How is your mother treated at the moment?
Does she has single or multiple metastasis in the brain?
Is her primary cancer (lung cancer) symptomatic?

She is being treated "palliative". She has 15 radiation treatments. She will have 2 Chemo treatments scheduled about 3 weeks apart. She has multiple metastasis in the brain. Also can you tell which one is worse or which one will become her problem brain or lung. thanks so much

Radiation therapy has become a mainstream therapy for brain metastasis, especially, for patients with multiple lesions. With this treatment, median survival is 3-6 months (some data says 2-3 months) depending on number of lesions (patients with solitary lesions have a better prognosis), their radiosensitivity, and the status of systemic disease.
I found some information about case similar to your mum.
It's about a patient with stage IIIb non-small cell lung cancer and brain metastasis, who has received Gefitinib, a drug used in the treatment of certain types of cancer.
The patient experienced a dramatic clinical improvement within 1 week.
Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging of the brain 1 month later showed decreases in both the size and number of brain metastases and the patient remained well 9 months after initiation of gefitinib.

My mom was diagnosed in June with stage IIIB non small cell. The cancer has not spread past the chest wall. It is in her left lung and is around the heart sac. She had 4 rounds of chemo which has just about destroyed her body. Although the cancer hasn't spread the tumor has grown. The doctor pretty much said no more chemo. Mom has never smoked and that is in her favor. I'm so worried about her so I know how you feel. She is weak, has problems eating and cries alot. I don't know how to help her. Any ideas?

Hi all!

My Dad had an "early" diagnosis of NSCLC and had a good prognosis which led him to undergo surgery for complete removal of his left lung. Unfortunately the operaton did not proceed due to "cardiac wraparound" and proximity to his ribs. He had half of one course of palliative chemotherapy and developed a PE (blood clot) then rapidly had bone secondaries and brain metatases. He died 9 months from diagnosis. Although you feel helpless here are a few things you can do: be with them, support them, ensure they are pain-free (as far as you and they can tell) and when the inevitable end comes, celebrate their life and what they gave you - and get some support from the healthcare professionals and hospice care (for you and them). Its really OK to be sad and to take time to adapt after they pass away to a better pain-free place; its just a great shame that they cannot see how much you admired them for their courage and the selfless support they gave you when you didn't know they were.

my father in law has stage 4 lung cancer in lower left lobe. the tumor spread to his brain but was removed with surgery in 11/08. He underwent 7 weeks of radiation on the brain and the tumors disappeared. The tumor in his lung has grown and they are unable to give him chemo b/c his platelet count is low and he has been receiving radiation for the past 4 weeks on the lung. He is now in ICU due to a stomach obstruction which the drs. are draining. He has Type 2 diabetes which has been out of whack due to loss of appetite etc.... what are the chances that the cancer hasn't spread to his stomach lining?

Early in this month of January 2009 my sister had only back pain symptoms. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung cancer. She has one large tumor in her lung as well as a few small ones and one large one in the T-9 vertebre of her spine. The cancer has not spread to her brain or any other organs. She is expected to begin surgery this Thursday for her spine because of possible paralysis. Then she will undergo radiation and later chemo. What prognosis might she have and what risks are associated with this surgery?