Guest Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Hi, my sister-in-law just found out that she has Stage 4 cancer in her lung and neck. I don't know what this means other than they say they can't operate. How bad is stage 4. My husband and I are scared stiff as this is his last living member of his immediate family. It has thrown both of us for a loop. We want to know what we can do to help her, as she goes through the stages. We would appreciate any help you can give us. She is in denial of this right now and I can't blame her as I would be too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Hi Shadow, Sorry to hear about your sister. This is a great site with great people with lots of information and support. It is a great blow when one finds out the diagnose of lung cancer. Your sister will need time to absorb everything. I see your sister is at stage (What's the name?) IV. I’m at stage IV also and have had very good success. See my signature below. There are a lot of options out there for your sister. Take one step at a time and one day at time. Gather as much information as you can. Knowledge is power. Be Pro-active. Never give up. Never take no for an answer. Be your sister's advocate. Stay with us. Keep us posted. Hope this helps. Peace, take care and God Bless. Rich PS: Below are a bunch of sites for more information to gather. ************************************************************* The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / That’s The Key ************************************************************* Questions To Ask The Doctor About Lung Cancer http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch http://www.centerwatch.com Lung Cancer In The News / GOOGLE http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp Drug Information Online http://www.drugs.com ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education http://www.alcase.org Unites States / National Library Of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html Google / Great Search Engine http://www.google.com R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients http://blochcancer.org American Cancer Society / No Matter Who You Are, We Can Help http://www.cancer.org Cancer Information Service / NCI http://www.cancer.gov Cancer Research Center / A Cure For Cancer... http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR http://www.aicr.org Cancer Hope Network / Cancer? http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders http://www.acor.org Lung Cancer Information Library / Electronic Library Of Comprehensive Educational Materials On Cancer For Healthcare Professionals And Patients http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html American Lung Association / ALA http://www.lungusa.org American Medical Association / Physicians Dedicated To The Health Of America http://www.ama-assn.org Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer Healthfinder / Your Guide To Reliable Health Information http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 Medicine Net / We Bring Doctor’s Knowledge To You http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm National Foundation For Cancer Research / NFCR Cancer Information Center http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung Patient Advocate Foundation / Ensuring Equal Access To Health Care For All Americans http://www.patientadvocate.org ************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Welcome, but sorry you have to be here. Non Small Cell is ranked by Stage 1 to 4. There are many treatments for this and keep a positive attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 thank you for the letters back that were sent to me. It is nice to hear people say that there is hope. According to her doctors there doesn't seem any hope. They won't even operate on her because she has a mass in her lung and the lump on her neck. I don't understand this at all. I will be there for her as much as I can and will help her through whatever she has to go through. We want her around for a long time so we're going to help her fight this. Thanks again to everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Shadow, It sounds like the first thing your sister in law needs to do is get a NEW DOCTOR or at least tell the one she has now that she wants to be as aggressive as possible in the battle! Attitude is EVERYTHING in fighting cancer. Hers, yours and the Doctors all play a part in her recovery. If you are told often enough that there is no hope you assume there is no hope. If you go in with the attitude that you CAN beat it, there is usually a better outcome. Is she being seen at a cancer center or local hospital? I will be praying for her and your family. God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Hi Shadow, I agree with Mo. Get another doctor for your sister and/or be aggressive as humanly possible. Peace, take care and God Bless. Rich ************************************************************* The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / That’s The Key ************************************************************* Questions To Ask The Doctor About Lung Cancer http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch http://www.centerwatch.com Lung Cancer In The News / GOOGLE http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp Drug Information Online http://www.drugs.com ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education http://www.alcase.org Unites States / National Library Of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html Google / Great Search Engine http://www.google.com R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients http://blochcancer.org American Cancer Society / No Matter Who You Are, We Can Help http://www.cancer.org Cancer Information Service / NCI http://www.cancer.gov Cancer Research Center / A Cure For Cancer... http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR http://www.aicr.org Cancer Hope Network / Cancer? http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders http://www.acor.org Lung Cancer Information Library / Electronic Library Of Comprehensive Educational Materials On Cancer For Healthcare Professionals And Patients http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html American Lung Association / ALA http://www.lungusa.org American Medical Association / Physicians Dedicated To The Health Of America http://www.ama-assn.org Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer Healthfinder / Your Guide To Reliable Health Information http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 Medicine Net / We Bring Doctor’s Knowledge To You http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm National Foundation For Cancer Research / NFCR Cancer Information Center http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung Patient Advocate Foundation / Ensuring Equal Access To Health Care For All Americans http://www.patientadvocate.org Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html Lung Cancer Links / Cancerlinks Index http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html Cancer Free Connections / Life-Saving & Life-Giving Resources http://www.cancer-free.com Health Insite / Information On Lung Cancers http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page http://www.lungcancerclaims.com ************************************************************ If I Could Catch a Rainbow: If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you its beauty, On the days you’re feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I’m finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow fair, But let me be what I know best A friend that’s always there. Author Unknown ************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted December 8, 2003 Share Posted December 8, 2003 Find the nearest cancer center, and get another opinion, at least, as to what can be done under the most aggressive course of action. If you don't believe it is the end of the world, it won't be. You need doctors on your team who actively participate as the patient does, and who believe in the best outcome. Optimism doesn't begin to describe it. Cutting edge technology is able to do more every day, so keep the faith. Try to get your sil out of the dumps and fighting for herself. She needs to be an active participant in her own treatments. It's good of you and your husband to advocate for her right now. Believe in miracles, they happen every day. I am one. You are in my prayers... MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norme Posted December 10, 2003 Share Posted December 10, 2003 I will keep your sister-in-law in my prayers. Stage 4 is cancer at its worse but still it can be controlled at times. Some drs see cancer as a death sentence while others see it as an illness that can be controlled or even wiped out of the body. I have seen people have radiation to shrink the tumor in the lung then operate but it sounds like hers may be to far gone per this dr. I sure would get the second opinion to make certain all is being done at the present time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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