cancer-lung lining

powerade1
powerade1 Member Posts: 1
in Lung Cancer #1
my 50 yr. old daughter in-law has just been diagnosed with adrenal lung cancer. the dr. said it is terminal with about 1 yr. life prognosis. he, further stated that with the experimental drug he has prescribed some patients are still alive after three years. she is not eligible for surgery or radiation, only chemo. the diagnosis was made only today. the treatment seems so limited. if anyone knows anything about this type cancer i would greatly appreciate any advise or suggestions. thank you. bob mcneil the cancer is in the lung lining

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  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #2
    Glad you found us, sorry for the need that drives you
    When the diagnosis is cancer, a lot of information comes at us in a very short period of time when we are at our lowest possible point for absorbing anything BUT the word cancer. I am prefacing my response that way because I want to ask you if she has adrenal cancer with lung mets or lung cancer with adrenal mets. Of the three types of carcinomas associated with the adrenal glands one, neuroblastoma is found almost exclusively in children; two pheochromocytomas and adrenal cortical carcinomas (very rare approx. 300 per year) are usually found in women of your daughters age. Most adrenal tumors have metastasized from other (primary) tumors, most frequently lung cancer.

    From what you describe I suspect it is a lung primary. Each lobe of the lung is surrounded by a pleural cavity, which consists of two pleurae. The parietal pleura lies against the rib cage, and the visceral pleura lies on the surface of the lungs. In between the pleura is pleural fluid. If the cancer is in the pleura it may also be found in the pleural fluid. If it is in the fluid it is called a malignant effusion. I may be corrected for stating this (feel free anyone) the pleura may be too thin or malleable to irradiate.

    To help us help you better see if you can find out if it is small-cell, non-small or other large cell cancer. If sm cell, are they calling it extensive (most likely) or limited. If non-small cell, what type of cancer is it? Did they take a large enough sample that they can submit it for mutation testing? Did they submit it? What is the experimental chemo he prescribed?

    Don't worry if you can't answer all of the questions at once. There is so much info to share depending on the type of cancer and the chemo.

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