Mum & Lung Cancer

Hi there. My mum was diagnosed recently with lung cancer. Tumour is 2cm, however, due to her comorbidities and where it is, they aren't able to do a biopsy so they don't know what type of cancer she has. Treatment starts on 20th July which will consist of 5 courses of radiotherapy (SABR) over 2 weeks. The tumour is against a rib high up which means the radiotherapy may cause the bone to break and not recover. There is also nerves close by which they will try to avoid, but they may sustain radiotherapy damage which could result in long term pain and weakness. We have been told it could be up to 3 years before we know whether the treatment has been successful or otherwise. Has anyone else had any similar experiences and what was the outcome? The not knowing the type concerns me, although it hasn't spread thankfully. She is sleeping 13 hours a day some days just now which is very out of character for her. Mentally, she is taking it all in her stride. She is having some memory issues just now which is bothering her more than the cancer diagnosis so the GP is reducing some of her pain meds to see if the memory improves. If not, she will need referred to the memory clinic to see if she has anything else going on.
  • Sorry to hear this dreadful news.  My mum has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer... She is having a treatment just to slow it down, that starts on 14th July. 

     

    The memory loss could be stress, its immense the stress we all go through.

     

    All we can do is put trust in the doctors and nurses and pray treatment works and makes it all much more comfortable for those suffering.

     

    Here if you want to chat x

     

    Karen 

  • Hi there. So sorry your Mum has had this diagnosis. Similar situation to my Mum. A 10mm nodule was presumed malignant after showing activity on a PET scan. Because of comorbidities no biopsy or

    anything

    could be done. She had 3 doses of SABR back in February . Every case is obviously different and reactions will be difficult but my Mum did really well. About 2 weeks after she developed a cough and had fluid in her lung which was deemed an infection but was treated successfully and I have to say I'm surprised by how well she's doing as I had imagined all sorts. It's terrifying and I know how you must be feeling but for Mum at 86 with no alternative it was the only option and her oncologist was very reassuring. Yes there can be side

    effects but try and focus on the positive. Mum has her 6 month scan yesterday. We were told that 2 out of 3 cases are cured by SABR so we shall see. I wish you and your Mum all the best as you go through this. It's terrifying. But she will be in safe hands. X