Small Cell Cancer - Cancer: Lung Message Board

Betty Morgan · 07-31-2001, 09:35 PM

My mom is 82, has had small cell lung cancer for about a year, and recently opted to not take chemo anymore. What can we expect to happen here. What is the time she will have. I realize there are not absolutes--we just don't know what to do or to expect. She is very tired. Is there help for this?

rosalita100us · 08-01-2001, 05:31 PM

i am sorry to tell you when it comes back she will go pretty quick about 4 weeks. just make sure it dosen't go to the brain. get hospice involved. usally hospice comes in when a patient has 6 months or less. they will be a huge asset to you.

Betty Morgan · 08-01-2001, 09:05 PM

Thanks Rosalita. I appreciate your being straightforward. How do we know if it goes to her brain. Are there certain tell-tale signs or some way to tell. We do plan to call in hospice.

rosalita100us · 08-03-2001, 06:43 AM

She might get headaches or slur her speech or have coordination problems. The only reason I say that is my mother died of small cell and it went to her brain she lost her ability to communicate. we didn't even know if she was in pain. she didn't get to say the things she wanted to say. her doctor never ordered brain scans just chest xrays rididcouus.