticing a lot of Nuerological issues that have been steadily getting worse, she had an MRI in NOV and they found 2 - 2mm mets, we have been playing the pass the patient game with her Oncologist and Nuerologist ever since. We forced them to do another MRI a month earlier then scheduled due to her decline and the need for a diagnosis/prognosis, which we still don't have, and they found a 3.4mm lesion. We have an appt with the Nuero-Oncologist tomorrow and have to get a diagnosis, because she has declined to the point of being completely unable to care for herself and we need to make some care and quality of life decisions. I was wondering if you could give me any clues as to what if any options we have to at least make her more comfortable, or what your dr's told you to expect. I am at the point that I just don't know what to do anymore, and any info would be so very helpful. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope that your family is healthy and strong. ShanaK.