Aunty has just been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer that has spread to her glands

[NeverKnowinglyUnderstood]

what happens now?

do they try to treat her or are we looking at paliative care?
one lung has wide spread cancer one has some and it is definately in her glands.

She hasn't felt very well for a year but has only been to see her gp a few weeks ago.

We are in different parts of the country and at the moment she isn't answering the phone as she wants time with my cousins and uncle (understandably!!) but I am trying to get a picture of where this may be going..

hopeful bump

My dad had lung cancer. I'm really sorry but once it was diagnosed it was very advanced as the symptoms are masked, eg a bad cough - smoker, so we just though smokers cough. I would guess palliative care, but you never know. It was six weeks from diagnosis until my dad died.

Oh so sorry to hear about your dad!
I will talk to DH about being on stand by for me to jump in the car and see her as soon as she is open to visitors.

So sorry to hear your news. Treatment will be palliative, in that it cannot be 'cured' but they may still treat the tumours with chemo etc to shrink them to prolong life / improve symptoms. A secondary diagnosis does not always mean things happen quickly, although obviously sadly in some cases this does happen. Such a horrible disease. Best wishes to you all.

Lung cancer that has spread is very bad news. Lung cancer in general is bad news tbh. The survival rates are generally poor. I'm afraid that you should anticipate this to be a terminal illness for your aunt. I'me very sorry that you've had this news.
My bil died from this in 2011. He was diagnosed in late 2010 and lived for a further 5 months. He received radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I suspect that probably lengthened his life a bit but as you can see not greatly. Your aunt may be offered treatment which is hoped to be palliative rather than curative iyswim. Palliative doesn't only mean pain relief.
My bil was able to die at home which was what he wanted. My sister had a bit of a battle to get some help there and her Macmillan nurse was pretty hopeless tbh but the Marie Curie nurses who helped her in the final stages were great. It was very, very hard and sad though.
Give your aunt a bit of time to come to terms with what's happening and then let her know that you love her and you care about what happens to all of them. That's all you can do really.

thank you for your messages. this is exactly the type of info I was after..

I didn't realise that palliative didn't just mean pain relief. There was an oncology nurse at the appointment who gave my aunt her direct line number and said to call with any further questions at any time.

I am going to wrtie to her tomorrow.
Thanks again