my father is with nsclc stage-4

atri76 · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 3 Location: India

Hi
I am new in this forum. My father (59 yrs) is a patient of NSCLC (Lung) with multiple skeletal mets. His disease was diagonised in Jan'09 and was put under Clinical Trial. After 4 chemos, they stopped since they said it did not work. Since then, he is on Gefitinib. Recently he has started taking morphine tablets four hourly. Since last 5-6 days fever is coming (100 to 103 deg.) and he is having problem in walking, also sometimes he talks incoherently. Doc has advised for a brain CT Scan. Can anyone tell me anything about my father's condition ? We are so worried about him nowadays, it seems anything can happen to him at any point of time. Can anyone please give me some information ?

Thanks

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2403

Hi,

Sorry to hear about your Dad's condition taking a turn for the worse. Since he's been on Iressa (Gefitinib) have they done any scans? Also, is he receiving Zometa to help strengthen the bones so that he isn't getting more mets there?

I hate to think that he may be having brain met issues, but it's best to have the brain MRI/scan done.

Is there a chance he's ill with the flu or something and just dehydrated from the fever? What did the doctor say when he saw him with the fever?

Cancer is all about the unknown and things can change with the wind. I hope they get down to the bottom of this for his sake and the family too.

Feel free to ask any questions and we'll try to help as much as possible.

God bless and best wishes.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

atri76 · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 3 Location: India

Thanks a lot for your reply.

He has been receiving Zoledronic once in a month to strengthen his bones. We did his brain CT scan,but it is not showing any mets. since 24th oct night his condition worsened, he stopped talking, stopped passing urine,stopped having any food,was not able to sit up on the bed also.We called a local doc on 25th morning who advised to shift him to a hospital. Now he is in hospital, still does not have much sense.Till yesterday he did not recognise me or my sister, this morning although he did.Docs are saying its a terminal case. The local doc whom we consulted on 25th is also saying the same.I am seeing very little improvement in him but not sure if that is temporary.

Regards

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2403

Hi again,

I'm very sorry to hear this news. They are keeping him hydrated, right? Running an IV? I know my mother became very "out of it" when she became severely dehydrated and we thought it had gone to her brain. Once she had the fluids restored, she bounced back for awhile.

I wish there was something they could tell you about his condition. Have they scanned to see if the Iressa is working?

Sometimes patients develop what they term "paraneoplastic syndrome." Although it's rare, I've seen it at our oncologist's office and have known of other lung cancer patients that developed this. It produces multiple symptoms for the patient. You may want to look it up. Then again, it simply could be the cancer itself progressing. At least he is in the hospital where you know he's getting the best care that he can have. Small comfort, I know.

My heart is heavy for you and I hope you are spending time with your Dad. Just sit, love him, and comfort him as best you can.

There are no easy answers with lung cancer. I'm sorry.

God bless,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

terrismom · Regular Joined: 19 Mar 2009 Posts: 46

I hope they are keeping him comfortable. Know that we are all praying for you and your family.

Monell

atri76 · New User Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 3 Location: India

Thanks PBJ. Thanks Monell.

Just want to share my feelings with you. We brought him home on 30th, since the docs advised us to do so. They said, there is no more treatment and what he needs is peace/ isolation. From today,he will be given 3 intravenous injections everyday- Clavam 1.2gm, Decadron and another one apart from few other medicines & oral chemo. His condition is not stable,a little better or worse. Within 7 days his health deteriorated drastically,he is bed ridden now. We are praying to God to take him without giving him more pain. He has been suffering so much,having acute pain & some uneasiness but is not being able to tell us the same.Its difficult to see him suffering like this.

Atri

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 2403

Hi,

I'm sorry --- this is the part that is the worst. Watching a loved one suffer is enough to turn prayers from a miracle to just let God take him/her home.

Do the best you can under these most difficult circumstances. Agitation sometimes can accompany the process too. Sad

May God give all of you peace.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

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