mom 86 with lung cancer

[carolyn]

Hi: My mom is 86 and is currently in the hospital 1 week- had fluid drained from lung. xray shows mass in lung and also mass visible in neck. They tested fluid around lung and was inconclusive. Needle biopsy was done to draw fluid and that also shows inconclusive. Now they will do another biopsy on the neck of the actual tissue. My mom is very weak but in good spirits. she has smoked and dipped snuff her entire adult life. Her blood pressure and heart rate are good. Oxy is being given at 2ltr and is measuring 99 to 100%. She has no appetite and food has no flavor to her. She eats very little. I am with her night and day at the hospital. Very worried and concerned. Any info will be appreciated. DR has advised that he is 99.9% sure it is lung cancer mestatised in neck

[pbj11]

To Carolyn,

Sending hugs and I've had your message moved to a new thread on its own so you can get the responses you need.

As far as the effusion around her lung, it can often come back as inconclusive. My husband had no malignant cells in his fluid for over two years, despite repeated thoracentesis procedures. Eventually the cytology did test positive for cancer.

Hopefully they are able to get the right biopsy to determine what is happening, so she can make treatment decisions. My husband always said, during the diagnostic stage, that he didn't have cancer until they confirmed that he had cancer. I think we all hope for it to be something else even while we experience that creeping feeling that this isn't good.

Let us know and I hope she is comfortable.

God bless,
PBJ

[thinkpink]

Hi Carolyn,

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your mom as you await some more definite news. I just walked this same road with my mom two months ago, and I can relate to your worry and concern. I know that you are scared as well.

Just make sure you ask questions about anything that you need to know more details about, or are unsure of. It seems as if you are staying informed thus far, and your mom is very lucky to have you!

Please keep us posted, and I pray that it is NOT cancer.

tp - think positive!

[carolyn]

The biopsy results were positive in the lymph node for non-small cell lung cancer metastisized in the neck lymph nodes. We will be reviewing the options tomorrow. Surgery is not an option because of her age, and copd. We are not sure about chemo or radiation or other therapies yet. Any info would be appreciated. We are wondering about life expectancy, and weighing the benefits of chemo and rad side affects and the quality of life. How much time does the treatments actually buy you, and are the side effects tolerable to someone 86 with copd, weighing 80-85 lbs. she is already so weak. Not sure what to suggest to her?? Also the dr.s have not given us a stage yet. I was under the impression it was stage 4 if it had spread from the lung.

[thinkpink]

I am so sorry that it turned out to be cancer. Surgery was not an option for my 73 year old mom either, and I was very unsure of how the chemo would affect her. But we discussed it and were determined to give it a try.

My mom has responded well to the chemo. She has had three treatments and they are going to scan her after the fourth treatment on July 8th. She has definitely had some side effects, but thankfully, none of them have been showstoppers. She was already on a boatload of drugs for various health problems, before being diagnosed with the lung cancer. Now, we're up to a truckload of drugs, "18 wheeler style".

The chemo has definitely allowed my mother some quality time, because she was very sick while hospitalized with the pleural and pericardial effusion. But she has recovered well, so no one really knows how long. One doctor told us one month, and we're past that point. God keeps telling me that it's His plan, so don't worry about the estimated time frame that the doctors may give because they don't know. Another doctor told my father and I that we were in denial and didn't realize the seriousness of her condition. God told me not to worry, because He was in control. God has taken my worries and burdens, and allowed me to cast my cares on Him.

Once your mom's doctors have given you the options and proposed treatment plan, you can decide how to proceed, while keeping your mom's wishes and her best interest in mind. The doctors will keep in consideration what is best for her keeping in mind that she has copd and that she is weak.

What is your mom's normal weight?

tp

[carolyn]

Thanks for replying TP---My moms normal weight is approx 110, she is at 75-80 right now. She has no appetite and says nothing has any flavor. Her sleeping has increased drastically. My mom, until a year ago, walked 6 miles a day and did all her own gardening. She lives alone and takes care of her household.It is so hard to see her so weak after being so strong for so long. Thanks again for your comments.
sincerely, carolyn

[thinkpink]

Yes, that's a considerable drop from her normal weight.

What about the nutritional supplements such as Ensure?

The doctor told us to give my mom Glucerna (the diabetic counterpart of Ensure) at least twice a day. But her apetite has remained good, so she has not been drinking them often at the present time.

I know it's hard to see your Mom's health deteriorate, and I know she doesn't want to lose her independence. Try to focus on helping her to get stronger (mentally, emotionally and physically) so that she can withstand the treatment option that the doctors propose. She is a real trooper, and as active as she was, I know she can do it.

Please keep us posted and update us on the doctor's recommendations.

You and your mom are in my thoughts and prayers, Carolyn! I pray that she start to get stronger with each day.


tp

[melkissa]

I ditto the Ensure. My dad dropped about 60 lbs with his cancer and the only thing he would drink for the longest time was Ensure's fresh out of the freezer. I also agree with every word thinkpink said, especially:
I know it's hard to see your Mom's health deteriorate, and I know she doesn't want to lose her independence. Try to focus on helping her to get stronger (mentally, emotionally and physically) so that she can withstand the treatment option that the doctors propose. She is a real trooper, and as active as she was, I know she can do it.
Good luck!!!

[carolyn]

Thank you guys for all you imput and well wishes. We are home now and getting set up with in home palatable health care. Will be consulting the DR more on treatment plan. Either daily chemo pill or weekly iv chemo. If you have any imput on these please let me know. I am unsure due to my moms age and size if she could withstand the iv chemo. The DR is recommending this, but I am not sure if it is best in our situation. We are
using Boost for nutrition and it does help some.

Thanks again, carolyn

[onecoyote]

Carolyn,
If you post this over on Dr. West's site, he can give you the best information. I think there was a article over there that addresses chemo and the elderly.
Dr Dubey says and I quote, "This study also showed us that chemotherapy did not seem to have a benefit in patients older than the age of 75, though this is a group of patients in whom deaths unrelated to cancer were common, unlike the younger population, so there were "competing risks". She went on to say, "Years of cancer care have provided the guidelines that chemotherapy should be administered only when the performance status is good and not poor. It is this functional status scale that is the most important when making treatment decisions with the elderly, eclipsing the importance of chronologic age."
These doctors are really patient care oriented.

As for the Boost drink, I found a better one that I ordered online called Two-Cal HN. It has almost 500 calories per 8 oz can, is high protein and my husband says it tastes good. Worked wonders when this was all I could get into him. Pass it by your doctor first though.
All the best,
Charlene