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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Cancer / August 2007Please help, lung cancer
One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node visibly swollen on his neck. He went into the hospital with so called COPD. The entire time it was cancer. Since he takes codeine for a back injury, he really had no cough warning. Can anyone tell me, is this survivable? We don't know what kind it is yet, or where it's spread. Since it's filled up one lung, I'm worried he will die soon. What is the standard treatment for lung cancer? J, could you please help me understand this a little better? Love always, Chris. > One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass > that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node visibly [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > What is the standard treatment for lung cancer? J, could you please help me > understand this a little better? Love always, Chris. Hello Chris, I read your other post. The most common cancers are listed here < http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2965 > but there's other types such as lymphoma, metastatic sarcoma of one type or other. Unfortunately, the common lung cancers are often diagnosed too late for survivability. Your friend's sounds uncannily like "Guiditta" (Judy's) husbands which was small cell lung cancer (SCLC). He had very aggressive chemo for the majority (with some delays due to low blood and other) of the 6 months that he survived. I guess if it was me and (if) I was fit enough for surgery and (if) the cancer does not 'appear" to have spread to the brain or liver or other lung and (if) surgery would also solve the vocal cord paralysis, that's what I'd ask for. Removal of the one lung that's full of tumor. That would still be palliative and it's a lot of "ifs". They might not do it, just because I wanted it. The web page above says (for SCLC) "Small cell lung cancer often spreads quite early on and so doctors often suggest treatment with chemotherapy rather than surgery." Just to remind you, I don't know which type your friend has. It's just a thought of what I might ask for, given the way you describe his lung. The clinician makes the decision based on his/her experience with the same type and stage of lung cancer, in other patients and what's worked for such before. The word "worked" meaning helped the patient most. So we'll have to wait and see what they discover and suggest for treatment. I'm sure you'll want to be there wth him, if possible, when they discuss options and/or results of other diagnositc tests. I'm sorry I don't have answers for you. I'll be here caring and thinking of you all. Keep in touch as you are able, Chris. Hugs J >> One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass >> that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > Hugs > J Thanks so much J. Now I know what to look for, and what questions to ask his doctor. He just sent me a text message, saying he was in pain. Since he can't talk, we text each other throughout the day. He's really scared. He said he will try and fight but he needs his oxygen constantly now. He smoked from age 12 to his now age, 51. He has quit smoking. I'm going to be on top of his medical care. He'll probably get sick of me before it's all over. But he doesn't have anyone else. I worry my father's doctor to death with questions. Thanks again J. You've made me feel better about all of this. I promise to let you know what kind he has, and where it has spread. Love to you, Chris. > "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message > > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > of this. I promise to let you know what kind he has, and where it has > spread. Love to you, Chris. Hello Chris, I'm sorry he's in pain. They'll help hm with that. Is he in hospital? If he tries aggressive treatment he'll probably require a caregiver (to be with him, Not remote) 24/7. In other words, several caregivers, to spell (take turns with another). I am sure you are competent to help and help him with asking the right questions, but Chris, this is nothing like what your father is going through. If your friend decies to treat it aggressively, it will probably be chemo once a week, bloodwork first (long day at the treating center), scans along the way, and keeping close touch with the chemo nurse whenever something unexpected happens. It's 2 or 3 fulltime jobs, depending on whether he's physically able to care for himself, most of the time, alone at home.. Some are so advanced that they go right into hospice. So ask the oncoligst for his best guesstimate how much time your friend has without treatment and with treatment. After the tests and staging. I'm sure you'll do the best you can for your friend, Chris. J >> "J" <nexsw@nvalid,anon> wrote in message >> > [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > I'm sure you'll do the best you can for your friend, Chris. > J He is in the hospital. He just wrote to say the pain was more severe now. Unfortunately he is on Medicaid, because he's been disabled for many years now. He's sharing a very small room and has another person in there. He has no bathroom, and must go down the hall to use the bathroom and take a shower. His primary caregiver will be his ex wife. She will move in with him. I'm just going to help out, when I can. She said she and I could work together, and she knows my father is also in a battle with cancer. So she won't need me much. My fear is that it's spread to the other lung. He's very afraid of dying. I've assured him that he will be taken care of, and his pain will be controlled. That really doesn't seem to help him though. Mostly I visit him in the hospital, and I do the talking and I won't let him talk, because it takes so much out of him just to whisper. The lymph node is very visible. I knew when I saw that- that he had cancer. He's afraid of the treatments too. Every time the nurse comes in, he says, lady I don't know anything about any of this and I just don't want to die. I will tend to him spiritually as well. I realize that he might not have long. That's why I want to spend time with him so there will be no regrets. I promise my father will come first, because my father doesn't have my mother to rely on. I'm just anxious to find out what type he has and how long. The cancer doctor still hasn't seen him, and they only recommended someone to him. This doctor has not been contacted. I feel we are losing valuable time by not contacting the doctor. I will take it day by day. As soon as I know something, I will post it. Thanks so much for caring....With love, Chris > He is in the hospital. He just wrote to say the pain was more severe now. > Unfortunately he is on Medicaid, because he's been disabled for many years [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > not contacting the doctor. I will take it day by day. As soon as I know > something, I will post it. Thanks so much for caring....With love, Chris Thanks for the additional info, Chris. I could be wrong but it sounds much more advanced than Bob's was. If so, he'll be needing spiritual and emotional support when getting the news. He's lucky to have you, Chris and his ex-wife as well. Of course, we don't know the type, nor other details yet either. I'll watch for your updates. I'm sorry about your friend, Chris, very sorry. Hugs J >> He is in the hospital. He just wrote to say the pain was more severe >> now. [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > Hugs > J Thank you J. I know you care very much about us. His cancer doctor came in today and told him that over three fourths of his lung was a complete mass. I've also seen swollen lymph nodes in his neck. It's all on the right side. He can't even move his arm. Plus he can't talk. And he's really afraid to be alone. So during the day I stay with him and at night my husband stays with him. He tells us he can't be alone right now. In a year we've lost my husband's dad to cancer, his uncle to lung cancer, my father's diagnosis, and now this. I know if that lung has that much cancer in it, that it's probably in the other one too. The worst part will be watching him deteriorate. We love him so much. I would write more, but the tears are coming. So I send you all love......Chris I've been reading your heart felt messages, Chris. You and your husband are doing so much for him just by being there with him. I am sure he feels comfort in your presence and the knowledge that he doesn't have to die alone. Gail >>> He is in the hospital. He just wrote to say the pain was more severe >>> now. [quoted text clipped - 63 lines] > will be watching him deteriorate. We love him so much. I would write > more, but the tears are coming. So I send you all love......Chris > I've been reading your heart felt messages, Chris. You and your husband > are doing so much for him just by being there with him. I am sure he feels [quoted text clipped - 70 lines] >> would write more, but the tears are coming. So I send you all >> love......Chris Thank you so much Gail. It's great to know you're pulling for us. Thanks for being here for me. I truly appreciate your kindness! Love, Chris > One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass > that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node visibly [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > What is the standard treatment for lung cancer? J, could you please help > me understand this a little better? Love always, Chris. Sorry to hear about your friend. First you need to see what type of lung cancer has been diagnosed... then the progression of the disease. I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. With the information you posted it is impossible to know.... People can live with one healthy lung. Alex > One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass > that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node visibly [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > What is the standard treatment for lung cancer? J, could you please help me > understand this a little better? Love always, Chris. Hi Chris, I am a survivor of Small Cell Lung Cancer. (SCLC for short). He may also have NSCLC. The N stands for "Non". These are the 2 types of most commonly occurring lung cancer. We can't tell much about his prognosis, until we know what kind and if it has spread (metastasized). SCLC is by far the more aggressive and most difficult to treat. NSCLC can usually be attacked with Surgery, Chemo and Radiation. Surgery for SCLC is almost never done. Only when the cancer is very small when found. Most are not found as early as mine. I was diagnosed (dx or Dx).about 4 1/2 years ago and the doctors treated me very aggressively. As a result, I am in about 1% of the SCLC folks Most don't survive more than a year dx. I had scans at the end of my Chemo and radiation. I was clear, but 3 months later the Doc found Brain Mets. He then told me that I would probably survive "6 to 12 weeks without treatment, and 6-12 months with treatment. Not the thing anyone wants to hear. Now I am still kicking after 3 years from my last treatment. Lung cancer can be beat, but it is not easy. Let us know when you have more details, and we can give you our experience/opinion (lots of opinions here). There's a Radiation Oncologist that checks in regularly who may be able to give you more official advise. Look for posts from Steph. Wish there was better news, but for now we can only speak in generalities. bobert  SignatureBarb Monterey Peninsula CA >> One of our best friends found out he had lung cancer today. It's a mass >> that has filled up most all of one lung. He also has a lymph node [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > bobert I am so glad you are doing well. That makes me feel really good! Thank you for writing to me. You've given me some hope for our friend. You've made my day by you being in good health! Love to you, Chris Hi Chris, I've been following your posts, and while I don't (as usual) have any specific advice, or knowledge of the aspects of this type of cancer, I just want to send you my warm thoughts and best wishes as you struggle on yet another "battlefield." Hope you have someone special ... or some good friends ... taking as good care of you as you do of your father and your friend. take care, Uncle Sally > Hi Chris, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > take care, Uncle Sally I do, and you're one of them! Love, Chris |
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