New...my mom...many questions - Cancer: Lung Message Board

minisgirl · 12-22-2004, 10:59 AM

Hi all,
First of all my prayers and warm wishes for all members of this board..to the brave patients and their caregivers.
Forgive me if I'm not up to date with the lingo and abbreviations yet, unfortunately I will be soon. I think I will be an active poster, so thanks in advance.My Mom (76 years old, severe COPD, on oxyen therapy...but not using it enough! Still smoking! ) was diagnosed last week with NSC (I think). She went to the Dr's appointment, I thought Dad would go in with her. Dr told her after CAT, PET and biopsy that the small grape size tumor in her lung is cancer, but "the better of the two kinds. Slow growing". He told her she could have had it for years. I have to assume it's NSC, but will confirm. Also according to Mom, the Dr said the PET scan showed only that one spot in her whole body. She has her first onocologist (spelling?) appointment tomorrow. I have questions:
1) should I ask to go with? should I ask to go in to see the Dr? My Dad will probably tell me not too.
2) Will the PET scan show spread in the entire body (I know they did the brain, upper body). Would it pick up any spread at all? Mom has had some back trouble in the past 1 1/2 years with vertebrae fractures..would the PET scan pick up bone, spine spread?
3) Mom's lung Dr recommended radiation only. Mom is a fragile 88lbs. She is just tiny (slightly under 5 feet). She doesn't eat much (hasn't for 10 years) and is very picky with food. She is very short of breath (COPD and/or cancer) and can't do much activity-wise. I'm so concerned about her treatment making her weaker and hurting her appetite even more. Yet I want her to have treatment. Is there any drug the Dr can give her now for increasing appetite??
Also what do you think about radiation only? What if the onocologist recommends chemo and radiation, should we object?
4) Will the onocologist tell us the stage of the cancer? Should we ask?
5) What about ace-II inhibitors (not sure if thats what they are called?) I know the news on them lately. Any one use them for lung cancer?
So many questions, I'm sure I'll have more!

On the positive side, my Dad (almost 80) had NSC lung cancer surgery in 1997. No spread prior to surgery. No radiation or chemo at all. He's doing fine!
Thanks much in advance,
Mini's Girl

mephoto · 12-23-2004, 10:52 AM

Hi Minisgirl,

I am so sorry to hear about your mom. Your mom is very lucky to have a daughter like you...I did the same thing when my dad was first diagnosed, I researched and came here for information.

I don't have the answers to all of your questions, but I have a little advice for you after going through this sinero with my dad last year. First I would suggest definately going with your mom to her appts. Go to all you can with her. Even if your parents say not to, tell them you want to. Bring a notebook and write everything down that the doctor tells you. You should write down questions before you go also...what type of cancer do I have....what stage of cancer do I have....what are the treatment options for this type/stage of cancer...get all the information you can. You will be able to research this info in medical books, online, or just come here and ask for help. There are many people here who can help you. I hope this helped a little.

Please keep us posted, my prayers will be with you and your mom during this difficult time. I also found it helped my dad when I stayed strong for him. As hard as it was, I really believed this helped him through his treatments. Words of encouragement always helped.
K.

minisgirl · 12-27-2004, 11:45 AM

Hi,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply! I wanted to update on Mom's first Onocoligist (I will learn how to spell this) appointment last week. First off I asked Mom if she wanted me to go in with her. She said No, because she said she would feel inhibited to not ask questions or answer the Dr as she wanted to. I can understand this. So Mom went in alone, Dad stayed in waiting room. I knew the info Mom would come out with would be limited. I am concerned that she heard what "she wanted" to hear and is not relaying the whole story. Does anyone have ideas or similar situation as this? Will the Dr talk to me if I call her about Mom? So Mom said that the Dr said that she does have NSC lung cancer. A "contained spot about the size of a nickel in her upper left lobe. No spread - per the PET scan. Is inoperable due to Mom's fragile condition (severe COPD). Radiation should take care of it. If not then they will try chemo- concerned about chemo due to Mom's weight (87 lbs)" Per the Dr (per Mom) "they'll get rid of this with radiation. You won't die from this, you'll die from something else." About Mom still smoking, the Dr agreed that right now is not the best time to quit because Mom will need her "crutch". Mom doesn't want to quit, but says she is thinking about it. Mom forgot to ask the stage of the cancer. They took blood and chest x-rays (again). She is suposed to see the radiation Dr at another facility next week to determine actual treatment, which will be 5 days a week for 4 weeks. She is to see the Onocoligist again in 4 weeks. So that all sounds really positive..should I take it with a grain of salt or should I try to confirm all this? I have some more questions, but I might start a new post to address them. Any comments or replys welcome. I am very into web-research and reading all I can on this. I am just beginning my studies.

susieq0726 · 12-27-2004, 12:31 PM

My aunt suffered from the same type of lung cancer. Slow growing and in the same place, but her tumor was the size of a lemon. They operated on her and took out the lope where the cancer was located. She had radiation and chemo too.
She continued to smoke for awhile though she did cut down on the number of cigarettes she smoked. Eventually the chemo made her sick and as a result, so did the cigarettes. She quit smoking altogether after awhile.
My aunt's cancer unfortunately re-occurred in another part of her lungs.

mgburgess205 · 01-02-2005, 06:24 PM

Hi,
I'm sorry it took me so long to talk to you. I truly am sorry about your Mom. I also think that you should go in with your Mom even if she protests. It is so hard to hear all that they say. it took both of us to recall what we heard each time. sometimes, I took things differently than my husband. We would discuss it afterwards.
My husband is doing great, we are still trying to get rid of some fluid in his lung. All our reports have been great, though. The Lord truly blessed us.
Please let me know if I can help in any way.
God Bless,
Gail