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Can someone help me understand.....

laynie11
laynie11 CSN Member Posts: 36
in Lung Cancer #1
Ok, my Mom's Large Cell Lung CA, post PET scan, shows mets to the mandible (2/3 eroded away)and a couple "spots" in her back/spine.

She has tested EGFR positive and Alk-1 negative. What does this mean?????

I go to every doctor appointment with my Mom, but there are some questions I don't want to ask him in front of my Mom. I am trying to stay only positive.

Please help, if you can help interpret what the EGFR (positive) & Alk-1 (negative) markers mean. I can take it!!! Just need to know!!!


Thanks, in advance,
Gretchen
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Comments

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks CSN Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #2
    not so good news
    I'll bet mom can handle the news, gretchen. Moms are like that.

    In this case, I would advise that mets to the specified places are not good things for mom. I am not a doctor and did not have mets from lungs to those places, but generally, metastatis is not something you want to hear, especially at the status and locations you suggested.

    Ask doc, so that mom AND YOU and the rest of the family can prepare for the best and the worst. You do not want to be surprised.

    Best wishes to mom and her family.

    Take care,

    Joe
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  • catcon49
    catcon49 CSN Member Posts: 398
    #3
    soccerfreaks said:

    not so good news
    I'll bet mom can handle the news, gretchen. Moms are like that.

    In this case, I would advise that mets to the specified places are not good things for mom. I am not a doctor and did not have mets from lungs to those places, but generally, metastatis is not something you want to hear, especially at the status and locations you suggested.

    Ask doc, so that mom AND YOU and the rest of the family can prepare for the best and the worst. You do not want to be surprised.

    Best wishes to mom and her family.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Gretchen
    I agree with soccerfreaks, write your questions down and definitely ask the doctor, in front of your mother, so she can help decide her treatment plan.

    The EGFR mutation helps to predict the phisiological response to certain drugs for treatments.
    Alk-1 is another mutation. You should also speak to the dr about these. He can help to explain it to you beter than I can.

    I hope everything goes well for you and your mom. Stay in touch.

    cathy
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  • laynie11
    laynie11 CSN Member Posts: 36
    #4
    catcon49 said:

    Gretchen
    I agree with soccerfreaks, write your questions down and definitely ask the doctor, in front of your mother, so she can help decide her treatment plan.

    The EGFR mutation helps to predict the phisiological response to certain drugs for treatments.
    Alk-1 is another mutation. You should also speak to the dr about these. He can help to explain it to you beter than I can.

    I hope everything goes well for you and your mom. Stay in touch.

    cathy

    Thank you Joe & Cathy
    I will. And I will stay in touch. I don't have much support, so needless to say, your help and support means more to me than you'll ever know.

    I will take your advise and I will stay in touch.

    I appreciate your help more than you know.

    Gretchen
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