I am 21 w/ a 50y/o Mother w/ Lung Cancer

Brat · New User Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Wisconsin

Hi, my name is Karla, I live in Wisconsin. I am not sure if it is ok that I joined this forum BUT I just need some help dealing w/ whats going on w/ my mom. I have never seen/known (old enough to know) anyone going threw something like this.

I just found out lil less than a month ago that my mother has non-small cell Lung Cancer. She is on Radiation 5x week and Chemo 1x week. But let me start from the beginning. She has 3rd stage or 4th stage (I will find out EXACTLY lil later)

About a year ago my mother found out she had Rheumatoid Arthritis, she was not able to walk it was so bad. They put her on Remicaid (sp). Her and I had a falling out when the major stuff was going on during her treatments at the beginning so I don't know much about that.

Well 10months ago they did a Chest X-ray for some procedure they had to do cause of the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), her lungs were clear, no problems. Well at the beginning of Feb my mom, Sherry, she was having problems breathing and thought she had pneumonia. The doctor would NOT listen to her for a week, so she went to see a different Doctor and he had a chest X-ray done. It showed that her right lung was collopsed and there was a mass in her left lung. So they wanted to do a biopsy (sp) on it. They put a camera down her nose and got a peice.

So they told me and my dad she doesn't have a good chance w/ this. Well her right lung is clear of the cancer and her left lung is COVERED in cancer (masses) well that is what has collpsed her right lung.

I guess the reason I am on here is because I am scared to no end, I have 2 older brothers that are not being much help. I am taking my mom to 3 out of 5 of her treatments, my father takes her on her Chemo day and we switch off on Fridays, so we don't miss so much work. I am the baby. I am SO SCARED. Some days I want to cry and some days I want to be SO angry.

Don't quote me EXACTLY on the dates BUT to give u an idea of how quick this happened. She got sick late Jan, early Feb. Went in for her biopsy about Feb 2 and by Feb 7 she was having her 1st Radiation treatment and by Feb 9 she was having her 1st Chemo treatment.

amakis · Regular Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 39

What did they say her prognosis was?
My dad, 60, was just dianosed with essentially the same thing today.

steph · Regular Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 12

Hi Karla,

I have told my story on other posts in the lung cancer forum. Briefly, a year ago my Mom (73) was diagnosed with NSCLC stage 4. It had traveled to her brain by the time symptoms and thus a diagnosis was made. She had brain surgery to remove the brain tumor. Subsequently,pneumonia and a heartbeat that raced unpreditably(now I think it was due to the cancer-the doctors could never explain it). Two and a half months post diagnosis, more brain tumors had formed in her brain and there was nothing else the medical community could do. She was diagnosed Feb.8,2005 and passed away at home with her family with her May 23, 2005. It hit her hard and fast. I cry about how hard it hit and all my Mom had to endure prior to her death. The best thing was hospice. They really brought peace and comfort to the family. I have two young children and trying to be there for my Mom and continuing with life was extremely difficult. But I did it. I have no regrets. I know I brpought peace, comfort and love to my Mother in her final, difficult days. I know I gave her strength and in return I got strength from her. I wish you luck and peace and God's presence as you begin this journey. It feels like it was a journey, looking back. Through all of the suffering and fear and unknown there was an immense love and devotion that got us through and still remains. I miss my Mom and cry for all that she had to endure. Good luck. Treasure each moment, the time is ticking.

Jennifer16628

Hi Karla. My heart goes out to you. I have posted elsewhere also and perhaps you have read my regular posts in another section, but in case you haven't here is my story. I am 30 and my mother is 53. She went in to emergency because she was having trouble breathing after having a really bad cold for weeks. She thought she had pneumonia. I believe this was on Friday Feb 10th. At the hospital they did an x-ray, CT scan, blood tests, etc. and told her she had advanced lung cancer and to 'get her affairs in order'. We have been to numerous appointments with pulmonologists, hematology oncologists, radiation oncologists, testing facilities, you name it. After the bronchoscopy (where they put the tube down to take a sample) we were told it was stage 3B and she had less than 6 months to live. After further testing the oncologist told us that without treatment my mom could expect to live 4-8 weeks. That was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Her radiation and chemo is scheduled to start on Monday the 20th. They are giving her two different chemo drugs so she will be undergoing chemo treatment 5 days a week and undergoing radiation 5 days a week as well. My mom is holding up. This is all so very scary....I understand how you feel. I have been taking her to every appointment and I plan to continue. I am fortunate in that I am a stay at home mother of two small children so I am able to find a sitter and then stay with my mother. If there is one thing I am realizing from all of the reading I have done and the people I have talked to with family going through this is that no-one really knows how anyone will do. Some stories the cancer seems to have been so fast and others are given a very short life expectancy and are still alive to laugh about how wrong the doctors were years later. I pray both of our mothers will prove the doctors wrong and live a long time. Please feel free to put up more posts....I would love to keep in touch...we seem to be in similar situations. Have they done a P.E.T. scan on your mother yet? I will be thinking of you.

Diane12

[quote="Brat"]I am SO SCARED. Some days I want to cry and some days I want to be SO angry. [/quote]

Karla, I was like this when my mom was first diagnosed with lung cancer on January 31, and it's very normal for your feelings to flunctuate in this manner. I'm so sorry that you and your father are the only ones caring for your mother during this very difficult period, and sorry that other family members are not contributing.

I hope and pray that your mom's youth will be on her side and that she will respond well to her treatment and beat this thing!! Please know that even though you feel all alone, you are not - there are many of us here that are with you in spirit and here to listen and share.

STAY STRONG...

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