DM lung cancer and pain - has it spread or something worse?

[sandwiches77]

DM has lung cancer, had chemo, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. She had side effects to the immunotherapy so oncologist had withdrew treatment. She was told that she would had 6-9 months to live without treatment, the 9 months is up in January.

Saw her yesterday and she confessed that she was controlling pain by having 8 pain killers a day. I am worried that she is actually having more than that.

Has the cancer spread, is it worse than that?

It might have spread, or grown? Has she had any recent scans / x rays ?

If she's in pain then She needs to speak to her doctors to get better meds.

She needs better meds, even if she doesn't want further investigation and treatment she is entitled to be pain free as possible.

Ask her Dr's for an urgent meds review. There are patches available that release analgesic at a constant level, this may suit your mum better.

She has had a recent scan and she has an appointment in January for results.

I spoke to her about her speaking to the Dr's about having morphine or similar but she refused.... sigh...

What sort of painkillers is she taking 8 (or more) a day of OP?

There are other drugs available other than morphine, and morphine does have a palliative ring to it so I do understand . Slow release pain patches or slow release pills? Although not as common in the UK oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl are all also used to control cancer pain. I’m stage 4 secondary spread of breast cancer to lungs and it is v painful. I’m on morphine for now whilst I await a treatment plan, if there is one. They have given me slow release stuff now which is better & I tip up orally at night or when I first wake up as that’s the worst time. She definitely needs review and I am sending you good luck.