Next step - see the oncologist

I answered a similar question posed by jamilou on a thread that is on page 2. Since then, I don't think I have anything more to add.

You should ask anything that you may be curious about. Aging of the cancer cells (are they mature or immature). Spread of cancer to which other parts. Treatment options.

If you're prepared with the research on the latest treatments (e.g., thermal ablation), you might want to ask the oncologist if you're a good candidate for that type of treatment. There are some interesting techniques that aren't invasive and poses no harm to healthy cells. But as a late stage cancer patient, many of them may not be suitable for you. Nevertheless, you should ask.

Good luck!

Ned-- I will pray for you as you enter treatment, and wish you the very best. We're glad to have you here-- hope we will help you along the way!

recce101 said:

Thanks, kaitek. I printed out the other response you mentioned.

Ned

Hey Ned,

I forgot exactly all the questions I suggested earlier, but in thinking about the meetings and talks I had with my mom's oncologist and a nurse practioner who aided in her surgery, I appreciated learning certain aspects about her cancer - if not just for awareness.

1. Size of the tumor and all the locations. I read someone's (whom the name escapes me) account of her cancer and she noted exactly how many lymph nodes were affected. We weren't told that. I'm not sure it is countable. I may ask that when my mom's treatments are over when I may want to know more details of what she had to fight against.

2. The age of the cancerous cells. Of course, it is the oncologist's opinion and estimation of the age. But it was important information since it let us know how long my mom had the cancer (though it may take years to develop). Most relevant is that the oncologist said that because the cancer cells were immature, they were susceptible and extremely sensitive to chemo. The oncologist wasn't particularly encouraging or positive in our initial meeting (because he is strictly clinical and factual), so I took that revelation as the one statement I could hang our hopes on.

3. Radiation or not. I read a lot of people who undergo both radiation and chemo. When I had asked my mom's oncologist, he thought radiation would be too damaging. I know for a fact without the evidence of a CT scan that chemo alone has been working for my mom. Practically all her physical disabilities from the cancer early on have vanished or waned.

I would be curious if you had the EGFR mutation. That can be tested for. For me, knowing if my mom has the mutation may give more hope that there are other effective drugs taking advantage of that mutation. But as I've mentioned before, not having the EGFR mutation shouldn't conversely mean that recovery is impossible. That was what my mom's thoracic surgeon stressed to us.

There are a lot of new therapies that attack the vulnerabilities of cancer cells, such as to heat. They appear to be free of side effects. But they seem more viable for early cancers than late ones. You should nevertheless read up the latest cancer news on the University of Florida Shand Cancer Center site or other sites that post cancer news. It's quite interesting the drugs that are effective for certain people and in what combinations.

Hope your meeting goes well.