Sister just dx Stage IV NSCLC with multiple brain mets

dano

Hi Janie;
Sorry I try to read between the lines some times and it's hard when there are pages missing! lol. Thanks so much for the info. What do you mean you don't work! You actually set around all day? lol....I doubt that. Oh you don't have a regular pay check. I've been there.
Please come in and ask questions, these are unsettling times you are going through, hard to get the answers you want from some of the doctors. My main Oncologist is a great lady and cares deeply for me personally, I make it hard for them to forget me because I try to keep them laughing. But she can not share the hard facts well but ever optimistic. I learned to get the info from other doctors that can communicate. You and your mom may not go together often or spit responsibilities I'm not sure, but if you can work together as a tag team to get your answers to questions, my wife was a help doing that with me. Still I got some of my questions answered only in here. Is your sister loosing weight? I did, I lost 45 lbs. of course I started at 260. After a change in treatment and 8 months latter I've gained some of that back thanks to a much better appetite and a love for food. But that all came back slowly, one food at a time, if I thought I wouldn't like it, I would give it up if I ate it, not that I felt sick but certain smell trigger a response that I can't stop. But most of that I am over.
What I'm sharing is there can be a brighter side to come, just fight for it. And make this time together special, because it really is, between you and your sister and you and your mom. In the normally dog eat dog world we take time with each other for granted, with this new experience you have a chance to make special moments count. I'm finding them now every day and they bring tears to eyes all the time and I love it. God bless you and your mom and a special blessing on your sister.
Dan
_________________
54 year old male in Hawaii
Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV
with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08
Currently on chemo treatments every 3 weeks
with Alimta
and taking Lovenox for blood clots
Now back to work full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1385

Hi Janie,

I'm sorry to hear of the difficulties your sister is having. Just completing the brain rads will contribute to her being a little out of it for a few weeks. I'm sure the doctor is aware of the vision and hearing problems. There is something called para-neoplastic syndrome also that can affect the stability and strength of the legs, body, and brain function. Go to Dr. West's site at cancerGRACE.org and do a search for this. He is an oncologist with a specialty in lung cancer.

Bloody coughing isn't unusual either. I dearly hope these are temporary symptoms from the brain rads, maybe dehydration, etc and not a downward slide from the cancer.

Sending thoughts, prayers, and hugs for this to turn around for your sister.

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

jlmjez · New User Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 6

Hi to all,

I thought I'd take a minute and update you on my sister's condition...She was dx Aug 1st with NSCLC with mutliple mets to brain. Was told with treatment she might live six months, without treatment she'd be lucky to live two months. She has had 20 brain radiation treatments and has been on chemo since Aug 5. she had recent MRI and CTs to see how treatments were working (or not working). We saw her Dr. Tuesdayfor the scan results cancer spread to her kidney, but the brain tumors and lung tumors had not shrunk or grown. The chemo (taxol and carboplatin) make her so very sick and her doctor changed her chemo to something a little less aggressive (don't know what it is yet). He told her she shouldn't get so sick from this new chemo, she is to take it 2 weeks on and then a week off. He said she was doing much better than he had ever expected. He said she has already lived past where he expected when he first met her. He said unless she gets really sick fast she should be here for the new year. So she had her new chemo treatment that day 2 days before Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving day she ate 2nd helpings of all her favorite foods. It was a precious blessing for our family to have her up and at the table visiting with all of us. We took tons of pictures. It was a wonderful day. The dr gave her hope, lifted her spirits, she is sending us out to do her Christmas shopping.
I guess my point is that she is dying and we know that, but we were given a wonderful gift, to have her up and feeling good, eating 2 plates of food. and being a big part of the day. If she could hold on for Christmas that would just be another blessing.
Thanks for listening to me ramble on. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Janie

Gillette · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:51 am Post subject: update

God Bless you, take every day, moment as a blessing, and time to spend with your sister. We live with the knowledge that death is the only end, also, and smile at every day we get up and get to spend together on this earth. You are wonderful, keep being you. God Bless you, and Blessings and love to your family.
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Kathy: loving Ben, who at 51:4/08, seizure: dx. NSCLC st. 4. metsX1 to brain: 5/08-8/08 carbo/taxol 5 treat. 10/8/08- 2 mets to brain. 16WBR, 4 to tumors10/9-11/4/08. 12/9/08 ? lymph involvement, lung tumor recurring, new satallite. Alimta began 12/16/08, every 3 weeks. Living, laughing, and praying every day.

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