Cancer or COPD symptoms

[kittin1966]

My 63 yo mom was diagnosed w/ lung cancer and COPD 3 1/2 years ago.  The cancer was caught very early and she had a lobectomy.  She was given several medicines for her COPD including albuterol and spireva (sp?).  She initially followed up with her oncologist but no longer sees any doctors because she is afraid of what they will tell her.  As a result, she has run out of all her meds except for her inhaler which she uses frequently.  Recently we have found that she cannot finish a sentence.  It appears that she cannot remember the words she wants to use and/or she forgets what she was talking about.  I am worried that this a symptom of low oxygen levels or respiratory failure.  I am also worried about the possibility of a brain tumor.  I can't get her to go to the doctor. If it a simple matter of resuming her meds maybe I could convince her.  I don't know what to do.

[calamfred]

You are quite welcome...I sure do hope it helps...and I truly hope your mom will see her Dr...my mom and I have a favorite saying, "Fear knocked at the door, Faith answered, and no one was there...". Please update how things go, and should your mom need some supplemental oxygen, well, my mom was worried about that too. The Respiratory Therapist told her that he has a lot of people who say they are "worried about getting addicted to the oxygen"...He said he tells people, "Well, technically we are ALL addicted to oxygen the moment we are born."...never thought of it that way, but he is right, some people just need a little more of it. It made a huge difference in how my mom felt and what she could do when she was put on the oxygen...and she has been on the same setting with it for 5 years...I know we are all different, but it does help just to hear of others who have gone thru/are going thru the same things...
Take Care,
K

[kittin1966]

Thank you for sharing your story, it gives me hope.  I think my mother is ready to get some answers even though I know she is very scared.
Kim

[calamfred]

Hi,
My mom's story is quite similar to your moms...mine was diagnosed lung ca, had lobectomy (actually they took out 2 of the 3 lobes of her right lung), she is 5 yrs in remission this past April, and just turned 70. She was 65 at the time of diagnosis...anyways, I hope your mom will reconsider and go to the Dr...Many things can cause memory loss, low oxygen can definitely do it. My mom is on oxygen full time, has been since the surgery. She also is on inhalers. And, actually she is doing well all things considered. Maybe you can share this with your mom...I would also tell her how much you love and care about her and that it hurts you to see her not feeling/doing well...Since it has been 3+ yrs since her diagnosis, that is actually a good thing...Does she have a Pulmonologist, too? Perhaps that would be less "scary" to hear to see a lung dr. as opposed to the Oncologist?? I hope things get better for her...and you...
Take care,
K

[allmymarbles]

Has she suffered a stroke? Sometimes people  suffer a series of minor strokes without knowing it.