Lung Cancer

[Guest]

My mom was having problems with memory loss and the doctor's couldn't figure out what was causing her loss. On a whim the doctor took a xray of my mom's chest and saw a mass on her lung really close to a major artery. She had a biopsy and they found it to be malignent. She has smoked most of her life but recently quit about 3 monthes ago. She is 57 years old. Her doctor has informed my dad that he could remove the one lung and she could live on the other one with oxogen for a good 5+ years but, before he even opened her up and put her through all that he needed to take test/scan on her brain and liver if all clear then he would take a test/scan on her lympthnoids(I guess that is it)and if that was clear he would proceed if not he wouldn't and she would have 6 monthes or less. Is this all sounding right? And is my father wording all this right? I am scared and trying to cope since she lives in Lake Havasu City Arizona and I live in Saint Petersburg Florida. Please help me to understand what all this means.Thank You.My mom is refusing chemo

[Guest]

It is mostly correct. Patients diagnosed with lung cancer do need to have tests like a CT scan of the head and liver to see if the cancer has spread. this helps determine if surgery is appropriate and what treatment to give. the lifespan of 5+ years vs. 6 months or less is very individual and may not be exact for your mom. the most important thing is for her to be treated by a doctor who specialized in lung cancer. that way you can be sure she is getting the best therapy and advice.
[quote] My mom was having problems with memory loss and the doctor's couldn't figure out what was causing her loss. On a whim the doctor took a xray of my mom's chest and saw a mass on her lung really close to a major artery... [/quote]