Metatastic lung cancer spread to liver and brain

[Justmuddlingalong]

We phoned an ambulance to take my lovely BIL to hospital last week with what we thought were symptoms of a stroke. Brain scan showed cancer but thought to have spread from elsewhere. Body scan showed liver and lung cancer, with the lung being the primary site. Awaiting results from liver biopsy, but if anyone has any advice or experience, I'd be grateful to hear your thoughts. He's in his 70s and also quite slim already, so I'm under no illusions about the outcome. I'd just like to get the heads up on what the future might hold. Tia.

• metastatic

OP, I'm sorry. A friend of mine was taken to hospital with supposed stroke symptoms last year and found to have brain metastases. That was on April 12; she died on May 20.

In her case the doctors were very clear that even the most aggressive treatment would only buy her a few months, and reduce her quality of life. She opted for palliative treatment only.

Staff on the palliative ward were great and her friends and family made time to see her. I think hers passes as a good death.

I bloody miss her though. I hope you can support each other.

I should perhaps add - the last time I visited, she tried to eat her napkin and drink from the salt cellar. It's astounding what metastases can do to a brain.

What 'worked' was playing her music, massaging her feet, helping her eat, talking without aiming for coherence. Music and more music. You'll find something.

I'm so sorry my mum had similar, 5 months from diagnosis of what they thought was a brain tumour but was actually secondaries from lung cancer. Because she was relatively young, 55, they tried aggressive treatment but she was on palliative for the last 10 weeks. She lost all speech and faded quickly. She had a morphine driver to manage the pain. She wasn't able to be alert for much of those 10 weeks, but did recognise me and knew I was there. It was all a bit brutal to be very honest, so be prepared for that.

Sorry to hear others have been through this. He's been on steroids which have improved his balance and speech, but they finish in a day or two and I'm worried his mobility will get worse again. He lives alone. ☹️ OT are coming out today to assess him. Although he was bright as a button this morning, I'm presuming the sleeping a lot will increase.

So sorry to hear this. It really is such a bolt out of the blue. It resonates with me somewhat as my DH49 ended up in A&E at the end of April with what we thought was a stroke. First CT showed a mass on his brain and the doctors thought it may be secondaries. However, further CT body scans were clear. It turned out to primary, the worst type - GBM4, with a prognosis of 12-15 months. 2 years if we get lucky. I realise that he will cease to be himself at some point and that, for me, is the scariest part. Sending you all my love. 💔💐