Char81062

Hello Linda, My Mom was just diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer and she too wants to hide from the world right now. I am told she will find her way from some of the other wonderful people who have answered my inquiry. My Mother has always been very in control of her life and I've learned that from her so when I received her Dx news I immediately went to the internet and looked over her info the Dr sent with her. I saw how other people with the same grim dx were fighting and winning. Sometimes I think we can't understand why a patient wouldn't do everything in their power to fight this disease. I think you have done everything you can think of and now your Mom has the info and she must make decisions for herself. Sometimes indecision for what it is worth is a decision in and of itself. My Mom has said to me that I must respect her decisions and although she has elected to start Chemo right now that may change. I do not want the precious time I do have left with my Mom to be filled with arguments because ultimately I have to respect her enough to make those decisions even though they may be extremely hard for me and my family to understand. For now I pray that God guides you and your Mother through this ordeal and whatever it brings you carry no guilt. Charlene

Wow!!!! is all I can say about the response I have been given. The generosity of spirit has been wonderful and much needed. It really does help that people once they come to grips with what is going on go forward and lead their lives. I particularly like the phrase "new normal". It means we're not forgetting that this horrid stuff exists but that there is a whole world outside of dealing with the Dr's and Chemo stuff. We live in the Baltimore area and she has been seen by a team of Johns Hopkins Oncology specialists so I think we are really in great hands. She said her Dr. is wonderful and was really in tune with her feelings. She wouldn't let me or any of my siblings go with her to her first appt with him but I am hoping that she will feel comfortable so that any subsequent appts one of us can go with her and my Dad who by the way is a GEM but a puddle right along with my Mom with all this happening. She is however letting us take her to her Chemo treatments and be with her. I want her to know she has us to lean on. I can't thank you all enough from the bottom of my heart for lifting my spirits today. Mom diagnosed with what the Dr's thought was a pituitary tumor 4/14/06 Pre-op X-ray showed mass of 6cm on lung 5/10/06 Operated on for removal of pituitary tumor 5/12/06 Pathology came back with news of brain tumor being malignant with Small Cell Lung Cancer 5/24/06 Mother diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer in consult with Oncologist 6/6/06 Mom starts Chemo 6/13/06

I tried to put a message up once before and I don't think I did it right so here goes again. If you have seen this before I apologize. My Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV Small Cell Lung Cancer. she starts Chemo this week. We are all very scared because we expect the worst but hope for the best. She doesn't want to go out anywhere now. She said she doesn't want people to think she is a freak or pity her. Please can anybody tell me what I can do to help her through this time and what I can expect. Will she want to do anything else besides Chemo and Dr's appts? She is my role model and is a terrific lady. I am so scared of losing her she is such a BIG part of my life. Any help is appreciated. Thanks Charlene