Hi Sarah135 and thanks for the post

I am sorry to hear about your mum's situation, this must be a worrying time for you both. I hope the appointment with the oncologist goes well today and you find out much more.

It really is the team involved in your mum's care who can say what the most suitable treatment is for her and what they hope the treatment will achieve. As well as what the short and longer term may look like.

Patients need to have a relatively good health and fitness level tolerate chemotherapy. Doctors will usually assess the patient as well as run some tests to make sure the organs such as the heart and kidneys are functioning well enough to withstand treatment. They sometimes can adjust the treatment and doses to suit the patient but if they feel treatment would do more harm than good they will be honest about this.

Age is very much a number and as you say a 85-year-old can be as fit as someone much younger. The doctors assess each patient's performance status before deciding what a patient can or can't have in terms of treatment.

We have information about stage 3 lung cancer and common treatments on our website.

I hope this is helpful. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Best wishes to you and your mum

Naomi