no treatment?

Hi all,

I am new to this site. My 71 year old mom was diagnosed with limited stage  SCLC. We know the tumor has been there at least since Jan. 09.

Nobody will answer our question as far as how fast this aggressive cancer travels. There is no evidence of cancer anywhere else in her body.

She is generally in good health.She has smoked 2 packs a day  for 55 years and has cut down but does not feel she will be able to quit.She does not want surgery.She is looking more for quality of life than quantity! They want to start chemo along with radiation. She really does not want chemo. She doesn't want to be sick and fatigued by it. She is iffy on radiation alone as this may help the lung but wont prevent it from spreading. She is going to try a few homeopathic things and see how it goes. We understand that the odds are not good with or without treatment.

Has anybody been in the situation of denying the usual treatments and doing other things? She is not afraid of dying and is always very positive.I  don't think she is  giving up, I think she truly believes that is what is best for her. We all support her in her decision as we believe it is HERS. I just would like to hear others experiences with or without traditional treatments. Thank You for your help!!

If this were my mom i'd smoke with her.I feel that at her age chemo and radiation would only take away her quality of life.It would take the life right out of her.Do you think she would like to be vomiting and tired everyday?What if it spreads to other organs?Those doctors are paid to keep us alive no matter how we feel they are always right.I am a kidney cancer patient and if i were older i'd say no treatment but i'm only 45.

On 4/4/2009 cancergotme wrote:

If this were my mom i'd smoke with her.I feel that at her age chemo and radiation would only take away her quality of life.It would take the life right out of her.Do you think she would like to be vomiting and tired everyday?What if it spreads to other organs?Those doctors are paid to keep us alive no matter how we feel they are always right.I am a kidney cancer patient and if i were older i'd say no treatment but i'm only 45.

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I wish you all the best with your fight.

I agree with you about mom, I just keep going back and forth thinking maybe she should try  radiation by itself. From what I have read it doesnt make you feel sick but makes you fatigued. Do you know how long that feeling lasts? we have an appointment with a radiation oncologist for Mon. I keep wondering if we should go and see what he has to say--I just don't know!! What do you think?

I appreciate your help.

On 4/5/2009 Maryjo11 wrote:

 

On 4/4/2009 cancergotme wrote:

If this were my mom i'd smoke with her.I feel that at her age chemo and radiation would only take away her quality of life.It would take the life right out of her.Do you think she would like to be vomiting and tired everyday?What if it spreads to other organs?Those doctors are paid to keep us alive no matter how we feel they are always right.I am a kidney cancer patient and if i were older i'd say no treatment but i'm only 45.

 

Hi, my 82 year old mom who stopped smoking when she wsa in her late fifties, has been told she has small cell lung cancer with mets to the liver, bones, ect. she has chosen no treatment. as much as i would love to see her live life and still be here, im afraid she wont be allowed. she lives with me and i am takind care of her with the help of hospice.

Thanks for your thoughts. I wish you all the best with your fight.

I agree with you about mom, I just keep going back and forth thinking maybe she should try  radiation by itself. From what I have read it doesnt make you feel sick but makes you fatigued. Do you know how long that feeling lasts? we have an appointment with a radiation oncologist for Mon. I keep wondering if we should go and see what he has to say--I just don't know!! What do you think?

I appreciate your help.