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Mom Diagnosed With Lung Cancer

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Hello all,

my mother age 60 has been preliminarily diagnosed with lung cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. All of the stages, details, etc are forthecoming and I will share those with you to get better insight, but my main concern right now is the lung cancer. Her left lung was completely full of fluid and had to be drained yesterday at which point it collapsed, her heart sac has fluid around it and her liver was not functioning to it's full capacity. The lymph nodes are visible through the under-arm. She smoked for over 40 years quite the day she was diagnosed last month. Too little too late. I also quit the day she was diagnosed and I have smoked for 22 years. What should I expect given that the cancer is in multiple locations? Her breathing is obviously labored and she has trouble moving around without a wheelchair. The odd part of this is that it has been a very quick decline from a very active 59 year old to a very limited 60 year old. Over the span of 6 months I watched as she rapidly deteriorated to a state where she could not even climb a set of stairs or hold a conversation for too long. I forced her to go to the doctor and my worst fears were realized. She has 3 grandchildren ages 11 months to 10 years old and I have not told them the extent of what we are facing right now because I am not too sure myself. How long does she have? Will she leave the hospital etc... Will her functions improve? I know that I need to wait for the staging but given what I have right now what do you think?

Thanks
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replied October 17th, 2004
Mom Diagnosed With Lung Cancer
Hello new user I am very sorry to hear about your mom first of all and I am no doctor of course but I say to wait and see what the doctor says and go from there dont draw any conclusions or anticipate just wait and see tell the grandkids only what they need to know and make the best of whatever happens as you onlt live once. Your mom and the grandkids are gonna need lots of support and you'll be the one giving it so get ready things are gonna be hard on you and alot will rest on your shoulders too keep your chin up and the best of wishes to you and your whole family too. I hope things will work out for all of you and I sincerely wish you all the best no matter what happens. Keep ur chin up people care Wink
best wishes very aggervated hope all goes good Wink
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replied October 18th, 2004
Update
Things have progressed very rapidly. There are 3 primary sites breast, lung, and lympnodes. They have also discovered it has transitioned to the bones. It is of the small cell type. They were able to do 2 days of chemo when her other lung started to fail. They have her on a respirator now and she is in and out of consciousness. She now has an infection and is running a low grade fever. They are sustaining her bloodpressure with medicine. The doctors feel it is only a matter of days now. Thanks for your concern.

Mike
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replied October 18th, 2004
Experienced User
I'm so sorry. My mother- in-law died a couple years ago from lung cancer. She too was a lifetime smoker. By the time she went to the doctor and was diagnosed it was too late. She only survived for a few months- sorry to say. This could definitely not be the case with your mom, i'm just saying that's what happened here. My mother-in-law got out of the hospital but never really got any better. She was in such a late stage that she could basically only be kept comfortable for the time she had left. It was hard to explain to the grandkids and we all miss her very much. She too was only in her early 60's.
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replied October 18th, 2004
Experienced User
Take care of yourself as well. Make sure you go in for a physical and keep your health monitored regularly.
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replied October 19th, 2004
Experienced User
How's it going with your mom?
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