Hi,
My mother was diagnosed on Wednesday 12/15/04 with small cell lung cancer with her doctor staging it at extensive there are two hotspots on her bone scan which are also old fracture sites and we are awaiting further e-xays for possible clairification. The doctor has given my mother 18 months. I have read information since her diagnosis which is not very encouraging. Has anyone that has a loved one or known someone who has had longer life expectancy? P

Hi,
My mother was diagnosed on Wednesday 12/15/04 with small cell lung cancer with her doctor staging it at extensive there are two hotspots on her bone scan which are also old fracture sites and we are awaiting further e-xays for possible clairification. The doctor has given my mother 18 months. I have read information since her diagnosis which is not very encouraging. Has anyone that has a loved one or known someone who has had longer life expectancy? P

I am sorry to hear that your mother is ill. A coworker of mine has small-cell cancer but by some miracle they caught it early, is under control and has not spread. She was diagnosed about a year ago.

Everyone is different so doctors cannot give a guarantee on life expectancy. My father has large-cell lung cancer which is normally easily treated and slow growing but it has already spread to his brain and it's only been 4 months since his diagnosis. The doctor only expects him to live for another 3 or 4 months at best. The cancer in his lung responded well to chemo and radiation and is just about gone but they cannot control the tumors in his brain.

I think that how long a person lives depends on their attitude and outlook. I've known others who had different types of cancer who lived well beyond expectation because they refused to give up. My father unfortunately is beyond hope and he now realizes it so he is going downhill pretty fast.

Until your mother gets confirmation on her x-rays and even then, there is always hope. They are coming out with new treatments all the time.
Keep positive and I wish you well :angel:

Hi Willow. I am so sorry that your mother was given this diagnosis. I don't really believe doctors can accurately give any length of time, I think it is more about the persons will to live. My ever so fiesty mom was diagnosed with lung cancer on July 10th 2003 and was given 4-6 months. It is now 17 months later and we still have her. Though I know we are now very near to the end, I am so very grateful for the time we have been given. All I can say is, take full advantage of the precious time you have left with your mom. God Bless.