michiganlisa

I am sad to say my Mom passed away Sunday, 11/18. I have alot to say about the doctors, but I will leave that for a later time. Thank you everyone for your help, I will remain a member of this forum, maybe I will be able to help someone else sometime after experiencing this ordeal with my Mother. I may share the story, hopefully it can help with anyone who starts their journey with lung cancer. Some of the ways the doctors did things I was not very happy about, but it was my Mom's decisions to do the things the way she did. Maryanne and Kasey, if you read this I will PM you as soon as I can. Thank you everyone.

I guess I have no questions like I usually do, all of my efforts to find the best way for my Mom to deal with this cancer are now turning out to be reactive only. My Mom , after starting radiation treatments, and before starting chemo, began feeling numb in her legs. She told one of her doctors and was sent home for the weekend and told to go to the hospital if it got worse. The next day she couldn't walk without falling down. Trip to ER via ambulance. MRI indicates spinal invasion much worse. Steroids given along with pain meds after being admitted into hospital. Three more radiations given, still cant move legs and basically numb from chest area down. Surgeon operates on spine to try to save my Mom from permanenet paralysis on 10/25/07. Hoping she can walk again, no improvement as of today. She is terrified, but at least pain is now controlled better while in hospital. I am more concerned with that, everything has happened so fast and she is faced with so many things at once. Thanks for listening. Lisa

Caregivers, I have to tell you the guilt I feel. When my Mother first felt her "pain in the armpit and back" in April 07 I insisted that she go to the doctor and get a "stress test or something". I thought she was having a heart attack. She downplayed the situation, wasn't as aggressive as I wanted her to be to insist on finding out what was wrong. Her "pulled tendon" at that time turns out later to be lung cancer, pancoast tumor. I think I should have drove to her house, put her in the car, then took her to the doctor then, and insisted on some type of test. Maybe at that time this cancer wouldn't have progressed to the point that it is now. Now, since she is in so much pain, she can't even take a "trip" or do something that she has always wanted to do, after, being 63 years old, doing everything for everyone else, me included. I find myself getting mad at her, she doesn't do anything for herself. Now this downward spiral makes me feel like I have been selfish, not pushing the issue when maybe it could have been caught earlier. The only advice I have to offer is, when your gut tells you is something is not right, insist on getting your loved one the tests they deserve, no matter what the doctor or nurse practioner says, because they can be wrong.

I continue to be pessamistic (wrong spelling) about this "inoperable" situation with my Mom's pancoast tumor. I am seeking a second opinion from a surgeon, if a surgeon tells me it is inoperable, then I will believe it and go from there. Now, as you can see in my signature, the oncologist only ordered a CT scan and bone scan, not a PET scan. My question is, if the CT scan said that the adrenal gland is suspicious for metastasis from the lung cancer, do doctors just assume that this is true? Or does a biopsy of the adrenal gland need to be done. I am not going to the next oncologist appointment with my Mom, I wanted her to ask him this in case he says "it has spread to the adrenal gland". Kasey, if you read this, we are still waiting to hear, all test results so far have been sent or are being sent today. My Mom's pain is getting worse, she is on I believe 2 fentynal patches and I think vicodin every 4 hours. The pain begins again before the 4 hours is up. I told her to tell the doctor and try to get something else. What would be the next step for pain, maybe oxycontin or something? Radiation and chemo is to begin next week.

Saw the local oncologist today, he said is inoperable because of bone involvement. I asked him if a pet scan is the next step, he said no for whatever reason I don't remember. He ordered a bone scan and a CT Scan for head, abdomen, and pelvis. My question for you all is, is this good enough to determine if the cancer has spread? Is a PET scan better, I don't know the difference. The original CT scan did show spinal, rib, and mediastinal invasion, and also supraclavicular adenopathy. My other question is, what is the difference between invasion and metastatis. Is it the same thing? If this doesn't make sense you must excuse my newbie ignorance!

Thank you for your replies. I have read the results of the biopsy from my Mother's lung. Haven't spoken to any doctor yet though. It mentions "adenocarcinoma" and "moderately differentiated". So I will begin research on these subjects so I will be more informed when I go with my Mother to the oncologist next week. Also, Adrian, from your post I am going to assume that adenocarcinoma means that this tumor is primary to the lung because these are lung cells that have gone awry. Excuse my ignorance if I am not making any sense. Thanks again, Lisa

My Mother is still waiting for the results of her needle biopsy done last week so I will post in this general thread. My question is, is the purpose of the biopsy to show what kind of cancer the tumor is, and also if the lung tumor is primary to the lung or a met from another organ?

Before I forget, everyone that has replied to me, I thank you for welcoming me to your group, and taking the time to make me feel better through this terrible time.

Kasey, I have just read your pm message, will reply tomorrow...need to gather my thoughts and facts plus have a sick daugter here (nothing serious just a cold!). I appreciate your quick reply. I will talk to you soon. Ry,(and Kasey) I live about 30 miles north of Detroit,MI. near a town called Romeo, and my Mom is about a 1/2 hour north of Flint in Saginaw. I have a copy of address and phone number for U of M in Ann Arbor . Trying to get my ducks in a row for second or third opinions after we see local onc in Saginaw in 1 and 1/2 weeks.

Thank you wendyr and dadstimeon for your replies. I have read kaseys story and many of her posts, I will send her a message. Also, I posted in the early stage forum, I thought that meant for people who do not know what stage the diagnosed cancer is in yet! Now I find out that means stage I or II. I should have posted in the general or nsc forum. Im sure in a couple of weeks I will know what everything means.Thanks again, Lisa

Hi everyone, My mother in March 07 was having a pain in her upper left side back area. She was diagnosed as having a torn tendon/arthritis. Finally, after pain getting worse (also left eyelid drooping, sweats only on right side of face) Sept. 14th chest xray abnormal mass left lung. CT scan 09/15/07, general physician calls her and says is cancer (pancoast tumor) and also tells her it is inoperable. 09/25/07 has lung biopsy done with needle and ct scan. Her oncologist appointment is two weeks from now, Oct. 9th. We are getting copies today of all tests and results ourselves. I do have right now a copy of the results of the ct scan. I can post this if anyone can interpret it for me. It appears there is mediastinal invasion and spinal invasion. My question now is can an opinion be formed at this point that the cancer is inoperable?

Hi, my mother is scheduled for a biopsy tomorrow. Her general physician told me she has a pancoast tumor. I am going to post on the early stage support forum. My question now is, in order for you helpful people to read what has happened so far, how do I post this information under my posts regarding times and dates and diagnoses? I have many questions for you. Thank you, Lisa