Lung cancer, metastasis liver, vomiting but not on chemo

[MichelleS1]

Can anybody give me clues as to what might be going on with my Dad?

He is 72. He was diagnosed in 2003 with stage 3 non-small cell adenocarcinoma of the lungs. He had Chemo (I´m sorry I don´t know which). In 2005, he had Tarceva. In 2008 they discovered metastasis to the liver (3 lesions) and he underwent chemo again and he finished the treatment in March. The doctor said the tumors in both the lungs and liver were smaller.

For the past 3 weeks he´s been vomiting, but sporadically. There is no pattern. It doesn´t matter if he eats lightly or heavily. Some days he vomits once, some days nothing.

He went to see a Gastroenterologist. They did a sonogram...liver was not swollen; tumors were visible. The pancreas and gallbladder were fine. They did an endoscopy and everything seems to be OK. Now they scheduled some other gastrointestinal test. He wrote an email to his oncologist but he doesn´t seem concerned.

Does anyone know what could be wrong? Thank you!!

[BarbinFl]

Michelle,

I am new to the lung cancer world. My husband is a 5 year brain tumor survivor and I just wanted to ask if they have done an MRI of the brain on your dad since the vomiting started? Swelling in the brain can cause vomiting. Does he suffer from headaches or pressure in the head? All cancers have the ability to metz to the brain and as if with every cancer, is best if caught early.

I hope it is nothing and just a gastrio problem that is easy to treat.

Barb

[MichelleS1]

Barb,

Thank you so much for your response. I think his oncologist wants him to get the results from an endoscopy and another gastric test before moving on to other tests.

Michelle

[BarbinFl]

Hopefully that is all the issue is, and it is something simple. Our loves ones who are battling cancer have enough that they don't need additional complicated issues.

I would recommend, if they haven't recentlly, that they get a baseline MRI of his brain. This way if something should, not saying it will, metz to the brain they will have a time line to go by and not guess if it is just "something" that may have always been there. I hope that makes sense. Having been in the brain tumor world, that can help clear up alot of unknowns in the future should the need arise.

Barb

[MichelleS1]

After months of tests, the diagnosis is metastasis to the pancreas.

Does anyone know what this means in terms of prognosis? Stage 4 non-small cell adenocarcinoma with metastasis to the liver and now to the pancreas?

I am very concerned.

thank you.

[pbj11]

Michelle,

I'm sorry to hear it has spread again. You must be exhausted with the waiting for a clear picture of what was going on with him. I hope his vomiting has stopped.

He was a stage IV last year when it spread to his liver. Any stage IV is not curable, but it is treatable to buy more time. Looks like he's been through a couple of lines of treatment and done phenomenal considering he was diagnosed in 2003. Lung cancer is a constant battle, as you are learning.

I hope the oncologist has some more tricks up his sleeve as there are other options for treatment if he chooses to do more. Otherwise, it really depends on how quickly it grows and how badly it is impacting these major organs.

Nobody can give clear timelines because everybody is so different.

Keep us posted and I hope he's not in pain.

God bless,
PBJ

[MichelleS1]

Thank you for the information and your kind words.

The vomiting has not stopped and he's loosing weight.

You are right when you say he has done phenomenal considering it's almost 6 yrs since his diagnosis. We have been lucky to have him with us for those years.

He saw a colleague of his oncologist so we don't know exactly how the oncologist wants to proceed. We'll know next week. But I think my Dad is getting tired of the battle. He says he's not sure he wants more chemo.

Thank God he's not in pain.

Again, thanks. I am very happy to have found this forum.

[melkissa]

I am sorry to hear that. I agree that a prognosis is hard to estimate because there are many factors to count in. I just wanted to say I hope he stays pain free and comfortable for as long as possible.