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Mother about to be diagnosed with Lung Cancer

jacci48
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Hello,

My mother is 82, gave up smoking 29 years ago and has had a bronchoscopy for suspected lung cancer. She had over 2 l fluid on her lung which has been drained and a ct scan has shown a 5.1cm lesion that has spread to 2 lymph nodes and because of this and the fluid (pleural effusion)  they are classing it as stage 4.

Once results are in there will be another mdt meeting and she is going to see Consultant (with me) on Jan 8th,it would be sooner but obviously Xmas and New Year are slowing things up. Now my mum didnt understand the terminology in her discharge note and she is in denial and tbh Im not prepared to burst her bubble.

I presume her only course of treament will be palliative care...I have had bone cancer mself so unfortunately have a bit of  an idea of his evil disease alhough I was very lucky and am in remission.

I will be her sole carer as my brother died 9 years ago and I want to be as aware of the situation and of things that will happen to her as possible.When we go for her Consultants meeting does anyone know how they will advise her that it is incurable...will they give her a full prognosis and possibly a time scale? I want to be as geared up as possible for her so I can be as helpful to her as I possibly can.I would love to think they are wrong because I adore my mum and although she is 82 Im not ready to lose her and never thought she would get lung cancer because she had stopped smoking so long ago.

The lung cancer nurses are being wonderful and calling her most days, the card they gave her says chest nurses but looking up the hospital I saw that they are lung cancer nurses so that sort of dashed any bit of hope I had.

Sorry to ramble on but thanks so much for reading..consultant thinks its T4N2M1A.

Thanks again,

Jacci

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    Hi jacci

    How is your mum doing? Is she in hospital ?

    How are you coping ?? Xx

  • Offline in reply to Mylittlesunshine

    Hi, she is waiting for the ambulance now, she decided to wait as long as she could as she knows they dont really have drs there at the weekend.I will go and see her tomorrow after work. Im coping but obviously extremely worried about her. I cannot believe this fluid has built up again so quickly. Bless her she is a very strong individual, really not looking forward to 2014 as I know its going to bring bad tidings.

    On the plus point that awful head/dizzy thing I had yesterday has gone so I am going to be able to see her tomorrow and visit her as long as she is in hospital and then help her once she is back home.

    Hope all ok with you Hun.

    Jacci x

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    That's seems a good idea, as your mum is right

    She would only sit there all weekend without

    Being seen by a proper doctor who would know

    Her history and treatment needed.

    Many of time this has happend to me .

    Glad yor feeling better today Hun, nothing worse

    When you have a bad head.

    Today was lovely my husband was off and he took

    Me and the kids shopping and then out for a meal.

    It was just nice to forget for a few hours and to enjoy

    Family time when I can. Hugs to you xx

  • Offline in reply to Mylittlesunshine

    Glad you have had a lovely day, how old are your children?its nice to be able to be normal sometimes isnt it?

    Jacci x

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    Yeah it is Hun , my children our 4, 7,11

  • Offline in reply to Mylittlesunshine

    You are very young then to get chondro, I was diagnosed at 51, my boys are 25 and 22! Im 53 now.

    What lovely ages your children are though, I would love mine to be younger, you do worry more when they are older believe you me!

    Take care and speak soon Hun.

    Jacci x

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    Hi jacci

    How is your m doing?? How are you coping x

  • Offline in reply to Mylittlesunshine

    Hi, she is still in hospital , on oxygen 24/7. They have said she may have a collapsed lung and for some reason are going to do another bronchoscopy on Tuesday next. They were going to do it this Tuesday but cancelled it.then they told her she might be able to go home tomorrow! She is 82, can't breathe properly and is in quite a fragile state worrying she may have cancer....I'm so cross. She is in a lot of pain as well and painkillers don't seem to be helping, bless her she was in tears tonight. So really we are no further on, hope all ok with you Hun.

    Jacci xx

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    Aw jacci I'm so sorry to here this about what your

    Mum is going through.

    Sometimes these doctors make me so mad.

    Surely they won't be able to send her home when

    She is needing oxygen 24/7 and in alot of pain.

    Hugs to you and your family x x

  • Offline in reply to jacci48

    Hi Jacci

    So sorry to read that your Mum not doing so well and do hope they will soon be able to get her pain under control. I know from years back when my Dad was in hospital, he hated to make a fuss and rarely told the nurses how he really felt so we acted as go-between (sadly behind his back!) so they adjusted his medication and eventually found the right levels to keep him comfortable without being totally out of it.  They certainly did not consider sending him home whilst on full time oxygen but I do have a n elderly friend now who has oxygen at home more or less 24/7 as she preferred to be at home and our local hospital arranged for district nurses to call to help monitor her situation.  She also has mini oxygen tank so she can be taken out in her wheelchair when she feels up to it.

      Hope the bronchoscopy can get to the bottom of the problem and she can be made more comfortable soon.

    Look after yourself too.  Jules xx  

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