Hi, all,
I've posted recently about my mother and her stage IV lung cancer. We are scheduled for a second opinion at University of Alabama on April 24 unless she's still in her current hospital (they're trying to make sure they clear up an infection).
Anyway, you can read her story below, but I'm wondering what I should do in terms of a back up plan if the second opinion is not favorable. My family can't bear giving up. I know there must be an oncologist out there somewhere who is willing to fight agressively and innovatively if the patient still desires treatment. Maybe there's a hospital with a good track record of handling metastized cancers such as this. Even a promising clinical trial that she might qualify for to buy her some time. I'm already researching at cancer.gov and Livestrong.org. I guess I'll have more info after the second opinion. But any advice would be appreciated (not looking for let her go advice just yet). Sorry if I sound desperate and naive, but I'm probably both at this point.Thank you.
I should know the details of the extent of my mother's cancer from the second opinion since her first doctor never explained anything in detail (just generalizations and the final bad news).
If you haven't read her story, basically my 58 yr old mother was diagnosed stage IV 1/1/2008 (lung and brain). Given 15 whole brain radiation treatments and 3 chemo sessions of Taxol/Carboplatin. Family was told by her doctors in early February that the brain lesions were eradicated, no new growth in lung and that we didn't need a second opinion because the small hospital she was at could handle it. February 2008 she was taken off of chemo (after the 3 treatments) to supposedly get stronger in prep for more chemo (but doctor also suggested putting her on hospice for home healthcare). From mid February to April she did not eat well. She was hospitalized a couple of times for dehydration and had back surgery done. Back surgery revealed a suspicious area that received 3 radiation treatments at end of March. First week of April doctor says it's still the plan to give her more chemo later and I suggested he give her Megace to stimulate appetite. Then April 11 the same doctor says he suddenly realizes she has much more cancer than he thought (lung, spine, maybe belly) and she should go on hospice. Says 3 radiation treatments to spine and the previous chemo hadn't worked and he didn't see a reason to try other chemo or treatments. Now she is eating better and seems to be getting stronger.