Nsclc-brain Mets

Hi There...
I recently had surgery (in sept) to remove my top right lobe...since then doctors have been humming and hawing over what treatment is best for me...I have gotten 2nd opinions...I have cancer in both lungs..nodules are very very small..cancer has also spread to outside the windpipe on right side (3 cm area)...what I'm concerned about is...my right ear has been aching...I had a brain CT scan in Sept when I left the hospital...also a bone scan in August...chest/abdomen CT scans in Oct and all showed clear...my ear doesn't show infection...(naturopath said) but I wonder if this could mean that I have something in my spine..leading to brain? sounds stupid I know..but I really don't know what to look for...I'm afraid that doctors will just tell me its nothing...have you guys ever heard of earaches with brain mets?
please advise...I'm seeing doctor on Monday...to find out about treatment...they all had a big meeting Friday to discuss my case...I can't believe I am still waiting around to be treated...other than the earache I am well. I have energy and feel good. but am really scared.

My husband had WBRT last fall. He was diagnosed with NSCLC January, 2004. Treated with carbo/taxol with shrinking of the tumors. In July he had a seizure and we found brain metastasis. In the fall of last year, @August or September he had the whole brain radiation. He subsequently had four lesions treated with stereotactic radiation at three different times. He has had some balance problems but we are not convinced it is due to the radiation treatment. He has been weak from the chemo so his leg muscles are out of condition. He goes 3 times a week for physical therapy to build up his leg muscles. He has some short term memory problems but we have noticed a marked improvement over the last few weeks. Getting back to his old self. Hard sometimes to tell what is caused by the radiation/chemo/general weakness. Diana

My father was diagnosed in may 05 with NSCLC. The cancer was found by accident. He started chemotherapy in June 05 with avastin. My father had no symptoms of anything. After 6 chemo treatments he started getting confused. Oncologist said it was a side effect of the chemo and suggested we take a break. After a continuos downfall in balance, speech, memory etc. we did a ct scan that came back negetive. After another week I asked for an MRI. It came back and we were told that there were little "outburst" maybe tia's on the image. The diagnosis we ended up with was that it didn't look like typical strokes, and it didn't look like typical brain mets, but if we did WBRT,if it was brain mets we should see improvement. If we didn't, then maybe something else is going on.
So after 14 WBRT treatments, there was absoulutely no improvement. Doctors said that since my father did not have any arterial blockages, then it MUST be mets! As of today, my father is on hospice care. In a four week period in august 05, my father went from driving a car to basically looking like a complete stroke victim. Is it ironic that he had no symptoms of anything until chemo with avastin? Doctors said they have never seen a patient decline that fast. His awareness and speech comes and goes. Still looking for answers.

hi there my mom was just diagnosed with brain cancer with mets i really dont no how i am feeling still in shock can u rely to me and share me your story all the best deanna

My father was also diagnosed with Stage IV NSCLC. He was diagnosed due to a hospitalization in which we thought he had a stroke. In Dec 05, they found a large mass on his right upper lobe and 2 metastasis in the brain. He started 10 treatments of Radiation Therapy with his last treatment ending, on December 28th. One week later, he was hospitalized. He was very weak and was dehydrated and he just wanted to sleep. This was Jan 5, 2006. It is now Jan 16th. He now is now confined to the bed and has dementia. Every now and then he will recognize the family. It's very painful seeing him in this condition. It happened almost 1 week to the day of his last Radiation treatment. The doctors are not doing much. He's being monitored and they are pushing us to contact Hospice. In speaking with the doctors, the average life expectancy is 2-4 average with someone with my dad's symptoms. I am very surprised at his rapid decline. Has anyone heard of a decline like this, and have they gotten a little better?

Hello Kathy,

Sorry to hear about your father. My father also was diagnosed (by accident) in June 2005 with nsclc with liver mets. He had no symptoms of anything. Cancer was found on a check up. Started chemo in June 05, with avastin. After six treatments it showed tremendous results on the lung and liver...however he started to lose his memory and had trouble with his motor skill.
M.R.I showed small "specs" in his brain and we were told that it was either tia's or mets. Although it didn't look like typical mets, they assumed it was. From Aug 1 to Aug 26 he went from driving a car to not being able to walk, talk, move etc. We then went through 14 wbrt with no results whatsoever. My father died on Jan 2, 2006 after being home on hospice since August 26. Read the warning on the avastin and the high risk of stroke and hemmorhage. My mother is convinced that the high doses of avastin caused him to have strokes. I don't know????
I hope it works better for your father.

Christopher,
I am experiencing a similar situation. In August my father told me that he thought he had lung cancer, but he did not want treatment for it. I took my father to the hospital on 12/19/05, because he was having symptoms of a stroke. He was right he did have lung cancer and it spread to the brain. I didn’t know this could happen. While in the ER he had two seizures, and has not been the same since. He is on medication for the seizures and the swelling, and under hospice care in an assisted living facility. He is still mobile and able to get around, but he has to have someone keeping an eye on him. I can see him declining and getting worse everyday. I was given the prognoses of 4 months. If the doctors are pushing for hospice care you should at least contact your local hospice and see what they recommend. It is a great organization and they will give you advice even if you do decide it is not the right option for him. Good luck.