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realistic outlook for non small cell lung cancer

OMGitsDMC
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my wife (36) was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer a couple of months ago, when we first saw the consultant to talk about it and the treatment she would get, she was given a piece of paper with what her diagnosis was and on it was different tick boxes like cure and others (which i can't remember) but on it it wasn't ticked for cure. any after that we got a letter detailing the meeting with the consultant and on it was the words palliative chemo, now i did google this and seen that it has something to do with prolonging life expectancy in this situation, what i'm wanting to know is realistically (with chemo) how long is the life expectancy in this situation? i know it might seem an odd thing to ask, but i kind of need to know 

  • Offline in reply to Greeneyedman

    Hi greeneyedman. Thank you for explaining your particular situation but I hope the Mods can clarify the legal rights for me as it is not something i have even contemplated happens with an equal partner - an elderly confused person or child maybe who needs an advocate -that is understandable. 

    I do hope your wife is keeping as well as is possible in her circumstances and that she is able to find some normality and quality time with you all. Do you have other family and friends who support you both?

    In blunt truth, I do not think an oncologist, or anyone, can answer the questions you have. They can only quote averages and many live well beyond the 'average'.  Most online information is outdated and so many new drugs and treatments are becoming available that incurable but treatable is quite possible for some people now thank goodness - NHS funding is the difficulty sadly.  I was given a 4-6months prognosis nearly 4yrs ago and have had chemo throughout that time 3wkly. My husband and I like to talk in terms of "living" with cancer and not "dying" with cancer.  Having children is never easy in our situation is it? That's when the heart really gives a wrench!  The nurses here will be able to help you with advice on talking to the children and McMillan can help your wife with ideas on leaving memory boxes etc when the time is right - something sensible for everyone to consider, cancer or not.

    All the best to you and your family. Always here for a chat if needed, as are many others here in a similar situation.  Keep in touch x

  • Offline in reply to max56

    mine is also the need to know so i can plan as much as possible for the worst case scenario as i have 3 young children. my wife also suffers with panic attacks which is why i try and find out as much as possible wether it's good or bad about our situation so i can talk to my wife and help her through if she gets upset about things or needs to understand certain things that are going on. 

  • Offline in reply to OMGitsDMC

    Hi omg ..... I am so sorry to hear what you are all going through. I lost my own mother very suddenly as a teenager, so I guess I always saw that as a real possibility when I had my own family and  have always considered worse case scenarios long before cancer entered our lives.

    It must be very difficult for your wife to cope with this illness if she suffers with panic attacks and you would hope that her treatment team and McMillan nurse would be able to give her the appropriate help and lift this responsibility from you when you are trying to cope with so much else at the moment.  It really doesn't sound like anyone has explained this particular diagnosis to any of you, or the treatment plans that go along with it.  Maybe a McMillan nurse could do that - I find their support and general information skills invaluable.

    I can't pretend that I am not surprised to read how freely others personal information is discussed without a patient being present.  My husband and I have always attended appointments together and faced things as a team and I suppose naively I have never considered that anybody would not want to be in charge of their own care or the discussions surrounding it - mentally incapable I understand - but not actively choosing to take a back seat and not knowing  for sure what was being discussed. Goes to show what a pushy control freak I am (haha) and the truth in the saying that you learn something new every day! That's not personal in your relationship I can see, I am just talking generally bytheway.

      Wishing your wife all the very best with her treatment and hoping you both get all the support you need x

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