IV Lung

lcortezsb
lcortezsb Member Posts: 1
I have a friend whoever is battling stage 4 lung cancer. She e has been battlis 47 years old. She was recently told that she had a tumor in her upper abdomen. She has been battling this since October. When she was first diagnosed it was two small tumors. With chemo one has since one tumor is shinking the other is now scar tissue with new bone growth. I would like to know is there more radical treatment she should be trying? My opinion is her doctor is being complacent. She is considered terminal.

Comments

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    Not a death sentence
    Stage 4 cancers are not curable but they can be treated. The cancer can be shrunk to the point that she become NED (no evidence of disease). Much depends on where the tumor is in the lungs and where the metastases are located. There are individuals with this disease stage who come out of treatment to climb mountains or ride bikes on 40 mile trips. There is one man at inspire.com who has lived with stage 4 cancer for 13+ years and survived 2 rounds of brain metastases. They may be the exceptions but I hear more stories like them. There are people who work and those who can't. I can walk 3 miles without stopping. I passed my projected expiration dates 13 months ago.

    To help us help you, there is some information that we need to know. First you indicate stage 4 which makes it non-small cell lung cancer, but can you find out if it is adenocarcinoma, bronchioavular carcinoma (BAC), large cell or squamous cell carcinoma. Second, ask whether or not they tested for genetic mutations. There are targeted therapies for some of the known mutations which act better than some of the other chemos. Next, what kind of treatment has your friend had: what kind of chemo? radiation? Where in the abdomen is the tumor? The liver? adrenal glands? kidneys?

    Knowing the info I am requesting will help me and others recommend more aggressive treatments. Also, is she seeing a lung cancer specialist? If not, she should see someone for a second opinion, preferably at a comprehensive cancer center.

    Best regards,
    Denny
  • Dapsterd
    Dapsterd Member Posts: 291
    WELL
    wELL I DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS......I DO KNOW GET THE BEST HELP AND LIVE FOR TODAY....IT MAY BE WHAT WE HAVE....CANCER OR NOT. eVERYTHING IS FOR A REASON IN GODS WORLD...ALOT OF PEOPLE WILL LEARN FROM THIS.....PEOPLE WILL LEARN FROM THIS BUT THE PERSON AFFLICTED MAY NOT LEARN IN THEIR LIFETIME...


    i AM GOING OVER TWO YRS WITH STAGE Iv..AND THERE ARE ALOT OT THERE WITH 5+ YRS.....SO KEEP CHIN UP!


    dAVE---BEST WISHES