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It’s stage 4 - is there hope?

AbbieG
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We got my nan’s biopsy results back today. She has stage 4 lung cancer. They have briefly discussed treatment but need to wait for her blood tests to decide which is the best. They haven’t mentioned life expectancy. I feel in complete shock, two weeks ago we were in Spain on holiday, happier than ever, now our life has come crashing down out the blue. 

My nan is my best friend, I’ve grown up with her and seen her nearly everyday since. We have a bond like no other so this is my worst nightmare.

Is there hope? I know I need to prepare myself for the worst but it feels impossible to come to terms with and tell myself she’s going to die and there is nothing we can do.

Any advice or experiences would be appreciated 

  • Hi AbbieG,

    I just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear about your nan. Hopefully some of our members can reach out to you, but I thought I'd give you some information here, ahead of blood test results. Hopefully it will help you understand the options available. It might be a good idea to have some questions in your head before the next appointment. Your nan sounds like a lovely lady and I wish her all the best.

    Warm regards,

    Moderator Anastasia 

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    Hi AbbieG,

    I'm so sorry you've had this massive shock and for what you are all going through as a family.

    I'm not a lung cancer patient, it isn't my area, but I just wanted to speak a little about hope.

    Both my grandparents, to whom I was very close, died very suddenly.  I did see them regularly, but still, not being able to be there with them at the end was awful.  I don't know how old your nan is, but obviously we are all going to die at some point, I would say that the real hope is found in the quality time we can spend together with our loved ones when we are 'fortunate' to know that time has been limited slightly more than we first though.  You've had notification that your nan's health is declining and this can help you focus your mind on quality of time.

    As someone with stage 4 breast cancer I still don't know how much time I have, but I know that the quality of it matters more to me than the length.  I also still realise that I could get knocked down tomorrow and it might not even be the cancer that gets me.  Sorry, I'm rambling, and I hope you take this in the way I mean it, which is just to say have as much quality time with your nan as you can, time spent worrying about how long she has will take that quality time away from you.

    Best wishes,

    LJx

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