Cancer Research UK main site

Mum was diagnosed today with lung cancer.. Possible spread

Easy_tiger
Offline

Hi all,

I just stumbled across this forum.

Yesterday (weds) my heart was shattered when my mum went for her consultation and was told she had lung cancer and it could have possibly spread to her breast.

Since the end of March she became ill, with major loss of appetite and fatigue. Her GP sent her for various blood tests (with a 5 day wait for results) then finally a chest X-ray. The X-ray showed fluid around her lung and she was told to go to A and E. She was then admitted onto the oncology ward where she stayed for around 5 days. She had a scan and on the last day they drained most of the fluid and was discharged and was told to go back the following week for the diagnosis. The first two days after she was discharged her appetite came back slightly and she was eating better then it went back to being non existent... We are presuming because the fluid has come back and she then became majorly stiff and is in lots of pain and needing assistant to get up and down the stairs and to wash.

So yesterday was her diagnosis and my dad and brother went in the room with her. I wish I had gone in too as I would have asked lots more questions. They said he said that they are unsure if it has spread to the breast, and they are sending her to St barts in London in two weeks (why such a wait???) to seal the lung to stop the fluid. He also said that chemo was an option but it would only prolong her life, and not get rid of the cancer in the long term. 

I don't understand how can they not see if the cancer has spread to her breast? She had enough tests and scans. Is it worth a second opinion?

Anyway, I feel numb and scared,my poor mum :( She has been so brave and she hasn't shed a tear. I'm trying to be brave and not crying in front of her. All she is worried about is me and my brother. I've told her she has to stay positive and that is half the battle. 

I've been reading online stories of long term survival and not so successful stories. My heart breaks as she is very religious and has always been devoted to her catholic religion, praying regularly, visiting Lourdes yearly to do pilgrimages and she feels let down by God.... As do I. 

This whole thing is a waiting game... We have to wait two weeks until she can have her lung sealed!? That's ridiculous, so much can happen in two weeks. 

  • Offline

    Hi, 

    I just wanted to welcome you to the forum, but I'm sorry it's your mum's illness that has brought you here.

    The waiting process is one we all find stressful, especially when there are so many questions that you'd like answering. Does your mum have a contact number for a specialist nurse or another member of her medical team? It may be that a call to them can answer your question about the two week wait. 

    In the mean time, jot down any questions you think of in readiness for future consultations and also try to avoid 'Googling' (we all do it though!) as statistics and information can be misleading or very 'generalised'. Your mum's medical team will be the best ones to ask about her case. My reply will bump your thread back up to the top of the pile, so I'm sure others will be along soon to add their support. 

    Take care, Jo xx

  • Offline

    Hi

    Just noticed that you had not  yet received a reply (unusual as this is a very friendly forum) so wanted to give you a welcome hello. Though none of us would choose to be here I hope you will find some level of support during this emotional period for you, your Mum and extended family.

    Its always a difficult time when we first hear the diagnosis and also hard to take everything in at these discussion appointments as it all seems too much. Its not unusual for there to be weeks in between appointments (my husband's tests and diagnosis took three months before we knew the results and chemo treatment was another few months along from that.  Your Mum would certainly be entitled to a second opinion and can ask GP for a further referral if she wishes. I do not have any medical experience so cannot advise you about the findings/possible treatment options etc but you can call the nurses on this site (freephone from landlines mon to fri 9-5) or post questions on the Ask the Nurses section (though replies will take a little longer due to workload).

    My only suggestion for future appointments would be to write down all your questions (and take a note of answers) as its easy to forget what you want to know once actually there.  Hope you will all have some understanding of the way forward for your Mum's treatment and that her medical team can make her more comfortable.  If she is suffering from pain then do contact her GP as this can be controlled with various forms of pain relief.  Regards Jules54

  • Offline in reply to Meerkat@65

    Hi Jo

    Sorry, think we must have been replying at the same time!  Hope you doing Ok. Love Jules x

  • Offline in reply to jules54

    Thanks Jules54 and Meerkat for your comforting words. xx

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.