My 49 year old sister was dx with nsc lung cancer in May 2002. She has fought very bravely for the past two years with chemo, radiation, gamma knife treatment for brain mets, and even suffered a stroke as a result of all this. She has gone from 180 lbs. to 110 lbs. and is now in a hospice program. She lives alone, never married and has a dog. I think the hardest thing for our family is not the lung cancer, but the stroke, which has left her with aphasia. Sometimes, she is unable to communicate with us and to understand. I feel so bad for her. At least dying people who can still communicate can let their loved ones know their wishes. There are five sisters in our family and she is the baby sis. We are all trying to do whatever we can for her, but it is very hard, especially when she can't even talk on the phone to you or understand what you are trying to tell her. Dealing with lunger cancer is bad enough, but to get slapped with a stroke besides in a double whammy. Sorry about the rambling on, but I guess no one said life was fair. Thanks for listening.
marge