Found out today a sibling has Stage 4A but probably Stage 4B adenocarcinoma lung cancer. I've been online constantly researching this for the past week. Yesterday they gave her Hydrocodone and she has nausea from that she says. Nothing glowed near C7 so I assume it's not metastasis but it could be. Her main pain complaint is it feels like it's in the C7 area. L1 glows but usually the middle of the back is the first place in the spine where metastasis of the spine starts. Hoping one of 8 other possiblities is lighting up L1 even just arthritis.
Here are my thoughts but I'm not a medical doctor. Start a fentanyl patch but it usually takes 12 to 24 hours to kick in. Give her OxyContin until the patch works or during pain flare-ups. I suspect it's Stage 4B unfortunately. She asked the nurse how long she will likely live and she wouldn't give an answer and I understand that it should come directly from the oncologist. Being an engineer who's taught graduate statistics but i'm biologically ignorant, the median lifespan (where 50% have survived) is 11 months for stage 4A but 6 months if stage 4B (metastasis of distant places like L1 and maybe C7 would make it 4B). No way I'm going to mention that to my sister or to my middle sister. The eldest and I talk freely but we keep it between us. She has type Ii diabetes, is overweight and has never exercised. She says the pain keeps her up all night. I fear she may have 4 or 5 months left because her symptoms are increasing fast. They couldn't draw blood Monday because her blood was too thick. Never heard of that. They say she looks really sick and has shortness of breath. I mailed her an oximeter and she reported a good oxygen saturation level of 98%. She lives 90 minutes from Dallas where her oncologist is in the teaching hospital by Parkland. I offered to drive her to MD Anderson but that's 5 hours from home although I'm an hour from the medical center.
If they could have drawn blood they were going to test for gene mutations and biomarkers that directs them to give drugs known to slow down cancer growth and may add 2-6 months????
My oldest sister and I pushed for a second opinion from MD Anderson but we both think it would not help at this point. Barring a huge miracle Stage 4A & 4B are incurable. My oldest sister is brutally blunt with me and said if the cancer must grow she hopes it goes to the brain and she goes quickly. That was awkward but my sister loves well and she is torn up over this as we all are and she wouldn't say that to the other two sisters. The patient turns 69 years old next month.
She trusts my advice. I say pull out all the stops. Too much constant pain to sleep - get very aggressive immediately with pain management, maybe Xanax for anxiety and to help with sleep. I understand muscle relaxers are sometimes used.
Sorry for the long and depressing post.
Here are my thoughts but I'm not a medical doctor. Start a fentanyl patch but it usually takes 12 to 24 hours to kick in. Give her OxyContin until the patch works or during pain flare-ups. I suspect it's Stage 4B unfortunately. She asked the nurse how long she will likely live and she wouldn't give an answer and I understand that it should come directly from the oncologist. Being an engineer who's taught graduate statistics but i'm biologically ignorant, the median lifespan (where 50% have survived) is 11 months for stage 4A but 6 months if stage 4B (metastasis of distant places like L1 and maybe C7 would make it 4B). No way I'm going to mention that to my sister or to my middle sister. The eldest and I talk freely but we keep it between us. She has type Ii diabetes, is overweight and has never exercised. She says the pain keeps her up all night. I fear she may have 4 or 5 months left because her symptoms are increasing fast. They couldn't draw blood Monday because her blood was too thick. Never heard of that. They say she looks really sick and has shortness of breath. I mailed her an oximeter and she reported a good oxygen saturation level of 98%. She lives 90 minutes from Dallas where her oncologist is in the teaching hospital by Parkland. I offered to drive her to MD Anderson but that's 5 hours from home although I'm an hour from the medical center.
If they could have drawn blood they were going to test for gene mutations and biomarkers that directs them to give drugs known to slow down cancer growth and may add 2-6 months????
My oldest sister and I pushed for a second opinion from MD Anderson but we both think it would not help at this point. Barring a huge miracle Stage 4A & 4B are incurable. My oldest sister is brutally blunt with me and said if the cancer must grow she hopes it goes to the brain and she goes quickly. That was awkward but my sister loves well and she is torn up over this as we all are and she wouldn't say that to the other two sisters. The patient turns 69 years old next month.
She trusts my advice. I say pull out all the stops. Too much constant pain to sleep - get very aggressive immediately with pain management, maybe Xanax for anxiety and to help with sleep. I understand muscle relaxers are sometimes used.
Sorry for the long and depressing post.