I am so completely in the dark right now. My mom (age 58, and besides an occasional cold, was in good health) was diagnosed by our primary physician with pneumonia. Originally, She was complaining of chest pain, he told her her chest was clear and suggested she pulled a muscle. Pain was getting worse so he sent her for an x-ray. He said it was pneumonia and was put on antibiotics and told to rest. 3 days later she looked and felt worse. My sister and I decided to bring her to the hospital. Another x-ray suggested pneumonia, but it was in the lower left lobe of her lung and couldn't get a clear pic, so they did a cat scan and also blood work which showed elevated liver enzymes. The cat scan showed a 6mm mass in her lung and multiple lesions on her liver. This was yesterday. I was told by pulmonary that they could do a liver or lung biopsy, and decided on the liver biopsy which she's scheduled sometime tomorrow for. He already prepared us for chemo/radation treatment to improve her quality of life for the next 6-12 months she probably has. Could this be it so cut and dry??? I am so scared. How do you know if it started in the liver or lung? Does it make any difference to which organ it started in? I can't accept this as an answer, she is a very strong woman. She has gone through some hard times and does not have any health insurance which frightens me so bad to think she may not get the same care she would with good health coverage. Don't they need to do a lung biopsy also? They also want to do a full body cat scan, but feel its not all necessary being it looks like its already in the lung/liver. We will have more answers I guess once the biopsy is completed, but I really don't know much about this except for what I'm pulling up on the internet. I came across this forum and felt there are so many knowledgable people that maybe someone can give me some advice as to what I should be doing. I feel my mom is now my responsibility and I want to do everything I can in my power to give her a fighting chance at this. I thought I'd die today when the dr. said in not so many words that this is it. Anything anyone can share with me is greatly appreciate, right now I feel so uneducated.
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help.....so scared for my mom
- By cricket515
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 12:57 am · 9 replies
- In Family members and caregivers
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Taxol Erlotinib Surgery Avastin Pneumonia Pain Tarceva Liver cancer Carboplatin Adriamycin Lung cancer Folic acid
9 replies
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- By yangjc048
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 2:22 am
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Hello,
It makes a huge difference if it is in the lung or liver where the tumor originated from. The type of chemodrug they will give your mother is dependent and crucial upon what type of cancer she has. Most chemodrugs are that way - for lung cancer you would have drugs such as Tarceva (erlotinib), Alimta, Cisplatin, Taxol, Avastin, Carboplatin, Navelbine, etc... for liver the drugs would be doxorubicin (Adriamycin), 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin. Unfortunately for liver cancer most chemodrugs do not shrink the tumors enough to be effective. I would request the pathology department to send the biopsy tissue of the tumor or lesion to be tested for mutation type. If it is from the lung the mutation type testing would be EGFR, KRAS, or EML4-ALK. Also ask if the lesions or tumors removed are well differentiated, moderately differentiated or poorly differentiated. This makes a huge difference in how fast the cancer cells spread with poorly differentiated being the fastest. Well differentiated basically means it resembles normal human cells with slight mutation, while moderately differentiated means it has mutated somewhat into cancer cells, and poorly differentiated means the cells no longer resemble normal cells. Please respond back later with as much information as you can gather regarding your mother's condition and what type of mutation or where the cancer originated from.
- By yangjc048
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 2:25 am
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By the way doctors cannot predict how long a person has to live. Only God has this power. If a oncologist is willing to give up so quickly do not trust this doctor. Instead find a doctor or oncologist that is optimistic and willing to fight to save your mother's life. It is not the end until it really is the end. Do not waste time on medical professionals that tell you "This is it." Do not trust dire prognosis. Do everything in your power that is humanly possible to help your mother find the right treatment. A cure is just around the corner... be strong.
- By strawberrydude
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 5:32 am
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I agree with yangic048 about doctors not knowing how long a person has to live and recommend a book written by a surgeon which is truly inspirational.
"Love, medicine and miracles" by Bernie Siegel
I just read the book prior to having a lobectomy( left upper lobe) and was inspired to have the most positive attitude. Surgery was on Thursday last week came out on Sunday ceased all pain killers. I am still short of breath but am walking farther each day.
Bernie Siegel founded ECaP (Exceptional Cancer Patients) based on "carefrontation" a loving, safe, therapeutic confrontation that facilitates personal change, empowerment and healing. The resulting physical, spriritual and psychological benefits led to Bernie's desire to make everyone aware of his or her healing potential.
- By cards7up
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 7:54 am
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First of all, this is not it and I agree that you need to get a new doctor. Then you need to pull yourself together and be strong and support your mother through this journey. It is not an easy one and she will need you more than ever. The liver biopsy is much easier to do and they don't need to do both. I would get her started on folic acid and when she starts chemo get her B12 shots. These help with side effects and help boost her immune system. NO swine flu shot as this is a live shot and can cause problems for people with comprimised immune systems. Start writing down all your questions and concerns. Is your mother allowing you to talk to her doctor for her? Get a living will signed by her. It's alot right now, but it is what we here call "the new normal." We will be here for you and your mother. Hang in there. Take care, JC
- By cards7up
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 7:57 am
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Sorry, one more thing. She needs to stay very hydrated while doing chemo. Sports drinks are good, they recommend 3 liters a day. This is very important so that she can flush the poison out of her system.
Take care, JC
- By keepongoing
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 8:36 am
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It sounds to me like you have not yet been to an Oncologist. Is this right? Your primary care physician or any physician in the hospital is not trained to treat cancer. Your mother needs to be seen by an Oncologist. If you are anywhere near a major medical center such as one affiliated with a university or research facility, that is where you should go for best diagnosis, treatment and advise. There are many different types of treatments and protocols to explore.
Good Luck
- By Barb267
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 9:21 am
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You mentioned that you mother didn't have insurance and were worried about that. If you look to the right, there are places listed that can help with that.
One last little bit of advice, quit searching the web. It gives outdated stats that never took into accout a persons age, health, etc. We have people on here that should be gone, according to the stats and their doctors, but their not, and I am so greatful for their support and advice. Keep positive and know that we are here whenever you need us.
Blessings,
Barb
- By Pat-M
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 3:12 pm
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Hi Cricket,
No, it's NOT so cut and dry, and if the Doctors are telling you so, FIND A NEW DOCTOR! There are doctors out there who will be willing to FIGHT for your mother and CAN help her - keep asking and looking until you find one!
You will find countless stories on this site and other places of people who are successfully managing even the worst stage IV cancers for years. New treatments keep coming along all the time. The trick is, to match your mom with the correct treatment or chemo that will
actually kill her cancer cells, or put them in remission.
I would strongly recommend checking out the following sites:
www.rationaltherapeutics.com or
weisenthalcancer.com
They are chemo testing labs. Since your mother is having a biopsy anyways, ask about having an "assay" or "chemosensitivity test" performed on her tumor. That way, rather than trying drugs based on statistical protocols, they can find the drugs which work best on your mom's, unique cancer.
No one will care as much as you about your mom's success, so you have to be her advocate right now. It sounds like, to the doctor's she is just a statistic. But she's a real person and needs to be treated that way.
I'm so very sorry for you and your mom. This is an awful, awful thing to have happen, but I want to assure you, you have plenty of reason for hope!
Take care, Pat
- By MicheleL
- Posted September 23, 2009 at 10:23 pm
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so sorry you had to find us, but you are fortunate that you did. The variety of people here are so knowledgeable about so much---and can certainly empathize with your situation.
You will learn a lot that you didn't really ever want to know but are forced to now and we will get through it with you. Ask questions. And when you don't know what questions to ask, ask that too!!
Cancer is a scary business and you can't press rewind and do it again another time if it didn't quite work out the way you wanted or planned it to.
But you are certainly in the right place.
And I hate the fact that your doctor mentioned a prognosis. It is almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Get that out of your head and start at the beginning. First to get a biopsy done....they will know if it is primary liver cancer that has spread to her lung or vice versa. that is important to know for which drugs to use to treat her.
You will get through this...
Michele
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