Biopsy is done

bnot · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject: Biopsy is done

Biopsy on Mom was done today. Now back to hurry up and wait part 7.

He did tell me he put the biopsy under a scope and said it was cancer. Well, we already knew that much anywho.

I asked about what type, but he didn't know. I asked if it was small cell, and he said he didn't think it was, but when the biopsy comes back we'll know for sure.

We do the follow up with the cancer doc.

So far, in 2 months we've found out Mom has some type of lung cancer, and it has spread to the lymph nodes around her aorta. Thats the only spread they've found.

I have no idea of what stage or type yet. If anyone has a good or bad guess, I'll take it.

Mom is 95. She didn't take this too well. But we did get to the back porch for a while this evening, and enjoyed being outside.

I'm aggitated and upset about the whole thing. At 95, her biggest worry she ought to have is wondering if the food I cook for her is edible. Not cancer.

Suppose its hit me tonight.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1405

Oh sweetie -- I'm so sorry it's becoming real for you. The diagnosis is such a hard thing to assimilate.

Sending hugs and prayers for comfort and peace for you and your Mom.

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

tbean · Regular Joined: 07 Sep 2008 Posts: 12

When my mother in law had her biopsy, the doctor came out with a little bit more info for us than it sounds like you got. We were very confident in the doctor and he was able to tell us that it was cancer, NSCLC, spread to her lymphnodes, and that the stage was most likely a IIIA by what he could see. He was right about all of it except for the stage. It wasn't until after the PET scan that we found out it was actually stage IIIB. That was due to cancerous fluid around her lung. Was your Mom a smoker? Usually SCLC is directly related to tobacco and NSCLC is not. Maybe that could be a big hint on the type. Cathy was just diagnosed early this month so I can totally relate to the whole shock factor. I will have you in my thoughts and prayers over these next few months. I hope the final pathology report comes back very quickly for you. Although the news that someone you love has cancer is terribly difficult, once you finally know what you are actually dealing with, it gets easier to wrap your mind around it. The what if's you are thinking of are very scary. Take care, continue to post. i have found great support on these forums. I hope you will too.
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My 46 year old mother-in-law diagnosed with NSCLC on September 4th, 2008. Adenocarcinoma stage IIIB.

bnot · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Biopsy is done

Thanks ya'll.

Mom quit smoking at the age of 92. No, that wasn't a typo, as Mom is 95.

Yesterday drained her. I think her diagnosis hit hard. She was hoping that a miracle would come in, and it wouldn't be cancer.

We got home about 10am. She went to bed at 11am, and slept till 3pm. Then fell asleep again about 8:30, and hasn't woke up yet.

She barely ate a thing yesterday. So I fixed chocolate shakes last night and put her Ensure in hers

I'm really having my doubts about how much radaition she can do. We were told its daily, 5 days a week, for a month. She wants to try it. I will take her as long as she's up to it. But she seems weak to me, and not up to getting dressed daily to go somewhere.

Other than this, Mom is completely alert for 95 years old. She plays solitare, and does large print "seek and find" word books. She gets her own meds daily, and fixes her own drinks and lunch, dresses herself. I just fix dinner, and assist her with a bath. She still makes all her decisions about her health care.

I just wonder what the odds of her beating this would be with just radaition. And if she beats it this time, will it come back later to do her in. I know thats questions none of you can answer.

Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 198

Actually, Tbean, NSCLC accounts for 80% of all lung cancers and 9 out of 10 times, it is directly related to smoking. Adenocarcinoma, however, is the most common cancer seen in non-smokers. SCLC also is directly related to smoking. I found that out when my mom was diagnosed. She had NCSLC, Adenocarcinoma.

I never told my mom that. The oncologist told me the above in a private conversation. I felt she didn't need to know the grim facts and it was a moot point anyhow. I did encourage her to not smoke after her diagnosis because of how it would affect her breathing and coughing. The doctor did tell my mom that while non-smokers do get lung cancer, smoking greatly increases the risk. He also told her that unless something occurs to reveal the cancer in it's earlier stages, by the time most people develop any symptoms at all, it is usally late stage. He concurred that we have a long way to go to develop a standard test to detect lung cancer.

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