CancerCompass message board discussion started by Tk1235 on 9/7/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,6791,0.htm Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I posted earlier that my mother who is 78 was just diagnosed with lung cancer. Since my post we have had 2 consultations with the oncologist and I have found out that she has Stage IIIB with lymph node involvement with the media steinum (chest area) The tumors are very small less than 1cm but because of location are not operable at this time. She starts radiation treatments next week in addition to chemotherapy. She is to have radiation every day for five or six weeks and the chemo is 3days every 3 weeks. She is scared to death of getting sick from the chemo. The chemo that the doctor is using is cisplatin and etoposide. He told us that cisplatin is a very powerful drug but it also has the most side effects. He as prescribed a anti-nausea drug with something like the name of embrel. He has told my mother that chemo has come along way and the nausea has been cut back considerably. I am not dealing very well with all of this as I am her only child. I am very upbeat and postive when I am around her but when I come home to my family I am a basket case. When I first came to this site and read the loved ones stories it scared me to death. But, now I need to understand what I am dealing with. God Bless You All. Tk1235 Thu, 07 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT Hello.  My mother was diagnosed with non operable lung cancer Oct 06.I cried for the first 6 weeks at work, at the grocery store, church, everywhere.  The dr's give you a very bleak story.  My sister and I have decided that they have to give you the worst possible senario.  My mom had strong chemo and radiation for 6 week.  Her dr said she will lose her energy, her hair, her appetite.  None of these things happened liked they said.  She's very active, owns her own business and travels often.It's slowed her down a little but her greatest strength is her attitude, diet and letting her self slow down.  You have to reslove it in your mind that people die at stage 1 and live at stage IV.  That they say "you only have 1 month to live" and it's been 5 years, etc....My mom also has accupunture for the pain, takes supplements, gets massages and makes sure she sleeps at night.  It's been really hard for all of us.  But she has a large support system.  Let people help you and don't be afraid to cry or scream or drink lots of wine.         sarita Saritasmom Tue, 13 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT