Cancer Survivors Network

Hello, my 47 year old wife was recently dx'ed with stage IV NSCLC w/ mass in left lung activity in lymph nodes in chest and mets on liver, adrenal gland on one kidney and several spots on spine, hip and a very small spot in her brain. The mass in her lung is pressing on a nerve and causing her to speak in a whisper. She also has a chordial melanoma in her left eye, which is what started the process of finding the rest of the cancer. 2 days after seeing the oncologyst she was admitted in the hospital for pneumonia. We spent an entire week in the hospital while also getting CT's and MRI's. This was very difficult because she was having such terible pain in her back and hip. It is nearly impossible for her to lay flat due to this pain. We were released for about a week and then admitted again for pneumonia. This time our stay was for 6 days. While in the hospital she lost weight and a lot of her mobility. We were sent home with a schedule of 10 radiation treatments to hopefully ease her pain and gain back strength and mobility. She just finished the radiation treatments this Monday and she is starting chemo on Thursday. I have watched this very active woman diminish to the point that she can barely walk. Some days it seems she is feeling better then she is worse for the next two. She seems so weak and frail I am terrified about her taking chemo! I keep telling her that I am finding more and more people that are surviving this and she can too. I have not worked in over a month and focus on her every need. How long will the side affects of chemo last and what can I do to help her cope? Any advise at all would be helpful.