Thoughts anyone?

tobie · Regular Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 22

My mom, who is 71, had a chest X-ray done in June that showed a mass in her lower right lung that measured 3" in diameter. We went to see a surgeon, who suspected NSCLC and ordered CT scans, a biopsy, lung function tests etc..... We went back yesterday to get the results. The surgeon said that there were several lymph nodes outside the lung that looked suspicious. The radiologist agreed with the surgeon. The biopsy was inconclusive and was no help. They now want to schedule her for removal and biopsy of some lymph nodes as well as bone and brain scans. We have not been told what stage her cancer is. Does someone have an idea what stage this would be? The surgeon said that if the lymph nodes show positive for cancer, he will not operate to remove the lung but will refer us to an oncologist for chemo and/or radiation. Am I correct in assuming that this will only buy some time but not provide a cure? Any ideas on the prognosis for a case like this? Thanks all.

debbieNY · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 16

Hi Tobie,
If it is ONLY the nodes that are involved then she would be stage 2 or 3 if it has metastisised further it would be stage 4. They stage cancer as to how far the mets are from the primary cancer site. I would go directly to an Oncologist at this point. Why have to repeat surgury ( even a biopsy) on a 71 yr. old woman, if that would be nessary? With the cancer treatments that are available now, there is reason to have hope!!! The new meds and therapys are great, and offer cancer patients many options, as long as their in otherwise good health.
Tell Mom I said Good Luck!
DebbieNY

tobie · Regular Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 22

Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your reply. The whole situation has gotten us pretty upset. Her family doctor had just told her two days earlier that she was in fine health except for the mass on her lung. So she was feeling pretty good about her chances. Then the surgeon tells her that the cancer has spread and she crashed big time. At least the surgeon has promised to send her immediately to an oncologist if the lymph nodes are cancerous. Her family doctor had done nothing. I have always been concerned that the only referral she has had was to a surgeon and not an oncologist. Perhaps it is a difference in the way things are handled in Canada as opposed to the US. I don't want my mom subjected to any unnecessary pain but she seems unwilling to question the doctors and we don't want to upset her. It's hard to know what to do when this is all so new. Once again, thanks for taking the time to reply.

debbieNY · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 16

Your very welcome Tobie,
If I can help out at all, let me know! Good Luck!
DebbieNY

tobie · Regular Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 22

Mom underwent a brochoscopy and mediastinoscopy on tuesday and we got the results yesterday. The lymph nodes that were removed for biopsy were all cancerous. They have staged her cancer as 3B pending the outcome of brain and bone scans. Anything showing up there would move her up to stage 4. She seems resigned to her fate and doesn't seem to want to fight this thing at all. Any thoughts on the prognosis for someone in these circumstances?

debbieNY · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2005 Posts: 16

Hi Again Tobie,
Give her a little time to come to terms with her own dx. I know how YOU feel, I've been in the same situation. Give her support, but don't push her, hopefully within a few days she will come around, and start to see things your way. In the mean time, gather all the information you can by googling the type of cancer she has, and print it all out. When SHE'S ready to deal with it, she will need all the info you can gather. Until then there is not much you can do, except to keep your own spirits up!!!
DebbieNY

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