Lung cancer spread to bones

[isthisaplum]

We’re in this horrible position (DH.) He starts radiotherapy on Monday. We don’t know what else to expect … I don’t know why I’m posting, I suppose I’m just wondering if anyone has any further information? Anything is useful!

I'm sorry OP. Have lost my dad and SIL to cancer in the last few years. Once it was in the bones the end came quite fast for my dad.

bumping for you OP as i only know about lung cancer from my parent having it, but not in bones.

hopefully someone will be able to answer your questions.
wishing you both strength. It’s such an awful illness.

Sorry you havent had more replies op.

I dont have any useful advice but I hope someone will come.along who knows better.

I also hope that some have had had better outcomes than the previous poster.

My DH had lung cancer (non small cell - so non smokers cancer) that spread to brain and bones - message me if you want to ask / talk / cry x

Totally different but DB had prostate cancer which had spread locally although not to bones. He had radiotherapy and found the treatment much more tolerable than expected, very few side effects and it has been effective
Hope all goes well for your DH

I am so sorry OP, I hope your oncologist can give you some information on prognosis. I know 5-year survival rates for lung cancer are not that high since your lungs are essential to life (unlike, say, your breast or your prostate.)
My understanding was that once cancer has spread it is a case of treating rather than curing and usually a shorter rather than a longer timeframe.
I am so sorry and hope the medical professionals can give you some answers when you see them.

My grandmother had liver and bone cancer. Secondary caners a couple of years after they stopped the breast cancer.

Bone cancer was uncomfortable at times but radiotherapy really worked well to control her discomfort.

Not sure I have anything to share or say that is useful to you but sending love and wishing you both strength to deal with your own situation.

Yes, this is what DH has. He’s never smoked but apparently it’s the most common lung cancer for younger people and non smokers.

I really appreciate replies. I feel like my DH is in denial a bit, which is totally understandable, but also a bit frustrating as we do need to have some difficult conversations but I’m running up against ‘well I probably won’t be granted PIP once I’ve had the radiotherapy’ and ‘well why do we need to rethink the school run’ sort of responses, it’s obviously far too cruel to say ‘because you can’t bloody walk and you are extremely ill!’ but that’s the gist of it

Hi OP - so sorry to hear this. When did DH get the original diagnosis? I have some experience with my DM but it was a number of years ago and I don't want to say anything that doesn't fit the same scenario you are facing. Are you utilising all the services available to you? The cancer charities are so helpful and the specific forums are so good for support and there are always people around to chat to who know exactly what you are going through.

If there is a Maggies Centre near you they can be very informative and supportive for you as much as him

Thanks @wanttokickoffbutcant . We absolutely will be, we’ve been waiting for the results from the biopsy for a while.

DH had a scan in June which revealed cancer in his bones, and it seemed to take forever just to arrange a biopsy: five weeks of waiting. And then another three for the results. We finally have them, and it’s something called adenocarcinoma which is a type of lung cancer.

We only found out Friday and although we suspected it it’s still hard hearing it. DH is currently in a lot of discomfort and finding it very hard to sleep, despite high levels of pain medication. I hope the radiotherapy helps but I do think DH has slightly unrealistic expectations as they’ve also mentioned chemotherapy and I know that won’t be pleasant to say the least.

It is stage iv and as someone has said the survival rates of even twelve months aren’t great from lung to bone. In many ways I just really want to know to prepare myself, to know what to do with work, to know how to prepare the children. I mean, if someone said ‘DH will probably not be alive much longer after Christmas’ I’d just get signed off. As it is, I don’t know and feel very much in limbo.

Thank you I will google.

Maggie's | Everyone's home of cancer care https://share.google/XyHwNUX7dQGFoUgfF

Thank you. The nearest one to us is in Nottingham which is a bit of a trek but we do have a MacMillan centre in the hospital.

My 90 yr old Mum in law was diagnosed with lung cancer which has spread to her bone, 3 years ago. Stage 4. She's still doing well, takes a tablet every day, no side affects. They originally gave her 6 to 12 months to live.

Gosh, really? That’s very encouraging and I hope she continues to do well

Not lung cancer, but I know a lots of people with cancer spread to bones, and many are doing well many years later, and some are no evidence of disease. But perhaps lung cancer spread isn’t as treatable.

You DH should have been allocated a cancer nurse. They are there to help the families as well.
I have found them good at answering questions and also referring to MacMillan.

My Dad had non-small cell, diagnosed stage IV (there were also dark spots on his ribs). He was on Tarceva and then he was accepted for an immunotherapy trial (nivolumab) but died shortly after starting, three years from diagnosis.

im sorry OP, its awful.

So sorry to hear that @bunnypenny . In many ways, three years is more optimistic than some of the results that come back, although the answers are very variable.

Thanks all. I just wish I knew for certain, it’s the uncertainty that’s so hard to manage.

My DH was diagnosed at stage 4 too, tbh the radiotherapy for the mets to the bones (his ribs) was probably the easiest and most effective of all his treatments. Have they sent the sample to Birmingham yet to see exactly which flavour ? My hubby was a single daily tablet. Once you know which flavour (his was EGFR) there are FB groups - I could have entered Mastermind on LC 🫪

Could you recommend any? A lot seem to be US based. I think we are still waiting for some results; it’s so hard. Could you explain what ‘what flavour’ means, sorry? Very much a novice here.

Non small cell lung cancer has different types, one of the most common is the EGFR, its all the same but the drugs they use to treat are different.

Thank you very much for explaining that - I honestly haven’t a clue. I have heard of cancers I didn’t even know existed recently

Husband was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer in 2023. Had already spread to eyes and bones when we found out. He's been on a few new drugs and is currently on a trial drug which is keeping the cancer under control. Never thought he'd still be here three years later, but he is. Wishing you lots of love, patience and strength x