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Mother in law has small cell lung cancer
She was originally told she had pancreatic cancer, then after a liver biopsy and addtional scans she was told she has small cell lung cancer with mets to the pancreas, liver, and bones. She is 70 years old. She started the first round of chemo on Monday and finished yesterday. Her oncologist is telling us she is going to feel lots better after the first round of chemo, and get her energy and appetite back, but that she is incurable. We know she is terminal but we would like to know what kind of life expectancy she has? Her dr. says with chemo, 8 to 12 months, but she is very frail and has lost tons of weight and is barely eating and her breathing is already affected so much that she is on an inhaler...so she started chemo in a weakened condtion, and the whole family doesn't think she is going to live as long as what the dr. says. I understand this is the worst kind of lung cancer to get, it spreads swiftly, and she has it in her bones, which is bad...I would appreciate any info anyone can give us...we are all pretty scared and upset and we don't want her dr. giving us false hope...
Hi,
Patients with small cell lung cancer tend to have complications. If the red blood cell count is indeed low, I wonder if a transfusion would improve her symptoms - if this is so - then I think, chemotherapy is still in order. The doctor will likely reduce the dose- this will help avoid side-effects.
If a transfusion is not deemed warranted - the doctor will look for other problems that may be corrected.
If there is no specific issue to correct and all that is needed is to wait for her to recover , there are supportive medications that can be given. When her condition improves - the chemotherapy option would be discussed again. If she decides to give it another go - the doctor would likely add more supportive medications and reduce the chemotherapy dose as well.
In general, chemotherapy is not entirely out of the question. A dose reduction is probably in order and additional medications for support may be beneficial- this will help avoid another complication.
Her doctor would be the best judge to say how fit she is to take any treatments. I understand you may have doubts because of the present status. Most complications do occur after the first round of chemotherapy. Alternatively, it may not really mean poor tolerance to chemotherapy per se, but rather, the disease may be progressing. That she is spending more time in bed may reflect disease progression more than acute deterioration from chemo. The red blood cells lowering are also evidence of high disease burden. Her doctor would again be better able to judge the present condition from the initial, and make recommendations.
Stay positive.
Patients with small cell lung cancer tend to have complications. If the red blood cell count is indeed low, I wonder if a transfusion would improve her symptoms - if this is so - then I think, chemotherapy is still in order. The doctor will likely reduce the dose- this will help avoid side-effects.
If a transfusion is not deemed warranted - the doctor will look for other problems that may be corrected.
If there is no specific issue to correct and all that is needed is to wait for her to recover , there are supportive medications that can be given. When her condition improves - the chemotherapy option would be discussed again. If she decides to give it another go - the doctor would likely add more supportive medications and reduce the chemotherapy dose as well.
In general, chemotherapy is not entirely out of the question. A dose reduction is probably in order and additional medications for support may be beneficial- this will help avoid another complication.
Her doctor would be the best judge to say how fit she is to take any treatments. I understand you may have doubts because of the present status. Most complications do occur after the first round of chemotherapy. Alternatively, it may not really mean poor tolerance to chemotherapy per se, but rather, the disease may be progressing. That she is spending more time in bed may reflect disease progression more than acute deterioration from chemo. The red blood cells lowering are also evidence of high disease burden. Her doctor would again be better able to judge the present condition from the initial, and make recommendations.
Stay positive.
My mother in law was in the ER last night due to leg weakness...she couldn't stand by herself...she has lost more weight, is not eating or drinking, and was dehydrated. Plus her red blood cell count was very low. Apparently the chemo really adversely affected her bone marrow. They gave her fluids for a few hours last night and sent her home and she sees her oncologist again today. I don't see how she can possibly withstand the next round of chemo which starts next week. She is fading right before our eyes. After the first round of chemo she was very sick with side effect for three days, then started to feel better but that only lasted a couple days and then she went downhill again. I just wonderful what your opinion is Dr. Do you think that she can withstand more chemo? Or do you think that these signs are signs that she doesn't have long...she is already spending most of her time in bed....
Hi,
I understand your confusion, but there are some paradoxes to discuss here.
Yes, it is an aggressive type of cancer. However, it does respond to chemotherapy. This is what the doctor means that she would feel better after the chemotherapy. Some of the responses are dramatic - that patients regain much, including weight.
The problem is that the disease eventually overtakes the capacity of the chemotherapy to keep it under control - so that the survival is not improved for a long period for most cases.
Improvement in symptoms is an important goal in itself. I think this is reason enough to stay on the current course. Of course, should the medications give more side-effects than gains - there are other agents which may give different side-effects.
Stay positive.
I understand your confusion, but there are some paradoxes to discuss here.
Yes, it is an aggressive type of cancer. However, it does respond to chemotherapy. This is what the doctor means that she would feel better after the chemotherapy. Some of the responses are dramatic - that patients regain much, including weight.
The problem is that the disease eventually overtakes the capacity of the chemotherapy to keep it under control - so that the survival is not improved for a long period for most cases.
Improvement in symptoms is an important goal in itself. I think this is reason enough to stay on the current course. Of course, should the medications give more side-effects than gains - there are other agents which may give different side-effects.
Stay positive.
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