What's the prognosis likely to be?

A family member has been diagnosed with cancer.  I'm not close enough to ask the doctors these questions, but I need to know so that I can support people who he loves dearly through this process as they are in complete denial.

Current situation is that he has had kidney cancer since Oct 16, and has had chemo until a few weeks' ago.  I know that it wasn't as effective as they'd hoped and it looks like they're not repeating chemo.  It's now in his lung and traces in his liver.  He told me yesterday that he now has a tumour on his spine.  He is in hospital for pain management and I know he is under a palliative care team.  Next step is possibly radiotherapy.  He is hoping to return home with McMillan type care (meals delivered and pain management) but it's not certain yet.

Can anyone tell me what we are to expect? Prognosis? Time scales? How I can help?  I know that every case is different but I'm feeing very lost without enough information and yet it will be me picking up the pieces for everyone around him.

Thank you so very much for anything you can tell me (even if it's not good news).  Good luck to all of you fighting the fight, too.

 

 

  • Hi briony .. You need to be there for your family and give them support and also your family member being treated for kidney cancer... I lost my best friend in January he was 51 I did everything I could for his wife and children , and also spent a lot of time with him. 

    Im not qualified to give you any advise on prognosis time scales etc, 

    can you talk to your relatives , maybe explain all of your thoughts and let them know you would like all the information so that you can be there for them all.

    i think you have enough information to talk to a qualified person , maybe the doctor if you can or McMillan or call kidney cancer uk they will give you support.. Plus you will get a massive amount of moral support on here.

    im here to chat and help in any way I can , 

    please keep in contact. Alan

  • Hi Briony, as a new member I only posted this evening about my wife, the problem with cancer is there are no timescales, its dependant on so many factors ,each person deals with cancer in their own way because its individual to them, and no set timescale is order of the day, dependant  factors are many, but  with my wife, she had spinal lymphoma, it did cause her pain, and one tries to get pain relief for them, but, its not easy to say, but I do hope you get some comfort from supportive people around you. My wife had Lymphoma in the skull, spine, pancreas, & Liver, she lasted 5 months, due to lack of chemo as she was taken ill in hospital with type A flu, I am sorry I cannot give you more information this was just Joyces struggle but as I said everyones different but try to keep healthy and stay as strong as you can 

    Del