Stage Iv Nsclc With Emphysema

My mom was diagnosed on 9/7/06. She was given 6 months at most. Her Oncologist said that surgery was too risky because of the emphysema. He said chemo was a possibility but it could shorten what time she has left and if it was successful, she would only gain 2-3 months. I have done tons of research and found so many alternative therapies but my parents took what the doctor said and have been paralyzed ever since. I have scoured the internet, library and even met with my mom's doctor myself but it seems like they are just all giving up on my mom. I don't get it. At times I feel like they are holding back and are afraid to tell me how bad her condition really is. I can't force my mom to try something but I keep reading about all of these stories about people who were given a similar diagnosis and they have lived for years. Can anyone make sense of this situation???

my mom also has stage 4, mets to brain, liver, heart, and abdominal lymph nodes. we didnt know it had spread to the brain until her speech got slurred and she lost her ability to balance correctly just this week. we brought her to the hospital and dr admitted her. they started whole brain radiation yesterday. she vomits when she moves....i dont know why. they also started her on tarceva which is a new med (chemo).
this is very very sad for me. i am a single parent, unemployed, with both my mom and dad living with me. my dad is very ill also.
my moms doctor does not seem hopeful at all......

I'm sorry about your mom. I guess I should be grateful that my mom is still very well functioning. It must be very tough for you to take care of both of your parents. My mom's doctor referred her to hospice and they are great. Has your mom's doctor given your mom a hospice referral? They take care of alot and they are there for you too. I hope you have friends and family that you can lean on for help and support as well. You need to take care of yourself or you will not be able to care for your mom and dad...and your child. My parents have Kaiser (in CA) and they have a whole social services department and I've been in contact with one of their social workers who has been a big help. My prayers are with you...take care.

thank you so much for your message. i went to visit mom today, she is so weak and ill. just this monday she was walking on her own,,,,yes, her speech was slurred and she was slightly off balance but was able to go to the bathroom and eat. today is worse, she cant eat, vomits when she moves, has a potty by her hospital bed. she told me she does not want to be a burden to me....
she asked yesterday for meds to make her go to sleep and never wake up.
i miss my mom so much!
my dad is relatively stable, we are working on calling in a faith healer....we are just not willing to give up i guess/!

Hi
I am new to this. My husband is 42 and was diagnosed with nscl on Oct 2 2006. He is stage 3b/4. I think that the doctors shouldn't be telling people how many monthes that they have. Maybe the caregivers but not the patient. It doesn't work for everyone. Maybe you could get your mother to a spiritual healer - we have been going weekly since diagnosis....there is no guarantee and no specific religion that this works with. Our healer works with the guidance of spirits and mother earth to give comfort, healing energy and strength. This is not a cure, and it may sound a bit hokey - however it sure helps my husband to feel comfort,less fear and more strength within himself. Maybe a therapy like this is what would be the first step in helping your mother - for once she gets over the paralyzing shock of what they say her life span may be, she may be one step stronger on putting up a fight against this terrible disease.

 

On 11/9/2006 Jewlz4life wrote:

My mom was diagnosed on 9/7/06. She was given 6 months at most. Her Oncologist said that surgery was too risky because of the emphysema. He said chemo was a possibility but it could shorten what time she has left and if it was successful, she would only gain 2-3 months. I have done tons of research and found so many alternative therapies but my parents took what the doctor said and have been paralyzed ever since. I have scoured the internet, library and even met with my mom's doctor myself but it seems like they are just all giving up on my mom. I don't get it. At times I feel like they are holding back and are afraid to tell me how bad her condition really is. I can't force my mom to try something but I keep reading about all of these stories about people who were given a similar diagnosis and they have lived for years. Can anyone make sense of this situation???

 

HI!  I went from stage1 to stage 4  non small cell lung cancer, and i have mild emphesema too. i am on 150mg of tarceva, and my tumors have been stabilized. i wish you the very best of luck!! lenny peacenik.

Hi - I want to reply to your message but will do it privately. Two tumors were found during an Xray in 1992 and after the surgery I had cisplatin and vp16 as my chemo protocol. I was told it was nsclc and that it was unstaged. Slowly my emhysema and COPD became more severe over the years. Now I have had 2 more instances of tumors and received radiation. Why don't you talk with your doctor about radiation protocol. They can do wonders for you.

I also found a teaching hospital that was known for treating lung cancer and put myself in their hands and I'm still here. Please, at least, go for a second opinion and show your parents this message. I am 70 years old and the docs feel that I'm worth treating.

I'm still don't know what stage I'm in but like to think that it's just a stage of life. My prayers are with you and your family.

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