Lung Cancer Community

Since no one has been interested in my post I thought I'd let you know the latest, if anyone reads it. Went to the pulminoligist today. I have no other options except a transplant!! Yes, I am a smoker who has not yet been able to kick it, this time I have to succeed or else. I'm scared to death I will fail again. You have to be smoke free for six months before they will consider you. Just thought I'd update, also see oncoligist first week of Feb .

I did try to respond to your post. but had some 'technical' difficulty on this board. Here goes again,,,

I asked what the position of the tumor had to do with being able to administer chemo? Can you please explain that?

And now on to a transplant? Wow,,that's gotta be scary for you,,,may I ask your age?

Lynn

Lynn, thanks for your concern, I'm sorry if I came off hatefull on my last post. Guess i was venting in the wrong direction, The tumor is positioned right behind a rib and with my lung function the way it is, their afraid of my lung collapsing. They won't do chemo without a biopsy and they won't do a biopsy. Scared is putting it mildly, I'm terrified I won't be able to quit smoking. It's not as easy as alot of people think. If anyone has any suggestions on quiting I'd love to here them, I've tried just about everything there is.

There is absolutely no need for apologizes,,,,you have alot going on?! The quitting thing is incredibly hard,,,the mind has to take over and rule. No gum, or patch or e-cigarette is gonna do it - only you, darlin. Hard to understand - you'd think it would be the LAST thing you'd want to keep doing, yet,,,,,

I'm no doctor, but I'f pursue that biopsy discussion with the doctor again. I had a broncoscopy for mine and did fine. They can handle a collapsed lung,,,I'd really push. Chemo and radiation are first line treatments, for pete's sake??!!

Lynn

I am so sorry to hear your news, but I know where you stand. My mother has been living with COPD and emphesma for about 5 years now. She was told that she would have to be monitered for lung cancer every 6 months. The idiots that work @ UC hospital in Cincinnati told her 2 years ago that there was a spot on her left lung, but because it was not growing very fast, not to worry about it. A recent PET scan confirmed that is has more than doubled in size. We got the call last week that it is now believed to be a stage 4 lung cancer. There are no options for her. With the copd and emphesma alone, she only has about 20% lung compacity. The doctors aren't even sure why she's still alive, but they assured that this will take her out, and fairly quickly. I believe that her attitude is what has kept her going as long as she has. I have never heard of anybody beating lung cancer, NOT ONE PERSON. There are things that the doctors have told my sister and me, that our mother is not even aware of. I think that if she knew how long the doctors are giving her, it would destroy her soul, and that would take away any and all hope that she does have left, and that's not alot. For each day that she has left, I credit her positive attitude. I can't, and won't take that from her!

My best wishes go out to you. Good luck in your battle!

I found out my mom has a spot on her lung, she is still waiting for the cat scan. I am so worried , I am sorry to hear you are not getting nowhere..

I seen a video abou t mediacl cannabis called run from the cure , The rick simpson story, video on you tube, and i have read alot about him.. Mr simpson says he has cured cancer with his medicine he makes at home I dont know if it is true or not but maybe it is maybe its not.. who knows ? take a look at it .

The medical profession would never admit if it true or not. We the people have to find out for our selves and then force the medical world to look at the research .

I want to believe it is true

Good luck . either way the video is not a bad video to watch

Faintfuzzies

I'm sorry to hear about your mom but 25% of people do beat lung cancer if diagnosed and treated properly...Unforunately, some people dont get this and that's sad.... My mom had small cell lung cancer that developed in just 6month from her last clean chest xray...She was lucky enough to catch it in time cause it had completely closed off her right lung..But ur right attutide is everything...She went into this without a doubt in her mind she was going to beat it, even when the drs told my brother and I she was critical...She has been done with chemo and radiation for 9 months now and not a sign of cancer anywhere in her body... They even did brain radiation as a precaution after she regular treatments...She is doing great...So people DO beat lung cancer....

I agree with others...Demand a second and even third opinion...Dont stop fighting...My mom had COPD and small cell lung cancer..With a tumor wrapped around her pulmonary artery and they did a broncoscopy on her...They go thru the mouth into the lung...Less risk of it collasping....I wish you the best...My mom tried for many years to quit smoking and it wasnt until the day she landed in the hospital and was diagnosed that she quit..they helped her quit with the use of patches but most of all it was finally the wake up call she needed to help she quit..So the other poster was right. Its all up to up and ur mind set...You have to tell urself that you can do this so that you can beat this... Good Luck and remember dont stop fighting....

My mom has been diagnosed with lung about 3 weeks ago. We went this past wenesday to talk withe a surgeon and he told us the tumor is bigger than what they thought. she has copd and also still smokes. She has cut down alot. I stopped smoking in October of 2008 and took chantix to help me. It worked for me so it is a option for you to ask your doctor about. They said if they operated on my mom they would have to remove her right lung and that she may never come off the respirato. She has an appt. with a onocologist tis Tuesday. I just dont know what to expect

Hi I just joined this group because i am so depressed..... my mom has had copd for years and been on oxygen 24/7 now for about a year, she was dx with lung cancer and treated with cyberknife july 2008. She has had a clean pet scan every six months... however now she is having pain in her lungs and started a pretty bad cough in last few weeks. We started hospice two weeks ago to get help for me actually.....
I spoke with the hospice nurse and she said my mom doesnt even have lung sounds... she feels the cancer has come back... i feel the same as you, that if she knew this she would be very upset, i just dont know where to turn, as my mom does not have a good attitude and acts very nasty to me.... any suggestions??

Hi Anon_23705 and welcome to our Exchange. I am sorry about your mom. I know you can get some great support here. My suggestion would be, to begin a thread. I know that your mother is going through a difficult time and needs you very much. I would also seek advice from the hospice, I am sure they will be very helpful.

lostnillinios hello i hope this might be of some help to you as it was for me, lavagrlnnc. I was told in 2003 that i have Emp., and COPD and almost hit the ceiling. I had just came back to NC from California after seeing my Father who passed in 2004 from the same thing, God rest his soul. Anyway I learned that this can be inhertied so i looked at it as feeling some of what my Father was dealing with, LOL....Now it is my turn? I was told inJan ro Feb of this year i had 2 small spots that were the size of a pen head and they will watch it for 2 years. Because of the COPD I have reg check up every 6 mos. and that was the news that rock ed my world, in May one of the small spots had grow to the size of a quarter and needed attention right away. I then was given a PET test within 2 weeks and it was Pos for cancer. Within 2 weeksI received a LUNG RESECTIONIAL/RESUCTIONIAL operation on the 25th of JUNE (my oldest Daughters B'Day 32) but I went home the next day. I was informed that I was Cancer feel but just to be safe they want me to under go Chemo and Rad which will consist of at least another 3 - 6 mos of treatment. I keep my head up to GOD and know that GOD has the last sayso in everything. Hope this helps you ask ur docture about haveing that operation. Be strong

It sounds kinda like whats happen to me right now!!

I quit smoking which I posted here for you,Id smoked and loved my cigs.In 1997 when I got sick and saw a Pull/Dr,I had and still do have severe COPD,He told me,I give you 3 yrs to live if you dont stop smoking!! I ask him,can I chew or dip stuff.Yea but its not good for you either.Well it was hard getting my nictoine fix with snuff but Im alive and still dripping.I smoked for 38 yrs. Hope this helps and finds you feeling some what better!

When one first discovers or is informed of their apparent condition, the shock is overwhelming to say the least. No one knows better than that person what the feeling is that invades their body and completely blocks out everything else and almost consumes their thought except for the survival reality and it cannot be consumed. I have had it explained to me as the iron will of your entire survival instinct.

Smoking does not always cause cancer. My father and others I knew, smoked until they passed away, and none had any form of cancer. Some of us are not as fortunate, but to blame it entirely on the smoking, as far as the cancer of the lungs is concerned is in my opinion not completely true.

As far as the COPD, there are other reasons for this one, and one could be caused from pre-mature birth, as I understand it. Before the natural birth, the fetus develops lung capacity to sustain itself throughout its natural life cycle. This begins three weeks, as I have read, and so if you are pre-mature before this, your lung capacity could be less than normal.

I have been diagnosed with COPD and have had it for some time. For certain it has affected my breathing capacity, and I sometime get short of breath. In addition, I have been diagnosed atrial fib. of late, and this is an additional stress, as the heart/lung connection is there.

Recently I had to get rushed to the ER and spent 42 days in the hospital. I had more than one surgical procedure, lost 35
pounds and was sent home.

I have had six episodes of chemo, and 15 radiation sessions.
I have been told that I will be on a maintenance dose of chemo for the time being, and will await the future.