NoreneM

You are in my thoughts and prayers as well. My God hold you close and fill your heart with peace and comfort.

My mom is starting to plan her funeral and make plans for my dad. At first this totally freaked me out...like she was giving up. She did tell me that at times she feels like giving up. I understand that. The chemo therapy really wipes her out. She has finally started taking the anti-depressants the dr prescribed. They are starting to help, but I think she just gets so tired, both physically and emotionally. As far as planning for her funeral (and my dad's future without her in it), I think she is doing it more because that is something she feels she can control. My mom is a control freak (like me) so I sorta get it. As for the lung cancer, she is at it's mercy, so I think she is looking for things she can control. She thinks that I don't want to talk about it or that I will be angry with her for talking about her plans. But I'm not at all. I totally get it. Hey guys....I only joined this forum last night, but I feel 1,000 times better than when this journey started. Thank you for all your encouragement and advise.

Thanks for the encouragement! Lung cancer is an awful disease, isn't it? My mom has never smoked a day in her life. She gets checkups regularly, etc. Then WHAM!

I'm getting all my information thru her...she has stated all along that the doctor has never really given her a prognosis. As in you have ?? months, years, etc. He keeps telling her she is doing well. I'm sure this growth (again, albeit slow) isn't great, but I don't think it necessary means that she is going to die tomorrow or even in a month. She is really depressed about it and can't talk to her doctor until monday. I wish they wouldn't give that information over the phone on a friday. I wish they would share that information in the doctor's office so they can discuss it and all that it means for the patient.

My mom is going to be 71 this next week. In June, 2008 she found out she has lung cancer. My mom had breast cancer when she was 23. She had it again in 1986. She was cancer free for years. The doctors feel that somehow the breast cancer caused the lung cancer. My mom started off with some sort of drug treatment. That wasn't doing the trick, so she started chemo. That caused blood clots; one in her lung and one in her leg. She is now on cumidin and oxygen. She is doing well, except she lost all her hair and she is having numbness is her fingers. She she stopped the taxol treatment (excuse my spelling issues). She hasn't done any chemo for about a month and 1/2. She is going to begin taking a new chemo treatment in 2 weeks (which was scheduled before she got the MRI results). I get the impression that the cancer is not operable. She had a mri and today she found out that the cancer is growing again; albiet slowly. She has had great blood tests consistently. The cancer has not spread any where else. I realize that it is what it is and I am preparing myself for the worst. But at the same time, I need to stay positive for my mom (and my dad). My mom wears the pants in the family and my dad is sorta useless most of the time. I love them dearly, but most of the time I am incredibly overwhelmed by all of this. My sister died 2 years ago at the age of 49 from a massive stroke. We have no extended family in the area so I am under incredible stress. I am married with no children. I have asked the neighbors and church, etc to help. They will do anything my mom and dad ask for...the problem is my parents won't ask anyone for help but me. The doctor hasn't said anything like her time is running out; so I'm not sure what to think. Do you guys have any ideas? I have really encouraged both of my parents to talk to our minister or to a counselor; but neither one of them will. Again, I want to be positive for both of them; but I want to be prepared to handle whatever is next. I just don't know what that may be. Again, any input would be GREATLY appreciated!