jheese

Thanks for the support. They're saying one or two weeks. Who knows. We're taking her home tomorrow for hospice. She's accept it. She's so tough. This is so hard. My brothers and I have taken off of work for a while to be with her. I just pray that she can have some days with us, coherantly, where she is not suffering. I tell you what, we need to rally. Where are all the lung cancer walks? Almost 200,000 people dx a year, and I never, ever, hear about fundraising specifically for lung cancer. Ugh! Sorry, I'm frustrated about this whole thing, and I'm just broken-hearted. My mom has been my clutch forever. The most selfless person I've known, and there are so many things that she will be robbed from. Jill

I'm an absolute mess. My mom was dx not even two months ago with stage IV NSCLC with bone (a rib) and brain mets. She broke her hip and had to have surgery two weeks ago. Before doing surgery, they did some MRIs. Found that she has tumors all up and down her spinal cord. (Not in the cord, just outside of it.) Took her to the hospital yesterday because of severe constipation. Abdominal CT shows it's in her adrenal glands and there may be a spot on her butt. All of the doctors say these tumors we are just learning about are not new - they just didn't look for them before. The doctor at the hospital last night told my dad that we should put her in hospice, take her off radiation and chemo and that she may not even have a month left. He also told my dad to remember that the cancer center is in it for money! This is the first time he had met my mom. She's having a tough time, yes. She's highly over medicated and has been confused the past few days and out of it. But, she was great a week ago when she got out of the hospital. It hasn't even been two months since she was dx. I don't want to be selfish. My mom does still have good days. I don't want her to suffer. She has all these drs. that are seeing her for five minutes on her worst days. Her doctors said last week that we haven't even given radiation and chemo a chance to work. But, then this guy last night tells my dad hospice. I don't want to give up on her if something may help. Mom is young. This is so, so hard. Jill

Thank you all for your replies. I can see that you all have been through a lot...I know (hope) it's going to be a long road ahead and pray that we can beat the odds. I am driving mom to her second opinion on Wednesday. I was dx with MS two years ago, so mom has been my note taker for many dr. visits - I think I probably owe her a few. Since she's been out of it most of the time (morphine), I think it's very important that someone is there that is thinking clearly. She hasn't decided if she wants to do chemo yet - very concerned about quality vs. quantity. She will be doing radiation. If anyone has any advice on what one really needs to ask the doctor, or any kind of advice at all, please send it our way. I'm starting the list of questions, but I know there must be things we haven't thought of. Thanks again - take care of yourselves and loved ones. Jill

Thank you. I'd rather not be here, but if I have to have this happen to someone I love, I'm just thankful that there are resources like this one.

My mom was just officially dx today with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer. There's a 3cm x 5cm mass on her left lung, by her heart. One of her lymph nodes shows cancer. They also found it in her rib and in her brain (5mm lesion). The oncologist gave her 6 mo w/o treatment, 1 year with. She's going to get a second opinion at a very good place on Wednesday. Does anyone have advise on how long radiation might take to help with the insane pain she is in? They say it's nerve pain from the lung tumor and bone pain from the rib. She lives in a small town four hours away from her doctor and would like to spend her time at home, but knows she has to get treatment away from home. Any advice would be great. I'm absolutely mortified - this woman has been there for me through everything, and I can't bear to see her in so much pain. Morphine doesn't even touch it. Thank you. Jill