NSCLC w/ Brain Mets 75 year old

sealnomore · Regular Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

Hi All - Two weeks ago my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 NSCLC that had already mets to the brain. He is having 10 whole brain radiation treatment and starting Chemo after. The doctor says in my dads situation the chemo won't add more than 5-7 weeks to his time. I believe they found several areas in his brain and lung impacted. He is not a candidate for surgery. This was diagnosed when my dad experienced some confusion and instability. I know the prognosis can vary from person to person, but what I have read so far indicates about a 6 month life expectancy. I never expected that I would watch my dad die for months. I am usually fairly strong, but I don't know if I can handle that. I more expected that middle of the night phone call one day (far off) that my dad passed. Is the six month estimate fairly accurate? What can I expect?
Thanks to all of you

brainman

sealnomore, I am so very sorry about your father's advanced cancer. It is hard to see your parents go from vibrant and healthy people to weak and sick. I was both of my parent's primary care provider during the last months of their lives. I lived with my father for 3 years as his health deteriorated. Both died of cancer.... different cancers but still... I know how hard it will be for you. I am not saying that it will not hurt or that it will be easy, but if I can make it through the so can you, I am sure.

Yes, his prognosis is not very good. Six months seems like a very low estimate but I do not know what other health issues your father has or how strong his will to live is. That are people who live a lot longer than 6 months but we are talking in terms of months rather than say more than 2 years... few live that long.

Here is my take on prognosis. I do like to know what my prognosis is but only in order to have some guidelines to help me set priorities for the things that I still would like to do. After that, I try to just set the official prognosis to the side and try to live one day at a time to achieve those goals I have set for myself. It is easier said than done, but it is what I try to do. If my original prognosis had been correct, I would have died at least 5 years ago. If my current prognosis is correct, I might have 3-4 good years before my cancer recurs. WOW... I better get busy Wink

.

You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
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Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 175

Sealnomore, I am very sorry to hear about your father. Like Brainman said, everyone is different. My mom was admitted to the hospital the last week of November, diagnosed while there with Stage IV NSCLC, adenocarcinoma, mets to the brain and adrenals. January 5th, she passed away. It was shocking to me how fast it happened.

That is not to say this will happen to your dad, ok? Brainman gave some very good advice for your dad. For you, my suggestion would be to spend as much time as you can with your dad and enjoy being with him. Take it day by day and let how he feels dictate what you do. My mom had no one but me near her to take care of her and I was SO blessed that my company allowed me to work out of the office for the time I moved in with her and became her caretaker.

I have no regrets. My mom and I shared alot in the short time she had after her diagnosis. But it was a rapid decline and on one hand, I'm glad because she did not suffer much, just gradually grew weaker. On the other hand, what I wouldn't give to have had more time with her.

Another thing I'd keep in mind....alot of folks bring Hospice on board real late in the game. If chemo ever becomes no longer an option, bring them in because they make a world of difference in your loved one's last days. We can even get our loved one's information already in the hospice program and they would be ready to come on board quickly once chemo stops. The earlier they can be brought in, the better, and the more comfortable our loved ones are made. They are a God send to both the family and the patient.

And believe me, you will find out you are stronger than you think you are. Wink

God Bless you and your family and give you the strength and peace as you move forward.

passcon93 · Regular Joined: 25 Oct 2007 Posts: 11 Location: CT

Hi Sealnomore,
My mom was diagnosed sept of 07 with mets to brain and adreanal glands. I am so sorry for what you are going through right now and I know exactly how you feel. My mom is going on 6 months and she has been holding steady. She has only been to the hospital once for a blood clot in her leg. She had 15 sessions of radiation and 6 cycles of chemo, once every three weeks. Every single person is different as far as how much time they have. I have read where people riddled with cancer have far out lived their prognosis and others that were not so bad did not. Try to be postive and just be there for your dad. Again, I am so sorry you have to be going through this.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1133

Hi,

I'm sure sorry to hear about this diagnosis, but depending on a multitude of different factors, your Dad could surprise the heck out of all of you. If he shows a good response to chemo, he could be around for awhile. Granted, the brain mets are not a great sign and those will not respond to any chemotherapy agents. There is a blood/brain barrier, so rads, IMRT, cyberknife, etc. are all options for that issue. If the chemo mops up any metastatic cells running around, the brain could remain clear in the future. My brother-in-law started with four brain mets and never had another one after radiation. Chemo kept the cancer from running back there again.

My husband survived 2 1/2 years with Stage IV with poorly differentiated cells, so anything is possible. When your Dad gets to future lines of treatment that may include Tarceva and if he has the EGFR mutation and responds, there is no telling how well he may do.

Don't give up hope. Again, too many variables for the doctor's to slap a time frame on him. I wish they wouldn't do that.

We operated on the "expect the worst and hope for the best" theme and had great results for a long time.

God bless you -- I know how much you are hurting.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

sealnomore · Regular Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 12

Thanks so much for all the kind words and advice. I am, I think, still a bit in shock mode and my first thoughts were "How much time is left". Hoping that passes soon and I can focus on each day. I would love to lose this constant ache in my stomach. I hope as I adjust and lose a bit of the shock factor that will pass and I can enjoy him for whatever he has left.

Debbie

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