Hello and thanks for posting

I'm sorry to read about your mother's diagnosis. This must be an incredibly difficult time for you all.

Leptomeningeal spread means that the cancer has reached the thin layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. This makes treatment more challenging because radiotherapy isn't usually effective in this situation.

Systemic treatments work throughout the body, such as targeted therapies, immunotherapy or chemotherapy, depending on the type of lung cancer your mother has and her overall health. The treatments aim to slow down the cancer and manage symptoms. You can read more about these treatments on our website.

Prognosis is really a question best answered by your mother's specialist team. This is because they are familiar with all her medical details and will know so much more about her individual situation. Doctors base their assessment of someone's outlook/prognosis on their experience of looking after other patients with the same cancer. This will vary to a degree, depending on a person’s age, extent of their cancer, their general health and their response to cancer treatments.

I hope this has been of some help. Give us a ring if you would like to talk anything over. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Kind regards,

Celene