Metastisis

oldestof4
oldestof4 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2014 in Lung Cancer #1
My mother is 79, a very respectible age and was diagnosed with Stage IIIB NSCLC July 30th. She has been through Chemo and radiation treatments. We discovered a mass on head about 5 weeks. A MRI was done Monday and the news was "be prepared". I take that means it has metastisized to her brain. I guess my questions are, is it also in her bones since the mass can be seen and what is the usual prognosis? I may be on the wrong discussion board and if you all could direct me I would appreciate it. Just trying to find answers since I am the caregiver.

Thank you

Comments

  • nanaof7
    nanaof7 Member Posts: 127
    #2
    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong
  • nanaof7
    nanaof7 Member Posts: 127
    #3
    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong
  • nanaof7
    nanaof7 Member Posts: 127
    #4
    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong
  • nanaof7
    nanaof7 Member Posts: 127
    #5
    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong
  • nanaof7
    nanaof7 Member Posts: 127
    #6
    nanaof7 said:

    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong

    sorry about duplicates
    comp froze for a minute when it came back these extra posts were made does anyone know how to delete them?
  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    #7
    nanaof7 said:

    sorry about duplicates
    comp froze for a minute when it came back these extra posts were made does anyone know how to delete them?

    It's happened to us all, Nana
    I don't know if anyone of us has ever figured out how to fix it, but probably Greta could. Or you could just leave them, we all know how easily it happens ;-)
  • oldestof4
    oldestof4 Member Posts: 4
    #8
    nanaof7 said:

    I also have NSCL with brain
    I also have NSCL with brain mets I had whole brain radiation and am on tarceva 2 of my tumors are gone and the other one is 1/3 the size I was told I am stage 4 but feel great and going strong

    Metastasis
    Thank you so much for your reply. Found out after post, the mass was confirmed. The chemo for lung caused the tumor to "shrink" and radiation was not an option on lungs again. The MRI confirmed mets to the bone, the one we noticed and another on the other side of occipital bone. The onc wanted to send her to radiation again. I didn't want to until we found out if that was the only tumor. PET scan results are tomorrow.
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #9
    oldestof4 said:

    Metastasis
    Thank you so much for your reply. Found out after post, the mass was confirmed. The chemo for lung caused the tumor to "shrink" and radiation was not an option on lungs again. The MRI confirmed mets to the bone, the one we noticed and another on the other side of occipital bone. The onc wanted to send her to radiation again. I didn't want to until we found out if that was the only tumor. PET scan results are tomorrow.

    Radiation
    You may want to talk to the doctor about the purpose of radiation. Sometimes they zap the tumor to try to destroy it and get rid of cancer. Sometimes, even when they know that will not stop the advancement of cancer because the cancer is showing up in many places, the doctors use radiation to zap a spot of cancer in a particular spot to shrink it so it will relieve pain. I only mention that because it sounds like you are wondering if radiation would be worth it if there are other tumors.
  • oldestof4
    oldestof4 Member Posts: 4
    #10
    cabbott said:

    Radiation
    You may want to talk to the doctor about the purpose of radiation. Sometimes they zap the tumor to try to destroy it and get rid of cancer. Sometimes, even when they know that will not stop the advancement of cancer because the cancer is showing up in many places, the doctors use radiation to zap a spot of cancer in a particular spot to shrink it so it will relieve pain. I only mention that because it sounds like you are wondering if radiation would be worth it if there are other tumors.

    Metastasis
    Thank you...mom elected to use radiation to keep the brain from swelling. She dose have more tumores in ribs bilaterally and mets to the brain. The radiation is 5 days only however, I didn't know it would make her so sick. I always thaought the cheo was doing that. Our next step is to decide for ore chemo, or become part of the medication trials. she is soooo sick and tired from this, but is afraid to go to sleep. I just want to help ut am unsure how. Any suggestions?
  • cabbott
    cabbott Member Posts: 1,039 Member
    #11
    oldestof4 said:

    Metastasis
    Thank you...mom elected to use radiation to keep the brain from swelling. She dose have more tumores in ribs bilaterally and mets to the brain. The radiation is 5 days only however, I didn't know it would make her so sick. I always thaought the cheo was doing that. Our next step is to decide for ore chemo, or become part of the medication trials. she is soooo sick and tired from this, but is afraid to go to sleep. I just want to help ut am unsure how. Any suggestions?

    You are helping
    You are helping just by being there during this difficult time. It is very difficult to decide whether to continue actively treating cancer with chemo and radition or decide it is time to stop. The doctors will try to do whatever the patient decides. When I have to make a tough decision, I try to get all the information I can, pros and cons. Then I make the best decision I can. The doctors have the information about how effective further treatment will be and what the side effects are likely to be. Sometimes the best decision is to continue with chemo, surgery, and radiation. Sometimes patients decide it is time to stop with that and just do palitive treatment aimed at relieving pain and increasing the quality of their life. If she decides to stop treatment, please ask the doctor about hospice support. Hospice is a program that provides counseling, medical assistance, and other support for folks and their loved ones when the doctors believe they are at the end of their life. You don't have to go through this all by yourself. Even if she decides not to quit treatment at this time, you might call hospice just so you can talk to them about what you are experiencing and what might help. A medical social worker at your mom's hospital could also give you the name of some agencies that can help you and your mom. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
  • oldestof4
    oldestof4 Member Posts: 4
    #12
    cabbott said:

    You are helping
    You are helping just by being there during this difficult time. It is very difficult to decide whether to continue actively treating cancer with chemo and radition or decide it is time to stop. The doctors will try to do whatever the patient decides. When I have to make a tough decision, I try to get all the information I can, pros and cons. Then I make the best decision I can. The doctors have the information about how effective further treatment will be and what the side effects are likely to be. Sometimes the best decision is to continue with chemo, surgery, and radiation. Sometimes patients decide it is time to stop with that and just do palitive treatment aimed at relieving pain and increasing the quality of their life. If she decides to stop treatment, please ask the doctor about hospice support. Hospice is a program that provides counseling, medical assistance, and other support for folks and their loved ones when the doctors believe they are at the end of their life. You don't have to go through this all by yourself. Even if she decides not to quit treatment at this time, you might call hospice just so you can talk to them about what you are experiencing and what might help. A medical social worker at your mom's hospital could also give you the name of some agencies that can help you and your mom. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Metastisis
    Thank you all for the encouraging words. I apologize for not answering sooner, but have been busy with things as a child you never think about and as an adult, others will take care of it. We went through the radiation again and was unsuccessful. We have been told by both onc drs the only option was to try clinical trials...can't do that as she is too weak and side effects are unknown. Her morphine has been doubled and she is on steroids and a medication to increase her appetite. So we go back on Monday and will get an order for hospice. Have tried to explain to dad, however at 80, he can't quite grasp the situation...his concern was a "hospital bed" being moved in. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, we will take them all. I know there is a reason for everything and have resolved my issues (most of the time) with my higher power, wouldn't it be nice though, if we could for just a minute see the reason? I truly pray for all of you going through this whether it is a friend, family member or yourself.

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