StageIV NSCLC with Metastis to the Brain

Rmhorne2

What should we expect?
My 85 year old mother was diagnosed with stageIv metastaic nsclc with six metastisis to the brain, one each to L-1 and L-4 vertabrae, and to to her rib bones. The lung tumor is 6.7 cm and the largest tumor in her brain is 19mm with another of 15 mm. She was diagnosed around the first of March. My wife and I have moved her to our home in the Dallas area from her small town in Arkansas. She is currently undergoing whole brain radiation as well as radiation treatment for her vertabrae. As soon as she finishes her radiation treatment, the doctors plan to start her on Tarceva. Her first symptom was extreme back pain. When she was in the hospital for her biopsy she had a vertaplasty preformed on her vertabrae as she had a small fracture in l-4 from the cancer. She is very lucid but getting very weak. She has lost ten pounds in the last two weeks. Our oncologist tell us that she should have from 6 months to a year if the radiation therapy and the Tarceva works. If not, two to three months. We are hopeful that she can have more good quality of life time with us. The doctors have not told her that she is going to die, and she has a great attitude right now. Talks about going back to her home in Arkansas and resuming her life. Can anyone give me any ideas on what I can expect. I have read most of the posts on this forum and have a better idea now.

Thanks for any help.

RMH Crying or Very sad

deba · Regular Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 28

I'm really sorry to hear about your Mom. I'm glad that she has a great attitude and everything. My dad has SCLC, so I can only tell you our experience. I do know that NSCLC does not respond as well to chemo and radiation as does SC, but that certainly does not mean that your mom's won't respond! My Dad's only responded minimally and supposedly SC usually responds very well!

My dad tolerated the brain radiation very well. Of course he lost his hair from that before he even started chemo. The worst side effect of the radiation was fatigue and short term memory loss. Dad's short term memory still is very bad and has not recovered much since he finished his radiation over 2 months ago.

Dad did not tolerate chemo well at all, but he was not on Tarceva. So hopefully your mom will do much better. My dad has had to stop chemo after 3 treatments because his body is too weak. He has been unable to eat and after many many medications the doctor thinks his inability to eat is being caused more by the cancer than by the treatment.

I hope your mom does really great and that her quality of life is very good so that you all can enjoyo her!

My dad is not bedridden yet, but just sits in his recliner covered with a blanket all day has he has no energy at all. He has lost nearly 30 pounds since January.

If you need anything, please message me. I know that my post is not very uplifting, but I do know that you asked what to expect. Everyone is different, but this has been our experience. From what I read on here our experience has been worse than most, so hopefully none of this will be the case in your mom's treatment.

I'll keep you and your family in my prayers as I do ALL cancer patients and their families!

Deb

Rmhorne2

Dear Deba

Thank you for your posting. Did your dad regain much of his strength after the full brain radiation? My mom has had 11 treatments of the brain radiation and 2 treatments to her spine and they had to discontinue the spine treatments yesterday because she had become so weak in just a few days. She cannot stand up without help. My wife and I are affraid to leave her alone for more than just a few minutes. She has also lost her ability to balance herself when walking. She took a nasty fall last Saturday. You said you dad spent most of his day in a recliner. Does he sleep in the daytime? My mom sleeps all moring sitting up in a recliner. You mentioned that your dad's short term memory loss had not improved. When did he start having memory problems? Was it during the radiation treatment, or after? My mom has not had any memory loss other that what you could expect from someone her age.

The doctors have told me this is a combination of the medicine she takes to keep down the swelling in her brain, and the effects of the radiation. She does not start taking the Tarceva until she is finished with the radiation. That will be sometime early next week.

Hope you and your dad can have some quality time together. That is my goal, that and letting my mom go back to her home in Arkansas, even if I have to go stay with her.

Again, thanks for answering my post, it was quite helpful

Rmhorne

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