My Mother was recently diagnosed with stage IV NSCLC on Dec 02, 03. She has tumors in both lungs, one is the size of a small fist and is wrapped around her windpipe, also the Adrenal gland and again is the size of a small fist. The cancer was found due to her not feeling well and going to the doctor, they did blood test and sent her home, later that day they called her and asked her to come check into the hospital, her calcium level was extremly high, I took her to the hospital, after she was checked in they started her on meds to get the calcium level down, they succedded, they then performed chest x-rays, Mri and a biopsey, also she required a blood transfusion of 2 units. She was released from the hospital 4 days later.
She went thru 2 treatments of Gemzar and Carboplatin, after 2 weeks she went back for more x-rays, the tumors have grown, she just went thru a treatment of Camptosar and Taxotere last Thursday, this last week has been extremly diffcult for her, she has fatigue and sever abdominal pain. My mother is on steroids to help her with her appetitie, she is on another steroid she took a day before, the day off and the day after this last chemo. She also has sleeping pills and pain pills she takes, she has lost her appetitie and is extremly weak, She is able to drink some ensure each day but eats no solid food. She might sleep for 2 hours a night, then gets up for 3 or 4 hours and sleeps for another 2, that is the extent of her sleep in a day. Her breathing is labored, she coughs all the time and is coughing up phlem.
Her doctor tells her the abdominal pain is due to the chemo, but its so server she can't walk, and when she does she needs to sit down cause the pain is so sever. What I'm looking for is some help from anyone who has experienced this be it themself or a loved one. I have read thru the message boards and can find nothing in regards to high calcium levels, not sleeping, sever abdominal pain after her last chemo treatment. Sometimes I feel her doctor is not being truthfull, he tells us shes doing good. But with what shes experiencing, I feel that its worse then the doc is telling us. My question is.. is she nearing death or are these normal side effects and she will once again get stronger and enjoy more of life. Please, be it good or bad,, help me understand..