Last months

rcooney905
rcooney905 Member Posts: 2
in Lung Cancer #1
I have small cell lung cancer. I have gone through five rounds of Chemo and I also had radiation treatment. I would like to plan my future as much as possible. Is there someone that can tell me about the final few months of this illness, or is there somewhere I can go for that information. I know this is a difficult subject and I hope I have not offended anyone. Thanks.

Comments

  • Renaboom
    Renaboom Member Posts: 4
    #2
    Hope
    I would say put your faith in God. Second, there is always hope. I was dx with stage 4 lung cancer this past July and am fighting hard when some days I feel like I can't... I know there are others that suffered harder and longer so don't give up hope. No one can plan their future... One day at a time, we don't know what tomorrow brings. I will pray in hope and faith for you. God bless.
    Rena
  • Radioactive34
    Radioactive34 Member Posts: 391 Member
    #3
    You know there is always
    You know there is always faith and hope that we will survive longer but the not knowing makes things almost unbearable. I remember being diagnosed and thinking "OK, I might die sooner rather than later. I can deal with it. I just want an expiration date so I can plan for it." No doctor can give me an expiration date.

    My mother in law died of a form of lung cancer. Technically her death certificate said cancer but the chemo/radiation did her in much faster. Once she quit radiation and chemo her quality of life was much better. Her last days were not bad. She was able to talk and chat. She played poker with the grandkids. Once she went onto hospice she went quick....maybe 2-3 weeks. That was her timeline. Those last weeks she was difficult to care for at home, so she decided to go to a nursing home. Which was a good thing because she got so much more social interaction and better pain management. She also had round the clock nurses.

    I asked my oncologist how fast I would die without treatment. He advised he had a patient who opted for quality of life versus treatment. The patient died in 2-4 months. I was reading some studies and it meshed with what he was saying.

    I will be completely honest. I hope and pray to live a long life, but with an 80% reoccurrence rate, that long life may be shorter. I have made my wishes known to my family. I hope to go fast and as painless as possible.

    By no means am I giving up, but to ignore the reality of the illness is not logical. I hope this helps. Hospice might be able to give you a better picture.
  • rcooney905
    rcooney905 Member Posts: 2
    #4
    Radioactive34 said:

    You know there is always
    You know there is always faith and hope that we will survive longer but the not knowing makes things almost unbearable. I remember being diagnosed and thinking "OK, I might die sooner rather than later. I can deal with it. I just want an expiration date so I can plan for it." No doctor can give me an expiration date.

    My mother in law died of a form of lung cancer. Technically her death certificate said cancer but the chemo/radiation did her in much faster. Once she quit radiation and chemo her quality of life was much better. Her last days were not bad. She was able to talk and chat. She played poker with the grandkids. Once she went onto hospice she went quick....maybe 2-3 weeks. That was her timeline. Those last weeks she was difficult to care for at home, so she decided to go to a nursing home. Which was a good thing because she got so much more social interaction and better pain management. She also had round the clock nurses.

    I asked my oncologist how fast I would die without treatment. He advised he had a patient who opted for quality of life versus treatment. The patient died in 2-4 months. I was reading some studies and it meshed with what he was saying.

    I will be completely honest. I hope and pray to live a long life, but with an 80% reoccurrence rate, that long life may be shorter. I have made my wishes known to my family. I hope to go fast and as painless as possible.

    By no means am I giving up, but to ignore the reality of the illness is not logical. I hope this helps. Hospice might be able to give you a better picture.

    Last Months
    Thank you. You have been very helpful.
  • Happy22
    Happy22 Member Posts: 18
    #5
    My heart goes out to you. We
    My heart goes out to you. We are still new with this cancer thing. I found a site called About.com - Lung cancer. It detailed it pretty well - May God watch over you always.
  • Happy22
    Happy22 Member Posts: 18
    #6
    Renaboom said:

    Hope
    I would say put your faith in God. Second, there is always hope. I was dx with stage 4 lung cancer this past July and am fighting hard when some days I feel like I can't... I know there are others that suffered harder and longer so don't give up hope. No one can plan their future... One day at a time, we don't know what tomorrow brings. I will pray in hope and faith for you. God bless.
    Rena

    Rena
    You couldn't have said it better. My hubby was diagnosed 7/2011. We trust God to guie us
    and try to count each day as a blessing.
    Chris

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