Hello everyone--I had posted here last year after my mom was diagnosed with Stage 111A nslc. I constantly read posts here and am always inspired to keep the faith and to hope for a miracle. Last year i asked if anyone had any positive survival stories and was amazed at how many wonderful responses i received and passed them on to my parents.
Today, however, we got some bad news--my mom, who has recently stopped taking tarceva since it was found to not be working and started cisplatin/gemzar was told that she now has at least 5 mets to her brain. her oncologist told us that he does not want to give us false hope--he thinks that she has 3-8 months--maaaaybee a year.
I'm just so sad--i live in california with my husband and two small children-2 1/2 year old and 5 months. My mom is in NY. I can't believe that she is facing this at 59 and just when she is really starting to enjoy being a grandmother to her 3 young grandchildren (my sister has a year old son nearby my folks) It all started so innocently with a trip to the dr for a persistent "little cough" I talk with my mom several times a day on the phone at least and i cannot imagine her not being here. It is almost too overwhelming at times to think about how her life and our family have changed since her diagnosis last march. I feel so sad for her because she is scared and I feel so helpless and unable to really help her. All of the chemo and surgeries and radiation have taken a toll on her body and her spirit. We are just taking things one day at a time and i constantly remind myself that she IS still here and fighting this horrible disease that came out of nowhere. I plan on heading out with my children to stay with family and be with her for a month or so.
I guess at the end of this unhappy message, what I also wanted to say was that despite her new diagnosis, I AM trying to hope for that miracle that will keep her with us longer and i am still inspired by all of the people--patients and caregivers--who are managing to live with this disease and keep it under control and somehow still have hope.
Thanks to everyone here who posts and shares their stories.
all the best
Denise