Stage 4 Lung Cancer?!
Question: Likely Prognosis?? I need to know the truth please. My hubby (48) has been diagnosed with Primary Lung Cancer with secondary to lymph nodes in chest and neck and also secondary cancer in the liver. He was diagnosed in mid Nov and only due to intermittent pain in wrists and other joints. Scans followed to confirm. Dr.s can't find the primary but they say all signs point to lung cancer and they are treating him as such. They have said that sometimes the primary tumor detaches??????? . Dr. told us he has between 12-18mths to live. He is on his 2nd dose of chemo tomorrow. What can we expect during the course of chemo??? 2 weeks on, one week off is our schedule for a total of 18 weeks. As he looks so "normal" it is hard to believe this is happening to him. I wonder if he will go downhill dramatically during the chemo?? Anyone with any info (good or bad) is appreciated. I want to know the truth and what to expect no matter what that may be. thanks
Mouse.
Answers: Likely Prognosis?? I need to know the truth please. My hubby (48) has been diagnosed with Primary Lung Cancer with secondary to lymph nodes in chest and neck and also secondary cancer in the liver. He was diagnosed in mid Nov and only due to intermittent pain in wrists and other joints. Scans followed to confirm. Dr.s can't find the primary but they say all signs point to lung cancer and they are treating him as such. They have said that sometimes the primary tumor detaches??????? . Dr. told us he has between 12-18mths to live. He is on his 2nd dose of chemo tomorrow. What can we expect during the course of chemo??? 2 weeks on, one week off is our schedule for a total of 18 weeks. As he looks so "normal" it is hard to believe this is happening to him. I wonder if he will go downhill dramatically during the chemo?? Anyone with any info (good or bad) is appreciated. I want to know the truth and what to expect no matter what that may be. thanks
Mouse.
I am so sorry. You will really be hard pressed to find many who will answer this question because no-one likes to be the bearer of bad news. In all honesty, you will not find a dr who will give you an honest time frame because it destroys hope in all involved. You can end up waiting for the inevitable for too long or living life to the fullest and going broke because you think you have 2 months left when there is 2 years. It is the most difficult thing anyone could ever go through and to take away your hope is like destroying your sanity.
Cancer is so very individual and survival rates are too. However, lung cancer moves like brush fire. Now that it is in his liver and his neck lymph nodes it will not be long. I could not say how long - that depends on so many things, including chemo. For instance my aunt had primary bowel cancer and from the time it moved to her lungs until she left us was four weeks. It had spread to her lymph nodes in her neck and liver. She did not have chemo. She was 54. My cousin in law had primary lung cancer which spread to her liver and her brain. She was diagnosed due to headaches. From the time of diagnosis until the time she left us was 5 weeks. She was 45.
I am a medical scientist and I have seen people fight cancer for years, months, weeks and not at all. Some win the fight but most lose. I have not seen a single patient who has survived secondaries, but that is in my experience. I'm sure some do.
My absolute best suggestion for you is this. Get everything in order so that there is nothing left to do so that you can cherish your time left together. Appreciate each other and tell him you love him. Don't wait until the end. Let the housework go and to hell with work. At the end of the day the only thing that will matter to you is that you had time to appreciate the time you have left . I said my goodbyes to my loved ones and returned to work until they died. That's my biggest regret because nothing should matter like family. I was being too realistic and not compassionate. In the end I suffered for it.
I am sorry if this post is too much for you. I wish you could be prepared. Just take each day as it comes.
You'll be in my prayers tonight.
Honestly, survival rate is not good. Especially since it is in so many places. Chemo is VERY hard on the body and is ment to try and kill off the cancer. But, sometimes kills the patient. I am not a doctor, but have had several friends/family go through this. Two not survive, because of chemo and secondary illness. You need to talk to another doctor, for a second or third opinion, and really think about quality of life for him and you both together.
So sorry to hear this. The diagnosis is not good, esp with metastasis to the liver and lymph nodes. that means it is pretty late in the game, but not over yet. People have recovered from stage 4 lung ca. The treatment may work. Chemo is rough. I'm sure at this point they will be very aggressive. Are they also doing radiation? It is going to kick his butt. I suggest getting him and yourself in a support group. talk to other survivors and their families. Also, get his affairs in order. That is hard, but if you do not have a will, get one. Start getting powers of attorneys, make sure he has a health care proxy, living will and DNR if that is what he wants. He needs to spell out how far HE wants treatment to go and what he wants done if he is not able to decide anymore (think terry schiavo)
He also should be going to a major cancer center...fast. They have all the trials and new stuff that may ave his life.
Look at www.cancer.gov for the center near you.
Most of all YOU and him need to stay positive. I was stage 4 nonhodgkins lymphoma 2 years ago. I'm still alive, doing fine and still fighting. I work, go to nursing school full time. His case is a bit different, but he can win
best of luck to you and your family.
stage four lung ca has a poor prognosis.chemo has side effects like lowering of blood white cells,nausea,vomiting,hair fall,throat and mouth ulcers etc but these are temporary.have faith in god and your doc---for all you know the response to chemo may be good.
I am so sorry that you and your husband have to go through this. My husband had lung and brain cancer and passed away almost 2 years ago. The chemo can be very rough but for some people they go through the chemo and have no side effects. The main concern of the doctors as this disease progresses is to keep him comfortable and pain free. They did that with my husband and he did not suffer the last few weeks of his life. Take all of the help and support you can get at this time because you really need it.