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Stage 3 Squamous cell but no treatment offered?

madasahatter1806
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Hi All, i rushed my mum aged 65 years to hospital on 28th February 2015 as she was coughing huge amounts of blood had been feeling unwell and losing weight for a while. After xrays, ct scan, Pet scan and bronchoscopy we have been told. This cancer does not react with chemo so will not be offered. They said Mums tumour is in her left top lung and is already the size of an open hand. Very large. They said they will offer radiation to shrink and help with breathing on the main tumour but it will not reach the lymph nodes that it has already spread to.? They said there is no other treatment they can offer other than palliative care and Mum has only months to live. We are waiting for our appt with the oncologist to discuss. Mum has dropped to under 8 stone now and her hands constantly shake, she is anaemic but other than that good health.
Is this normal? Why wont they take the lymph nodes out blast chemo and radiotherapy, or have they not told us everything? Any advice is appreciated

  • Hi, I am sorry you find yourself in this situation.

    The only reason I can think of is down to your mums age they think it would be better not to give her chemo, Perhaps they think chemo and operations would cause your mum to go through suffering which would not offer any real benifit.

    My nan who had lung cancer was 75 and was given pallative chemo, but if I am honest if made the last few months of her life worse. But your mum is ten years younger and everyone is different. 

    I hope someone on here who has been through this can offer better advice.

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    Best to ask the oncologist and if the answer you receive isn't convincing seek a second opinion.  My guess is that your Mum's weight loss and anaemia mean that the side effects of chemo would make things worse. Age isn't a factor normally taken into consideration but physical health usually is.            You might want to ask whether the palliative care includes chemo to reduce the secondaries affecting the lymph nodes.  Good luck. Dave

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Space_1999

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. Sorry to hear about your Nan. 

    After losing my dad at 62 years old to bowel cancer, now my mum at 65 years I am devastated. 

    My dad decided not to proceed with chemo anymore as compared to quality and quantity of life he wanted quality time with family. 

    It feels like that decision has been taken away from mum. I am also going to ask about a drug called nivolumbab which has proved effective in trials for advanced nsclc. 

    Mum has been allocated a macmillan nurse.

    I hope we get to see the oncologist real soon.

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