Mum has stage 4 lung cancer and has spread quickly.

Hi all ️

New member here ️

My 69 year old mum got diagnosed with early lung cancer in December after a chest infection and they did a scan.

theyfound tumours in her left lung and some abnormalities in her right lung. Weeks later she had a quarter of her lung removed and was so ill in hospital (severe delirium) she slowly recovered and come home. She also lives alone after my dad died of a brain tumour in 2005 (that was horrendous as he went crazy in the head)

anyway after another scan the cancer has spread to her bones and some lymph node near her kidneys. It’s spreading very fast and I don’t know what to do. It’s stage 4 and they have said if they can provide treatment it may delay the cancer growing but we won’t know until a couple of weeks.

the funny thing is she says she feels great and regularly goes shopping on her own and she looks good! I’m so confused.

does anyone know how how she will deteriorate? The stages? What I can do for her? We don’t have a big family,it’s only me really who can care for her. I’m only 35 and have a job and a family of my own. I feel I need to be prepared so I can be strong for her. We are seeing the Macmillan nurses next week so that’s good but I thought it would help to ask on here.

id like other people’s stories please ️

Thank you so much for reading I very much appreciate it and sorry for rambling.

much love to you all.

love Liz xxxx ️ ️ ️ ️ ️ ️

  • Hi Liz we seem to be in a similar situation & I’m sorry to read your story I lost my mum quickly to stage 4 stomach cancer in 2010 & my dad was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (spread to liver & neck glands) 4th December 17. My dad is doing very well he’s offered 6 chemo round 3 weeks apart & physically dealt with them very well! Mentally not so great & has hit the bottle but that’s another story which I’ve just made a post about needing help!! 

    My dad is 66 & lives alone with me as his only career . But I have a family and 2 part time jobs. ATM I’m spending all my time at his home but I ask everyday for him to move in with me. Fingers crossed he gives in soon because honestly I’m exhausted 

    x

  • Hey Liz,
    my mum is in kind of a similar situation, but she has liver cancer. she was diagnosed last november, and during the summer months, she was doing exceptionally well, the doctors thought everything would go back to normal. However, she only got worse. It's now March, and she cannot really do much on her own. Yesterday, my dad had to feed her, brush her teeth, and get her changed for bed. It's heartbreaking, and I'm sure that unlike my mother (where there is no cure), your mum will be fine, just keep her eating healthy things, doing healthy things. My mum read a lot of books written by cancer survivors that helped her stay strong, she also had loads of friends and family come over to help her. Of course, if something should go wrong, make sure you spend as much time as possible with her, also say 'I love you' all the time.

    I hope this helps, if you want, go and read my last posts about my mum, the title is 'deteriorating'
    Take care of yourself xx

  • Hi Liz,

    iam fell really sorry aboy your Mum. Please see my story my mum has been diagnosed with very advanced lung cancer stage IV in March 2017. She had 6 lots if chemo which she finished in August. Chemo works really well for her and tumour shrink a lot! She did very well, no much side-effects apart loosing her hear. After six week had 5 lots of radio to the chest and brain. We were very lucky and that time cancer did not spread to other parts of her body. But from October she started fell her legs very week and weeker every day. In October she could not walk at all as cancer spread to spinal cord.She had another 5 radio to lower back as was pressure on a spinal cord. She was getting better every day, she started learn to walking again. At the end of December she was able to walk very slow  with no frame and claimb the stairs. Unfortunatley since that weeknes in her legs back and now is bed band. Last week she get last radio to lower back but did not change anything in her condition. Doctor ask me to contact Palliative Care Team.. it is realy sad as overal she is in good condition but nothing else could be done for her. I try enjoy every day with her as her condition might change quick.

    All my thoughts with you, be strong. Enjoy every moment with your mum. Say all you would like before she might be really  unwell. Sending you lots of love. 

    Ewa