My mother is 88 and very active for her age. She was diagnosed with NSCLC in October 2012. They went in hoping to remove the lower left lobe and tumor but upon the biopsy of the lymph nodes on the left side found them to have active cancer cells (stage 3B). Also, the tumor was too large and too near her heart and aorta. We are now waiting for a baseline results of a brain MRI to be sure it has not traveled there. She is scheduled to have Chemo once a week for 7 weeks and radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks. I know she will be zapped of all energy. She is getting more and more depressed as we wait out all of the tests. Any suggestions on what the family can do to help her emotional state. Her husband (my Stepfather) had to be placed in a Board and care home due to dementia at age 97. So she is living alone now and it is very difficult for her emotionally. I am her youngest (not young) but I have a full time job and my sisters both retired are in town also. I try to go and have dinner after work with her at least twice a week. My sisters switch off and take her to doctor appointments during the day while I am at work. After her surgery we took turns spending the nights and days with her until she was recovered enough to be alone for overnight.
According to the doctors this radiation and chemo will extend her life for maybe a year to year and half but they keep telling us that it won't cure the cancer. If the lung tumor shrinks enought with radiation they may schedule to do a lobectomy of the lower left lobe in the spring. It is all confusing for us and my Mom is thinking all of the treatments will somehow cure her of the cancer. We have talked to her that this will not most likely be a cure. She gets more and more depressed. Judy Barnhart
