Stage 3 lung cancer and spitting up blood

My mom was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer in March 2008.  She is finished with chemo and is awaiting surgery, which has already been postponed twice due to the cancer spreading.  The cancer has spread to her nerves and pancreas.  This past week she began coughing up blood.  We can't get her surgeon or oncologist to return any calls.  What does the blood mean?  Has the cancer spread to the inside of her lungs?  Originally the tumor was on the outside of her lungs pressing against a major nerve.  Now it has taken over that nerve and possibly spread to the inside of her lungs......right?  She currently attends The James in Columbus, Ohio.  She's so tired of them wasting time and is ready to leave for Chicago to The Cancer Treatment Centers of America.  We just need some answers or something.  Any help, encouragement, bad news......anything right now would be a relief.

Keep us in your prayers!

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

There may be some bits of information that are not clear to you because there is some contradictory information in your post. While you are saying that the disease is stage 3, the presence of involvement of the pancreas would mean stage 4. Or is this pancreatic involvement uncertain? The description of the cancer being outside the lung is also a bit confusing, does this mean located more at the periphery or is it indeed external to the lung (in which case is it really lung cancer or cancer on the lining of the lung?). The symptom of nerve compression is fairly common for lung cancers located in the upper lobes (or lobes nearer the shoulders than the stomach).
The presence of the blood may be due to the cancer itself or to involvement of a blood vessel. If she received a drug (called Avastin) meant to control blood vessels, this may also be a side effect.
It would be best to see the doctor or if you can’t get an appointment to look for a second opinion. The opinion you receive over a call would be based on your assessment alone as an opportunity to examine her would not be feasible.
Stay positive.