Pleural Mesothelioma stage 4. HELP ME PLEASE UNDERSTAND

[tkemeaway]

Help Please!! My Uncle was dx with Mesothelioma of the Pleural almost 2 months ago. He was been pretty healthy no major health issues in the past. Since he was Diagnosed he has been in and out of the hospital. He has had 2 rounds of Chemo. His platelet count keeps dropping as low as 19000. He has been in the hospital for 9 days this time and now we were told that he has a spot on his liver and kidney and they want another Pet Scan. Is this what's to be expected? I understand the cancer and I understand the end results. My question is this normally how it goes? In and out of the hospital, blood counts/platelet consistently dropping, He is having to a platelets and a blood transfusion, pretty much an emotional roller coaster that has not slowed down since we were told of his diagnose. I have tried to google everything possible that I can think of. I'm not trying to sound negative or come across as being rude. I am just looking for someone who has gone through this and may be able to let me know what their experience was. I'm the type that I want to know all I don't want to just hear the positive I don't want people to beat around bush about it. Is this normally how this goes with the mesothelioma or could it be because it has only been 2 months and 2 rounds of Chemo, is their a chance that he might be able to go a month with out having to be admitted to the hospital? Can it spread to the liver and/or the kidney in a month period?? Please help me understand.

[tkemeaway]

Yes he is for now. It's just so many questions and new concerns everyday it seems. He was released on Friday and is scheduled for his PET scan on Monday

[Londres70]

I will not be able to provide accurate answers to some of your questions because I am NOT involved in your uncle's care, so I am not sure why they are doing some of the things they are doing.  With that being said, I will answer what I can.

As for the PET Scan, alot of facilities do NOT have these scans.  Patients may have to go to another facility that does to have this done.  

As for the suspected internal bleeding, I do not know why they bumped it back; not sure about what happened there.  

In my experience, things were not so to speak "rushed"  when someone was stable.  Keep in mind, I am not sure how many other patients this hospital is dealing with that are worst off than your uncle; e.g. traumas  

Is your uncle able to keep you abreast of his situation; what is going on?  

[tkemeaway]

Thank you! In your experience did it ever seem like they didn't rush things because of the dx? He's in the hospital and they are telling him once he is discharged then he needs to make an appointment for the Pet scan to see if it did spread. He's already in the hospital so why wait? They though he had internal bleeding and were scheduling a scope and colonoscopy that day then they didn't have time and had to wait another day?

[Londres70]

Speaking from personal and professional experiences, yes, unfortunately this IS very normal.

Secondly, yes, he MIGHT, that is MIGHT, be able to go a month without being in the hospital.  

Thirdly, yes it can spread quickly and it usually has a poor prognosis.