Non-small cell lung cancer - any experiance of this anyone?

[Eaglebird]

Today I found out that my mother has got non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).She is 82.We are seeing the lung cancer nurse specialist tomorrow to find out more (the type of NSCLC and the grade of the tumour etc, treatment options, prognosis, etc)
Has anyone any personal experience of this type of lung cancer?
If so, please could you mind sharing your experiences?
I'm a realist, and I know that her prognosis is not wonderful, so please feel free to be brutally honest. I need to prepare myself, and also my Dad (who's 81) for what lies ahead.
Many thanks.

Sorry to hear about your mum. It's difficult to tell you much at the moment because everything depends on exactly what type of NSCLC it is - there are several. The treatment and prognosis will depend on the exact type and on whether it has spread (either locally or mets).

I'm sorry to say that overall the prognosis for lung cancer remains poor but there are a few of the rarer types that can be cured. The nurse specialist should be able to tell you your mum's type tomorrow.

In the meantime, you might want to look at this www.patient.co.uk/health/Cancer-of-the-Lung.htm. The leaflet itself is a bit simplistic, but there are some useful links at the end.

Hope things are not too difficult tomorrow. Sorry I can't be of more help.

She has adenocarcinoma in the lower right lung.
She's not suitable for surgery or chemo, so it's just chest x-rays every 4 weeks to monitor growth. Radiotherapy might be suggested if required - e.g. if it grows and makes breathing difficult.
I asked the nurse what stage the cancer was at and she didn't know . So I asked her to find out and let me know before the next hospital appointment.
No idea how long she's got left

Eaglebird I wasn't going to post on this but having just read your thread I've decided to.
My poor dad has just been diagnosed with lung cancer.
I have appointment with the consultant today to discuss it. We know there will be no surgery, but possibly chemo/radio.
Mum is in bits.

Maybe your mother's consultant would see you to give you a better picture? Ring his secretary and insist.

Obviously I can only give you general information and I don't know how much it applies to your mum, especially as we don't know the stage.

Adenocarcinoma tends to grow quite slowly especially in the elderly. As you get older, your cells die and re-grow more slowly. This includes cancer cells, so all types of cancer tend to progress more slowly in the elderly and adenocarcinoma is the most slow-growing type of lung cancer. Your mother could have several more years, possibly even more than five. However I do need to add the massive caveat that it does depend on the exact stage that it is now - I would hate to give you false hope.

Assuming that your mother has had all the investigations (it sounds as if she has), I think it is very poor that the nurse was unable to give you more information on the stage of her cancer. This is the most important thing for a cancer patient to know as it determines treatment and prognosis. I would contact the PALS (Patient Advice & Liaison Service) at her hospital and ask them to take this up with her consultant. The consultant won't be able to tell you because of confidentiality but s/he could write to your mother or her GP.

This info from Cancer Research may be helpful:
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/type/lung-cancer/index.htm

Thank you everyone for your replies.

Inthesticks.
So sorry to year about your Dad. My heart goes out to you and the rest of your family.
I hope the consultant is able to answer any questions you have.
Did you have any inkling that he might have cancer, or was it a total shock?
I suspected that my Mam had it in February. She was in hospital (not to do with her chest)and had a routine chest X ray which showed a shadow. They suspected it was TB (I wondered to myself if it was cancer) so she was put in isolation.
After further tests and X rays, the shadow was found to be cancer.

I do hope your Dad is a suitable candidate for chemo / radiotherapy (if that's what he wants)and wish him the very best.

Very sorry.

Did/does your mum smoke?
Lung cancer can occur in non smokers but is rare.

As above, some types grow slowly others are faster. The other problem is they can cause metastes- cancer cells in other parts of hher body. Has she had an MRI?

The overallprognosis is not good- I don't know if you wan tht stats but I was about towrite a book on illnesses at one stage and had to research- the figures are that after 18 months, only around 5% of patients with LC are alive.

Sorry for you.

Eaglebird it has been a huge shock.
The consultant doesn't now think the ling tumour is the primary. The fact is that he has secondary brain tumours which are so severe that there will only be palliative care.
It's very bleak.

I do wish you the best for your mum and hope you manage to cope with this.
I may not be able to post again.

Hi,

My dad had lung cancer, was at stage 1-2 but he was offered surgery. he was 55.

It's a huge shock for the whole family, and something you always think will never happen to your family.

Keep each other strong and try and write some questions before you go so you can ask and not forget, also ask the consultant for a letter explaining the meeting you have so if you forget you can look back.

HTH