paperback Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I posted in the small cell forum because my mom had told me that is what she had but apparently (she never writes anything down or remembers) she actually was diagnosed with stage 4 nsclc. I have been researching the other so it was a little daunting to know that I had little info on this. Is NSCLC more promising in terms of recovery? I know it doesn't tend to spread as quickly. She was diagnosed a month ago with a large tumor in the right lung (told inoperable) and a small brain Met. Two days ago she brain met was surgically removed and she is doing very well. Now the dr administering chemo is saying we may be able to operate on the lung once it shrinks and the surgeon even met with her to talk about it. She had an mri today i guess we will have to see if thats clear but it looks like everything is ok and they said they got the brain tumor completely but will do targeted radiation to make sure its not coming back. Is it possible for your stage to regress. For instance she was stage 4 with the met, does this make her stage 3? This has become my full time obsession so you'll have to forgive me long rant. Any survivors out there or anyone with info on the SCLC and NSCLC differences? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Welthy Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Hello and welcome to the community. I'm sorry about your Mom's diagnosis. You are having to learn a lot in a short period of time -- Lung Cancer 101. To answer your question, no, the stage never goes backward. Once a Stage IV, that is always the stage. It does sound like she has good doctors who are treating her aggressively and that's a good sign. Spend time reading profiles and you will find others with similar diagnosis/tumor locations that you can get an idea of how they were treated. Good luck and feel free to ask any questions you want. Regards, Welthy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperback Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 Thanks for the responses! when I read about the survivors its really encouraging. I see so many people get NED then a new met months or years later. I guess it has to be a way of life even after you feel like you've beat it. But I'm hoping there are no treatment complications or anything. So far no clots or fluid, no real symptoms (besides short breath & neck/back pain)so maybe all this is a good sign. My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer a few years ago and died in 6 weeks. So I'm kind of new at the whole fight for remission thing because it wasn't possible there. So I guess the NSCLC diagnoses is a good thing because it's possibly operable. I really want that operation more than anything because I know it's her best chance at surviving! Hopefully the chemo will work!! It seems like this is my full time job with mass overtime. It's just the worst feeling, like you're waiting for something horrible to happen any minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaminkw Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Paperback: I'm sorry you have to go through this with your mom. It's true you need to focus on the positive of those things NOT occuring with her. I know what you mean about needing to hear from survivors. I get scared too when I hear about the NEDs and then the cancer pops back up again for those unlucky people. I'm a IIIB and even at a four, there is always hope as the docs chip away at this awful disease. They told me the same thing, once a IIIB always a IIIB and my latest scan showed "improved" so I've chosen to think of it as a box they have to put you in to point them in the right treatment direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperback Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 But are there ever people who just get rid of both tumors and live with NED for a while or is it just the nature of the disease to constantly met to the brain spine or liver? Compared to everyone else that sounds like it would be an easy fight which apparently doesn't exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cat127 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 If your mother had the tumor in the lung and the met to the brain, but no lymph node involvement, that met to the brain would be what is called a 'precocious metastases'. You should go over to www.onctalk.com and see what Dr. West has written about this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Paperback, Katie was very kind to recommend me and OncTalk. You can certainly find a lot of information that I hope would be helpful there, but I'd recommend this particular post that might apply for your mother, if she's lucky: http://onctalk.com/?p=437 Good luck. -Dr. Jack West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlemike Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I pray that surgery for your mom will be possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperback Posted February 5, 2008 Author Share Posted February 5, 2008 Thanks everybody. I had never heard of a precocious met before but since there is no lymph node involvement it sounds like it does apply. The tumor in the lung was described as "large" though I dont have the exact cm. I know the brain was quite small (around 2) and it was right on the surface. they did scans and all the cancer is gone in the brain then the chest xray revealed that the tumor in the lung is still exactly the same size. I really hope the operation is possible. I know they will do targeted preventative radiation to the spot they removed. I just hope it all goes ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperback Posted February 7, 2008 Author Share Posted February 7, 2008 Spoke with the dr administering the chemo today and although he talked about a lot of hopeful stories it seems that he was focused on prolonging life more than curing the disease. He said not to focus on statistics but that patients who lived for years after stage 4 were a "minority" the average people he treats live about 10 months. Of course this was after I prodded for a while. The nature of the disease is to met to other organs and although he agreed this was a precocious met as you guys mentioned, but it seemed like he didn't want to get my hopes up. It's just the most awful disease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgirl Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 I believe my mom falls into the same category as your mom. She was diagnosed last June and is currently cancer-free!! Everything looked so dire in the beginning (even doctors were telling us she didn't have much hope ) but she NEVER believed that she was going to die anytime soon and she still has that attitude today. Of course we can't predict what the future holds and if the cancer is ever going to be back, but we are so grateful for the results she's had so far. Have faith that your mom can have similar results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azgirl Posted February 7, 2008 Share Posted February 7, 2008 One more thing I forgot to mention: Don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion or find another doctor if you are not 100% certain that the current doctor is "in it to win it", so to speak. My mom's first doctor spoke in terms of "quality of life", which made us head for the door! We weren't looking for a short term fix, but a CURE. Your mom CAN be cured if she's getting surgery. If your doctor isn't fighting for that, I say find someone who will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperback Posted February 8, 2008 Author Share Posted February 8, 2008 Thanks for your response its so good to hear that your mom is cancer free! For some reason my mom developed swelling on both sides of her collar bone and the scan said nothing was too worrisome though they wont release her as planned. They started radiation to the lung today out of nowhere. Could it be because somethings wrong or are they just covering all the bases?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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