Lung cancer?

Have any of you had a relative or someone you know diagnosted with lung cancer? Can you tell me about it? (i.e. diagnosis, treatment, prognosis).

Thanks.

Re: Lung cancer?

My Uncle had (has?) lung cancer. He was about 65 when diagnosed. He had the cancerous tissue successfully removed. Started chemo but reacted violently to it and lost too much weight. Now he is on a two year program taking pills instead ( I forget if he is on radiation pills or chemo pills ) and he is doing great. He developed osteoporosis from the medication so he breaks things easily and he lost a lot of weight BUT he works as a barber every single day and he has about six months left of treatment!

Re: Lung cancer?

FM

Message edited 6/27/2008 3:31:14 PM.

Re: Lung cancer?

I lost my mom to lung cancer this past November.

She was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer back in June of 2006 which also was spread to the brain. She did chemo for the lung and radiation for the brain.

It was a roller coaster ride as to her condition. For a while we thought she was going to beat it as the legions in the lung were shrinking and we thought the legions in the brain were pretty much dead.

But unfortunately they came back in September of 07 and she got really bad a few weeks before she passed. It was like one day she was great telling me stories and such, and the next day she could barely speak and couldn't move her arms.

I still don't know what really happened during those two days, probably something in the brain got bad. Maybe she had some sort of a seizure. If the cancer would have stayed in the lung she probably would have beaten it.

Cancer sucks.

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My father was diagnosed about three and a half years ago. When it was caught, it had spread into his neck. He underwent agressive chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumors, and then had surgery. He did lose part of one lung, but thankfully he has been cancer free ever since. If you need any more info, please let me know.

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My mother had lung cancer 7 years ago that spread to the brain. Stage 4 and they told her she had 6 months to live.

Luckily both tumors (lung and brain) were operable, so she went ahead with that. Also, luckily no lymph nodes were involved. They got both tumors out completely and she did a month and a half of radiation to the brain (just as preventative).

7 years later... she's still cancer free.

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My great aunt was just diagnosed with it this week.

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my grandfather had it back in like 2000/2001. i'm not sure what stage he was at when they found it, but he didn't respond well to the chemo. he blood cells counts were always off and they had to keep putting off is chemo treatments. it ended up spreading to his brain and he passed away about a year after being diagnosed.

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oh no Beth..dad?

Hang in there...if so he can beat it.

If not, I'm sorry for whomever does have it.

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My Grandma was in the hosptial b/c she hurt her back and when they did an x-ray, they found she had lung cancer! Luckily, it was just a small spot on her lungs and they were able to remove it and she didn't need chemo or radiation. That was about 7 years ago and to date, she is still ok.

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My mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, but was she waited too late to tell anyone of the signs she had.

We think she was sick at least a year prior and kept quiet. One day in Oct/Nov. 2001 she was undressing infront of my father.. and he noticed these huge lumps on her... She had been wearing things prior to hide them. Then my father made her get testing.. they biopsy these lumps and they were cancer in the lymph nodes, right before christmas she was admitted to the hospital with 6months to live. Then after hospital did testing.. They found out the cancer started in the lung but now it was everywhere.. Brain/blood/lymph nodes/gastro.. then they told us she had a few weeks. My mother did not know any of this, she thought we didnt want to take her home and got mad at us. Now it was Jan. when finally we told the doc to tell her.. That was Wed, thursday she wanted all of us to come see her. Friday at 5am I woke up and then the phone rang we got the call that she had passed away.

I believe if my mother had told us when she first started not feeling well.. things would be different. I feel like a failure of a daughter for not looking out for her.

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Beth, I FMd you, but figured I'd post on here as well, in case you don't check your FMs right away. I hope this isn't about your dad. If it is, what hospital is he in? Is there any other info you have- maybe someone on here might know of a good dr for this. Sending your dad lots of and you lots of . Please know I'm here for you

Re: Lung cancer?

I'm sorry I didn't follow up earlier - thank you everyone for your responses.

Yes, it is my father. They aren't exactly saying it's lung cancer, more like lung metastasis - which basically means there is a cancer in his body which metastisized and traveled to his lungs. At least, this is what the attending at his hospital said this morning - that it's "likely" that this is what it is. So, he referred my father to the oncologist at the hospital.

But then we saw the oncologist later today who said it's not definite, that they cannot diagnose my father unless they actually SEE cancerous tissue in his body. They said it could still be an infection - they just do not know, so they are doing another cat scan to see if they can find something.

There is a cyst on his pancreas but that's been there for like 5 years and hasn't grown significantly.

So basically I don't know what to think. My head is just pounding at this point.

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my grandmother had it but she had the "good" kind (i think it's called non-small cell carcinoma) - she had a tumor about 1cm in diameter in her right middle lobe. they removed the lobe and she did not need any further treatment except routine CT scans.

sorry i can't be more help

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My uncle died from lung cancer 2 years ago. He never smoked a day in his life, but spent mopst of his time in a bar hanging with his friends. He had a pain in his shoulder for months and finally went tot he doctor and was diagnosed, yet too late. He passed a few months later.

My aunt, was a lifelong smoker. She began losing weight and had a bad cough. She too succumbed after a year or so.

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My uncle, a longtime smoker, died in 2005 at age 50. But I do not believe he had to die. He was diagnosed with stage 3A cancer in one lung that had not spread. He went through chemo but it didn't shrink it all that much, so they decided to remove the lung. Many people live long lives with one lung, and his surgery was successful. But you have to really want to live. My uncle was so depressed that he didn't exercise as instructed and his lung filled with water, and one problem led to another, and eventually he died. From diagnosis to the day he died was 10 months.

However, I also worked with someone in his 50's who was diagnosed with Stage 4 back in 2000. They gave him a few months to live. However, he never thought he would die. He went through chemo and had his lung removed and did everything he could to survive. Last time I heard about him, sometime last year, he had really mastered his golf game.

Not to sound hokey, but I just think a patient with a positive attitude is a very powerful tool. So hang in there and have faith.

Message edited 6/27/2008 10:03:47 PM.

Re: Lung cancer?

First of all, Beth, I'm so sorry. I know how much you care, both emotionally and physcially, for your father.

My grandmother passed from it. Ironically, she had not smoked in 30 + years but was around smoke from taking care of her mother. In early 2006, she had this persistent cough that she kept blaming on inhaling something when they sprayed the yard. Mother's Day...still the cough. July brought her to the hospital with pneumonia. She found out then, but only my grandfather and mom knew. In August, late August, we found out b/c she was back in the hospital with pneumonia again and this time, she came home with hospice. She passed in October of 2006. she went for no treatment b/c she didn't want it. She didn't want to subject her body to it with the best case scenario being 2 years in pain. I miss her.

Anyway, I will keep you guys in my thoughts. I wish you so much love!

Re: Lung cancer?

My FIL was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had a large mass (size of a baseball) in his chest. It was causing his esophagus to deviate. At the time of his diagnosis, the cancer had not spread to other organs but was in some of his lymph nodes. He passed away 1.5 years after his diagnosis. He went through chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries. When he was diagnosed, he was in stage 3B.

But there are different kinds of lung cancer so the results can be different for everyone.

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I just wanted to offer

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You have FM

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There is a lot of great info and people on this website. There are boards for specific types of lung cancer and family members etc. Lung Cancer Boards

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My mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in September 2005. She passed away in October 2005 after her first round of radiation. She did not die from cancer, but rather from the pneumonia she caught due to her supressed immune system after radiation.

To be honest though - my mother had no real desire to live. She missed my father and his name was on her lips when she died.

Each story has a different ending Beth - it depends on the author. Hang in there.

Message edited 6/28/2008 10:17:45 AM.

Re: Lung cancer?

Oh I'm so sorry Beth

My FIL had stage 2 colon cancer 5 years ago and it was in remission until 2 years ago almost to the day - when it spread to his lungs - He had several golf ball size nodules removed and then there were too many additional ones to remove - He has been doing chemo now for 2 years straight - and is still going every two weeks and is doing experimental treatments. Honestly he won't tell DH or BIL how he is really doing and he hasn't seen DH or BIL in almost a year. Our understanding is that the chemo is not making him better but is keeping him alive - (the nodels haven't shrunk but they haven't grown either).

Again I'm so sorry