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marstar
New User
Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject: HELP! Doctor diagnose metatasis Stage 4, no cure, will die |
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Doctors say my aunt will die and have no cure for her. The only option she was given was radiation (for her brain) to slow the spread, and chemotherapy treatment after for the lungs. And this is all to prolong her life.
It started in May of 2007 when a doctor did a CT scan of my aunts respiratory system because my aunt was having pain below her left collar bone. I went with my aunt to the Respiratory Clinic to talk about the results and their findings. The First doctor said it looks like lung cancer. **Keep in mind, my aunt was turning 65 at the time, never smoked, doesn't drink unless it is wine at church and exercises daily by taking walks everywhere. The only history of cancer is her father who died of colon cancer. I know all this because I live with her **
He then showed us the X-rays of the CT Scan and showed us a large mass (a grey oval shape in her lungs, 4 cms possibly?) He even showed us an X-Ray of a healthy lung and compared it to my aunts lungs. No large mass in the healthy lung. We were not very happy with the results and hard to accept because she felt healthy, except for the pain in the chest which was gone by that time. So they brought in a second doctor who then said that they were not sure if it was lung cancer, and required more testing to find out. At that point my aunt was furious and in shock because first was told she had lung cancer then told they weren't sure. Possibly the flu she had before the CT Scan? The doctors then told her to come back in a month or so to do another x-ray to see if it had disappeared. She didn't go, I tried to get her to go but she felt healthy, felt good, no problems and no doctors followed up with her condition, knowing what was found.
Four months later, my aunt was at the casino with her friend when she felt dizzy and almost fell over, the casino called an ambulance and took her to emergency and they did a scan of her head and discovered a number of tiny little spots in her brain.
The doctors told her she had lung cancer. Metatasis, cancer from the lungs that spread to the brain.
She was then sent home after 11 days, the next day we went to the Cancer Care Center and spoke with 3 doctors.
The first one just took down notes to find out how we ended up there.
The second doctor explained about the cancer, how the xrays in May were in fact lung cancer and now it had spread to the right side of her lung and to her brain and that now we must focus on treatment for the brain. Giving her the only option to do treatments of radiation (10) to keep the cancer from spreading.
The third doctor came to talk to us to make sure we understood everything and knew what was going to happen. He told us her condition was not good, that she will die and that this is all we can do right now.
Is there no hope?
Is there no cure?
[b]Isn't there another way? If she is going to die anyway, why should we bother with the radiation and chemo? The treatments are just going to get her weak, loss of weight, etc.? Should I let her go through with it?[/b]
This is what the report said:
Clinical History: Metastatic brain lesions NYD
CT CHEST/ABDOMEN (C+)
There is a large 7 cm solid neoplasm involving the anterior interior aspect of the left upper love which is associated with mild left hilar lymphadenopathy. A few small subcarnial lymph nodes noted. A 1.7 cm metastatic lesion is present within the anterior medial aspect of the right lower love and a 1.7 cm metastatic lesion in present within the left posterior costophernic angle. Small sliding hiatus hernia noted.
A few tiny low attenuation nodules are also incidentally noted within the thyroid lobes which are otherwise unremarkable.
A few tiny 2-3 mm nodules are incidentally noted within the periphery of the lingula in close proximity to the larger left upper love lesion.
Mild fatty infiltration is present through out the liver. No metatasic liver or adrenal disease is present. No intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy noted.
The spleen, pancreas, kidneys appear unremarkable. No abnormality of the colon or small bowel has been demonstrated.
IMPRESSION:
Left upper lobe neoplasm associated with metastatic lung and brain disease.
CT HEAD (C+)
Multiple small and moderately large metastatic lesions are diffusely present throughout the brain and cerebellum, several associated with moderate vasogenic edema. The largest measures 4.2 cm in diameter which involves the right posterior subcortical white matter near the vertex.
Localized vasogenic edema and mild mass effect is present at several of the metastatic sites. However, there is no shifting of midline structures. The lateral ventricles remain unremarkable.
Can someone explain to me in English?
Should I go and get another opinion somewhere else?
How long will she live? |
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ksplat
Super Moderator
Joined: 26 Apr 2007
Posts: 563
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:37 am Post subject: Dr diagnosed metatasis IV, no cure, will die |
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Dear Marstar
I am so sorry to hear the news on your aunt. You must be reeling from the shock of it all.
I am glad you found this forum as it has a very active membership & support network. Like a large community.
Unfortunately, I cannot help you with advice on the diagnosis, I too have a loved one with cancer. I can offer you support & acknowledgement of the trauma you must be going through.
I hope a member is able to answer some of your questions real soon. I have read on another post that a grade IV cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. I say this to give you some hope for now.
Welcome to this forum. I am sorry you found this forum through your Aunt's suffering & your concern & love for her of course.
My thoughts & prayers are with you.
Cheers, Aussie Angie.
_________________
Brother diagnosed with GBMIV Feb 07
Treatment: Radiotherapy, Temodal, Gliadel Wafers, Dexamethasone, Keppra, Dilantin, Clexane
Went to our Heavenly Father after a 19mth battle,, 47 years young.
23 Sep 2008
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227
"Without Faith We Have Nothing" |
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marstar
New User
Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:59 am Post subject: Re: HELP! Doctor diagnose metatasis Stage 4, no cure, will die |
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Thank you Aussie Angie for your kindness and hope you have given me. May God bless you both!
With Love,
Marlene |
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Pray4Mom
Regular
Joined: 29 Aug 2007
Posts: 48
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: Re: HELP! Doctor diagnose metatasis Stage 4, no cure, will die |
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Marlene - I am sorry to hear about your Aunt. I pray you both are comforted with hope even now. You must be shocked - or at l east coming down from being shocked by now. Regarding her treatment, what does your Aunt want? Ultimately, she has to decide how to proceed. Does she have the will to fiight this?
My dear Mom was diagnosed with NSCLC and mets to brain. She had gamma knofe surgery at UCSF and now she is going through chemo. She has had two rounds - due for another next week - and then they will decide to operate on her lung cancer or go through another round of chemo (they want the tumor to be reduced). Chemo is rough on her - but boy is she amazing.
God bless you with peace and wisdom,
Kat
_________________
Katherine
California |
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