My Mom has Lung Cancer...

Rmy953 · Regular Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Hi! I'm new to this forum. My Mother - who is the best Mother in the whole world - is having a port placed tomorrow to start chemo on Wednesday for Stage 1 Lung Cancer. Wonderful that it is Stage 1 - but she cannot have surgery due to severe COPD - so maybe not so wonderful? She is very sensitive to meds and her stomach gets upset very easily. She is soon to be 77 years young. She is not too active due to chronic arthritis in her back. I am soooo worried about the chemo regimen. But she has me and my sister to help her though this. We also have two brothers who will help when they can. I am fortunate that I do no work so can be available when she needs me. She is a smoker of 60 some years and hasn't quit at this point. I lost my Dad to lung cancer when he was 58 years young - and hoped to never go through this again. That was 22 years ago. Am I showing my age??? Smile

Thank God for this forum and for all of you!!!

thinkpink · Experienced user Joined: 12 May 2009 Posts: 61

Hi Rmy,

Welcome to the forum – a wonderful place full of friends, information, and support. All things that I have found I need during this traumatic time!

Not only is your Mother the best in the world, seems like she has the best daughter in the world, and is very lucky to have you. Smile

Stage 1 sounds better than Stage 4 (‘bout three stages better!), so we will take that diagnosis and run with it! Depending on the chemo drugs they prescribe, it may or may not take a toll on your Mom. Let’s pray that she responds well, with minimal side effects.

My mom is 73, but she’s Stage 4. She has responded well to Alimta and Carboplatin. The chemo throws her for a loop from Day 2 to Day 6 or 7, but the side effects aren’t anything that we can’t handle. The anti-nausea meds are very effective as well – My mama takes Zofran. And the few times that she’s thrown up since her first chemo on May 1, she didn’t actully feel nauseated. It has happened right after she finished a meal – the food would just come right back up.

But her hearing is awful! Shocked

She can't hear a thing, we gotta yell when talking to her. And her hearing was still pretty good before this ordeal started!

Hang in there, and I pray that all goes well for your Mom.

tp
_________________
73 yo mother - 29 year breast cancer survivor, radical mastectomy with no radiation and no chemo and no recurrence.

Presented to the ER on April 14, 2009 with pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Diagnosed on April 17th with stage IV adenocarcinoma NSCLC with mets to the lumbar spine. Began chemotherapy on May 1st- Carboplatin and Alimta plus Zometa for bone mets.

To read a summary of our journey: http://cancerforums.net/about12486.html

dano · Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:43 am Post subject: Re: My Mom has Lung Cancer...

Hello Rmy; I guess there is no point in telling your mom to quit smoking now huh. I'm a lung cancer patient with stage IV, and I never smoked, and your mom watched her husband die from lung cancer and she still smoked, so she likely feels she did ok. So she sort of knows what she's in for, so you get to help her ride this out the best way she can with you loving her all the way.
I hope that the docs can use radiation on her, then again on some people doing the radiation seemed to put the cancer into over drive. Well your going to have your hands full at times doing this, so please return to yell, scream and shout here to let off the steam so that you can keep up that smiling face for you mom. By the way...is your mom considered cantankerous? Long term smokers seem to be, gives caretakers more fun challenges.
God Bless
Dan
Laughing

_________________
55 year old male, Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08 treatments now every 4 weeks with Alimta, taking Lovenox for blood clots, Now working full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

Rmy953 · Regular Joined: 08 Sep 2009 Posts: 13

Thank you both for your replies. Chemo was not given last Wed as they had a mixup at the office and we needed to see the doctor to start a plan! She was given medication prescriptions for nausea and Ativan. She starts chemo tomorrow; taxotere and carboplatin. Next Monday, her birthday, she will add radiation to the regimen. She will have that daily, 5 days a week. Chemo will be until the end of Feb. She goes 3 mondays in a row, and off one week, and start again. Radiation is for 6 weeks. I am expecting her to lose her hair and wonder where you buy your scarves? I don't see her wearing a wig... Do you suggest a sleep cap? She seems to be cold alot so I would imagine your head gets cold? I will keep you all in my prayers... Thank you soooo much. A daughter...

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