ralphsrose

thank you for all your information. it is so hard to sort through all the medical records. I dont think i have seen the library this much since high school. The whole thing just seems like a bad dream, but unfortunately one we cant seem to wake up from. thanks again

her records read 5cm mass in right upper lobe also right hilar lymphadenopathy but adrenals were normal as well as liver. No thyromegaly or cervical lymphadenopathy. neurological scan completely normal. Left lung clear. Confined to chest area. N2 disease. spot on stomach - behind liver, very subtle . because of location biopsy almost impossible without going through lung. pet scan possible lighting. Not 100% sure it is cancerous. Because of the possible metastasis to stomach stage IV. based on lymph node and stomach involvement non surgical candidate. Very difficult to remove all lymph nodes, even if stomach is not cancerous due to lymph node involvement surgery not an option. recommendation chemo every three weeks, carboplatin and taxol. Recheck after 3rd treatment. (she has had 2 treatments so far, last one 3-26-03) prognosis 9-12 mo life expectancy. lung cancer with hilar adenopathy is the most likely explanation. Non small cell carcinoma radiation not an option due to the possible metastasis to the stomach and lymph nodes.

There is a spot on her stomach about the size of a pencil eraser but due to the location of that spot they say they cant do a biopsy. They would have to go through the lung to reach it and then make sure they didnt go too far and hit her liver. She did have a pet scan which showed the mass on her lung as cancerous but they said they couldnt distinguish (per the pet scan) if for sure the spot on her stomach was cancerous or not. she had a cat scan and all neurological tests came back fine (normal). The confusing part was that on her med records they stated stage IV and then as i read further on they kept saying N2 disease. The oncology dr wrote stage IV and the pulmonary dr wrote the N2.

The doctors say my mother is stage IV but looking at her medical records they keep referring to it as N2. Does anyone know what the N2 means? Is it different from stage IV? Thanks

thanks for your comments. It is just hard to watch someone who was once so full of life be so tired all the time. But she does have a good outlook on life and i'm hoping we can get through this. she had her 2nd round of chemo yesterday and next check up 4-21 we do a cat scan to see if the tumor on her lung has shrunk at all. So we are all keeping our fingers crossed. Thanks

I was wondering if there is anything my mom can take to make her not so tired all the time. she is getting chemo about every 3 weeks and feels good otherwise. But she is just so tired all the time. Thanks

About 2 months ago my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. a friend stated they had heard good things regarding a Dr. Vargas at the betania west institute. I was wondering if anyone has any information about this dr or clinic. Thanks alot!!!!!