Peg24

The whole thing started with him being in the hospital. Three weeks ago they went to the ER because he was very short of breath and chest pains. They found that the calcium level in his blood was dangerouly high so they had to start him on meds for that. That is when they started running tests. Did a cat scan and fouund the tumor blocking 90% of his airway. They did a lung biopsy in the hospital. They said it was small cell stage 111. They did not have the equipment at that hospital to do a pet scan so they sent him home and started to schedule for the pet scan. It took two weeks to get autho from insurance and doctors and everyone was just moving so slow. Like I said in previous email, he has tried to go to Mayo, etc. His insurance won't cover him to go to any of those places. Very Very Very frustrating.

No, he lives in Arizona. He tried to get into a cancer treatment center there but his insurance will not cover it. He is seeing a private Oncologist. What's really sad is that he was told by his primary doctor that if he was on unemployment, he would have not trouble getting into one of those cancer centers. What a wonderful system we have!

Dear Friends, Some of you may remember me posting on this site back in Feb. My mom had been diagnosed with lung cancer and I could not convience her to go for treatment. She passed away 2 months later on April 24th. She hadn't been gone from us even a week and my brother of 54 was diagnosed with the same thing. He has a malignant tumor blocking his airway 90%. He is in extreme pain making it very hard to get from one pain pill to the next. They did a lung biospsy and said it was small cell lung cancer and because of where it is located it is inoperable. My brother unlike my mom is ready to fight it, but it is so frustrating that the medical profession and the insurance company moves at a snails pace. After almost 3 weeks, he finally got the pet scan done yesterday and now they tell him he is to come back for the results in a week. ANOTHER WHOLE WEEK! He needs to start treatments!My gosh, this man is dying here. He's in terrible pain, can't breath, no appetite. I am so afraid this is spreading so fast. Can anyone with this small cell relate to this and tell me, should we be concerned here. The doctors sure don't seem to be. Please advise. Peggy

My brother lives outside of Pheonix Az. ,in Casa Grande. Can anyone recommend a good oncologist there or Cancer Center? I know right now while he is in the hospital, he is being seen by a cancer doctor, but if he doens't get the answer he wants to hear, he will need to find someone else. Peggy

I wanted to let all of you know that my mother passed away April 24th. She chose no treatments and therefore went downhill fast and passed away 2 months after DX. If that hasn't been tough enough, less than one week after she passed away, my brother is also DX with lung cancer. He is in the hopsital right now, very sick. They did a lung biopsy today and they found a tumor on the right lung. They said it is blocking 90% of his airpassageway. His calcium level in his blood is dangerously high. The doctors are now running more tests, but feel it is inoperable. They say it does not look good. He is only 54, but has smoked for many years. It is hard to believe this is happening to my family again so soon. Please keep up in your prayers. Peggy

My mother called yesterday evening and said she was vomiting up some blood. I called the onc on call and he told me to have her come to the emergency room. She was admitted there last night. I had just come home for the weekend, but I am on my way back there this morning. Will keep you posted! Peggy

Thanks MaryAnne, The last few days have been just terrible. My mom was to go for a live biopsy on Friday morning and when I got up to take her, she wouldn't go. She said she was in too much pain in the liver to do it and wanted me to call and change it for next week. She just still thinks its all a waste of time. I was really angry with her. I did call to reschedule, but she can't get it done now until Wednesday and then we see the doctor on Friday. I just pray each day we are not too late for any treatments. I worry she will be so weak to even start. She can hardly eat and is now taking the max she can on her pain pills thru the day. I will let you know what happens. She has promised she will go on Wednesday. Peggy

Dear Friends, Wanted to write to let you know the latest with my mom and just to talk as I am having a real rough time. I took her to the specialist on Tuesday at St. VIncent's and what a difference. A very nice and compassionate doctor. He said the first thing we needed to do was to do a liver biopsy so he can determine exactly where the cancer started and if it is the lungs, what kind of lung cancer it is. I told him what that primary doctor said about the biopsy being risky and he just couldn't believe it. He said the risk is very minimal. He explained as you all have told me about all the great treatments out now and how chemo is not as bad as it used to be. He did tell her that he could not cure her. That this would eventually take her life but that that could be in 2 months or 2 years. He has no way of knowing. He told her he knows he can help her at least have a better quality of life with whatever time she has left. I felt so much better after leaving there, but she still isn't keen on going on with all of this. She just wants to give up. She woke up this morning in terrible pain in her liver. The biopsy is in the morning and she tells me she doesn't want to go. She says she just wants stronger pain meds and just get this over with (dying that is). She has not eaten much today at all and more vomiting tonight. Seems nothing they give her works. Biospy is tomorrow and then we meet back with the Doctor on Tuesday to hear all the options we have for treatment. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Peggy

Thanks to all of you again for your support with my mom! She has an appointment in the morning with the cancer center at St. Vincent's. We went today to her primary doctor to pick up her records. As I sit and read them, the only thing that worries me is the fact that liver is 50% mestastatic. We will see what options she has after tomorrow. I will stay in touch! Peggy

I sat and had a long talk with my mom tonight and she has agreed to go for a second opinion. I will be calling St. VIncent's in the morning. I wanted to take her to Mayo Clinic, but her insurance is not accepted there. The only thing I am concerned with as she is, the cancer has spread to her liver. She looked bad today. She has lost so much weight. Seemed alot worse from just 5 days ago. I don't know if alot of that is just from sleeping all the time now and most likely also being depressed. She has also increased her pain meds since last week. DId any of you suvivors have the cancer into other organs like the liver, etc. I believe she has had this for awhile. Thank you all so much for helping me. Peggy

I know what you are saying, I just have to convince her of it. I think she will go..I am working hard on it as we speak. The big difference I see in her now than 4 days ago is she can't hardly get anything down and keep it down. She also has increased her pain meds. Having alot more pain than before. Thanks

It's Monday about noon and I just arrived at my mom's here in Jacksonville. I have been gone for only 4 days and I cannot believe the difference in her from when I left here. She says she hasn't been able to keep anything down. She is having problems even swallowing anything. I was here 15 minutes and she layed back down and went to sleep again. I tried talking to her about getting a second opinion and she says she knows her body and she has cancer all over it and I just need to accept she is dying because she has. She also says her insurance will not cover Mayo Clinic. Myabe she said , she could see an oncologist. I feel so helpless right now. I have 3 older brothers and they are flying in this week to see her. I hope that they can convince her. I will stay in touch! Peggy

All of you have been so kind and thoughtful. I will be going to see her on Monday and I will get her to another doctor (specialist). I will keep in touch and let you know what we find out. Thanks again, Peggy

Thank you all so much for the advice. Now, I just have to convince her of the same thing. Would anyone here be willing to drop my mother an email and invite her to this site? I believe she would be willing if she heard stories from others who have experienced what she is going thru. She checks her email everyday and I wouldn't mind you even telling her that I asked you to. I will be glad to send you her email address. I really think this will help. Peggy

Looking for someone who has survived lung cancer in the Jacksonville Florida area. My 77 year old mother has just been DX with lung cancer 3 weeks ago. The whole story is in the let's introduce ourselves section on message board. Hope to hear from someone soon! Peggy