Lung Cancer

[livingwith]

My Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2007. She is a two year breast cancer survivor. During a routine check-up (chest x-ray), her doctor discovered a spot on her lung. At first we thought the breast cancer had metastisized to the lung, but after tests it was determined to be lung cancer (III-B non small cell)
My Mom has smoked cigarettes for over 40 years, though not a heavy smoker for the last 10 or so. She quit after the breast cancer diagnosis, but later began to smoke several ...Read the full article

[jmickey]

First, I want to say that I am very sorry to hear of your mom's diagnosis. My mom was recently diagnosed with stage 4 small cell lung cancer. She smoked for over 32 years. She has now quit too.

It is important that your mom eat and drink. I have found that there is a cook book "Lifeline Cookbook for Cancer" (or something close to that title). It can be found on Amazon.com. It has very helpful recipes to help your mom eat and, at the same time, take care of her sickness and symptoms. I got my mom this book for Christmas. I have heard nothing but success from those who follow the cookbook receipes.

As far as the chemo, I can understand your concerns about the quality of life. I don't know how it is in your mom's case, but I have found that good oncologists are very determined in what they do and want to find that cure for lung cancer. The only advice that we had been given was "listen to the professionals". Their determination can give you great hope.

Keep the hope. I hope this helps.

[nkalisch]

How is your mother today.... is she responding well to the treatment? I hate to sound so intrusive, did they give your mother a certain time to live? My mother is also diagnosed with this monster and it has also spread to her organs. I am in the "waiting" stage and the only thing that is keeping me from going crazy is by ready stories in hopes of finding a successful one.

[Josan]

Hi

I am so sorry to hear what you are going through, I am there myself, My mother was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer stage 4 on Dec 4th 2006, been a hectic two years so far. She has just finished her second round of chemo and CT scan shows again the tumour has shrunk by 50% and some of the cells have disappeared all together, this was two weeks ago and again we wait? its a waiting game all the way.

If you would like to reply and chat further please feel free, I am sure we have alot to share and learn and support each other with our knowledge, these times are not easy but we are not alone. Cancer hits the families the hardest.

All the best

Josan

[jmickey]

My mom was labeled in remission around the November/December 2007 timeframe; however, I am not sure what they consider "remission" as they were then going to begin targeted radiation on her lung because a small tumor was still showing on the scan. When she went in for the radiation she also found they were targeting two areas: her lung and her spine as there was a leison found on her spine. They did radiation in January. It finished up 2/22/08 (I believe), but that weekend after her last appointment, she found another tumor on her neck (lymph node). Now the doctor feels this is where it began, rather than her lung. They're giving her topotecan (Sp?) chemo now. It will be 3 weeks of it on Monday. It is making her very sick and she is not eating well.