Lung Cancer - my mom

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2005
Lung Cancer - my mom
9
Tue, 05-13-2008 - 3:09pm

Hello, I'm not sure where to begin, but I'll just say that I'm in kind of a state of shock right now, and just feeling lost as to where to turn.  My Mom has lung cancer, we don't know any details other than it is in the right lung.  She has been through hell the last six months, trying to find out what was wrong with her.  She was not feeling well, very weak, fatigued - to the point of not being able to do ANYTHING, nauseous, in pain in her chest (which now we know why).  She had many symptoms - and her doctor kept telling her last year it was "just your fibromyalgia" and she'd have to deal with it.  She ended up going to the ER in January in Florida (they spend winters there, and summers up here in NC).  Tests were run, her blood work showed her white blood cell count way down.  She went to doctors but no one could give her an answer.  She ended up getting a friend who was a nurse getting her a referral to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Orlando - went through tests there - nothing was found!  She came back to NC and was doing so poorly she went to see another doctor - after 6 vials of blood and them running tons of tests they told her that she basically has no immune system left - and they still don't know why, but decided to put her on prednisone to boost her white cell count.  The first day she took that her blood pressure and heart rate skyrocketed and had such bad chest pains she had to go to the ER again, this time here in NC.  They did a stress test & all and determined it wasn't her heart.  Finally did a CT scan and told her about the spot on her lung.  That is a very condensed version of what she's been through up to this week. 


We are just devestated as you can imagine.  We knew something was wrong, but didn't imagine this.  No one in the family smokes, but I do know that doesn't mean you won't get lung cancer, but still, I just feel blindsided.  I just read about lung cancer on the mayo clinic website, and the statistics for survival are just awful. 


Is there anyone here that has had experience with lung cancer (or a relative/friend who has) and can share with me how treatment went, where to find good info, where the best treatments are - we're just not sure where she should go, her doctor hasn't really discussed it with her yet that I know of.  How fast could it have spread - if symptoms started to be severe way back in January - does that mean it is probably spread or very advanced? 


I know most of these questions can't really be answered.  I just needed to get it out I guess.  I'm trying to be really strong and positive when I talk with her on the phone and not break down, even when she does - and my Dad, I know how terrified he is and he's trying to hide it but she knows how devestated he is too at the thought of losing her.  The minute I hang up I lose it.  I'm so scared - I am going to go for a long visit, to help however I can - I have to take my 2 1/2 year old son too though - and I am scared I won't be able to control myself from just breaking down when I get there.  I am praying.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-06-2007
Wed, 05-14-2008 - 10:08pm

thh15.gif image by maggie3333


Charlene, welcome to the board.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2008
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 5:21pm

Hi Char,


I am a three year survivor of non-small cell

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-20-2008
Tue, 05-20-2008 - 9:55pm

I'm sorry that you are going through this, it's so very hard.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2005
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 7:37am
Thank you Maggie - for the helpful information, advice & prayers!


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2005
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 7:43am
Judie thank you so much for your response!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2005
Wed, 05-21-2008 - 7:49am
Wow - your mom is such a fighter!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2007
Tue, 05-27-2008 - 6:20pm
You're right about the hardest part not being in control and not being able to fix it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2008
Tue, 06-03-2008 - 10:14pm

Hello,


Just found out that my Mom has lung cancer 1 month ago.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-18-2005
Wed, 06-04-2008 - 8:32am

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mom.

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