familygirl
New User
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:18 pm Post subject: questions that need answers |
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| We have just found out this past week that my grandfather has stage 3b lung cancer. Now, forgive me if I use terms incorrectly as I do not know much about this. The first DR. told him it was stage 4, the second stage 3b. They were not going to do radiation, but start chemo next week. He had a scan done to see if it spread to his brain. Apparently, it shows a growth on the back of his head. They started him on steroids right away and will start radiation on Friday for at least 5 days. From what my grandmother says is the cancer is in the center of the chest near between his lungs also. They took fluid from somewhere that helped with breathing but I guess the breathing is getting bad again. My grandparents will not ask the DR about a prognosis. But I want some kind of idea. I just want to know what to expect. I realize everyone is different but anything information anyone can give would be great!! Thanks! |
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bkerber1
Experienced user
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 76
Location: Lakeland, Florida
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| Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: questions that need answers |
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Hi familygirl,
Im really sorry to hear about your grandfather. I think the first question everyone wants to know is "how long" or what will it be like. My dad was 77 and had 3b which was actually 4 nsclc. He was diagnosed in Jan. coughing up blood. He never did take chemo but did the 38 treatment radiation. He lost alot of weight. About a month before he died, he had to go to the hospital to get fluid drained from around his lungs. This was causing lots of difficulty breathing. At that time his lung dr. told us that when this starts to happened it doesnt take long for the end. He was right. He went back in the hospital 3 weeks later, couldnt get his breath and they drained alot more fluid. He died about 5 days later. From diagnosis to death was 4 months. Everyone is different. I hope you have a lot more time with him but make every day count. |
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kaylany
Regular
Joined: 02 Aug 2006
Posts: 31
Location: New York
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| Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:46 am Post subject: i'm responding to you, and NEED help with my question!!!!! |
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Dear Family girl,
My mom in law was diagnosed approx. 4/30/06 with stage 4 NSCLC with 1 lesion in the brain and in her lymph nodes as well. At that time it was only in one lung. She had brain surgery because it was only one lesion. In June she had a few more, so they did radiation. Now it spread to her other lung, and abdomen as well. I don't know if it's in any specific organs, lining of the abdomen or what, but from stopping chemo to do radiation, it definitely got worse. She resumed chemo a few weeks ago, they said it will only possibly extend her life a few weeks. Now they stopped it b/c of a low white blood cell count. She got booster shots to produce white blood cells for that last week, and has not moved from our recliner since Saturday, except to use the bathroom. She is in a lot of pain and we don't know what to do about that, she may be heading to the hospital today.
Sorry to babble, I need to get some things out. My point is she was originally told she has about 6 months to live with treatment. So far the chemo keeps getting stopped so it's not as effective as it should be. At this point it's questionable if it's worth it. From what i've learned on the web, once it spreads to the brain from the lung, it's not a very great outlook. It seems that the longest life expectancy according to statistics is 18-24 months once it has metastasized to the brain. And that is only having one lesion that is removable. If it's a tumor they're seeing, I may be wrong about that number of months. I was more looking up lesions.
Hang on to hope, there are always the people that prove the numbers wrong. It is a lesion or a tumor that they are seeing? And do you know if they will remove it?
While i'm already writing, does ANYONE know about how long the discomfort lasts from getting a shot to make your bone marrow produce white blood cells???? She got the shots thursday, friday and saturday. Saturday was when she was doubled over in pain, and has not really moved at all and it's now wednesday. She's also complaining of her lung area hurting, and her right side. We're worried it's more than just the booster shot, so it's hard to say whether this is just the cancer getting worse and there's no point in taking her to the ER, or if there's something wrong going on and we should get her checked out.
It would be easier if she would be willing to go, but she REALLY doesn't want to, and that's what makes it tougher for us, don't want to force her if there's nothing they can do.
Can anyone speak from experience with these booster shots? I don't know the name of it, but from what i've read it could be either neupogen or lukine and they seem to have the same side effects.
Thank you! And family girl I wish you the best, Kayla
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kaylaNY |
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