Hi there.

Will try and condense to a short story. My Mum, whos now 66 had a very bad car accident over 10 years ago, she suffered a punctured lung and was in ITC on a ventilator. Following the accident, her breathing was never back to normal and her GP treated her for asthma but we were never sure it was asthma that she had. Last summer my sister and I noticed that she was struggling with her breathing more than usual - she walked very slowly and inclines were even more dificult. Eventually, after several visits to her GP and new breathing tests, she was, in December diagnosed with COPD. After researching this online, my sister discovered that the symptoms can be similar to lung cancer and that an xray would be neeeded.
Fast forward a couple of months and my mum was diagnosed with stage 2 NSCLC. She went into hospital 6 weeks ago and the bottom lobe of her right lung was removed and it turns out she had a 5inch (12.5 cm) tumour removed. Her lymph nodes weren't infected and PET scans have shown that there is no cancer anywhere else, however she does still have COPD

Mum is really struggling though since the operation. She has come home on portable oxygen, which is to be used when she is active. It takes very little for her to be knackered and she goes on the oxygen as soon as she has showered and washed her hair. However, she doesn't like going out with the oxygen, as she is too embarrassed to be seen with it, so she isn't building up any strength again and is very weak.

Apparently, at the size of her tumour, it is usual practise to offer chemo. After speaking with her oncologist, they decided that she isn't strong enough for chemo and said,that in her case the negatives will outweigh the positives and as far as they are concerned all the tumour has been removed.

I'm hoping I will be able to find out through this site, how long it will take for her to feel more like herself? When will the intense pains subside? will her breathing ever get back to normal?

Is there anyone who can help me, because although her treatment was fantastic, the aftercare has been a bit lacking. When she asked the oncologist, she was told 'its early days', which obviously it is but how long is this road???

Sorry for the really long post and for all the questions. Hoping you can help.

Kay x

Hi Kay-

Welcome to the board.

I never had surgery so I cannot give you any information on that but others with be along soon who have. I just wanted to let you know that your mom will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Keep us posted as to how you both are - your mom is lucky to have you by her side.

Hugs - Patti B.

_________________
My personal war against cancer:
Stage IV at diagnosis 9/29/06- told 12 months tops.......yeah, right!!!
5 rounds of radiation R hip
15 Whole brain radiation txs 7/20 - 8/7/09
8 weeks on oral Tarceva
To date, 80 IV chemo sessions and still counting
Chemos have consisted of:
Carbo/Taxol/Avastin
Avastin alone
Alimta
weekly Navalbine
weekly Gemzar, now on Gemzar every other week due to blood counts
All my veins have become inaccessible - port installed 12/30/09
Put on Alimta/Avastin as a combo
Currently on Taxotere, on 3 weeks off one

Welcome, Kay. Sorry you had to find us, but glad you did. It's a tough surgery which takes a long time to recover from, and leaves some people with serious pain for quite a while. Everyone is different, but most of us who've had the surgery get pretty frustrated with how long the recovery is. Best wishes for your mother.

_________________
Bud

Long distance cyclist and lung cancer survivor
56 years old at time of diagnosis in 2007, now live in Crowley, Tx
Nov 2007 - Tentatively diagnosed as NSCLC stage I from CT scan
Dec 2007 - Upper left lobectomy, biopsy showed one cancerous lymph node, changing the diagnosis to stage II (squamous cell)
Feb to Apr 2008 - Three rounds of cisplatin and gemcitabine
Apr 2008 - chest x-ray, NED
May 2008 - brain mri, clear
Jul 2008 - CT scan, NED
Dec 2008 - CT scan, NED
June 2009 - CT scan, NED
Jan 2010 - CT scan, NED
July 2010 - CT scan, NED
June 2011 - CT scan, NED
May 2012 - CT scan, NED
December 2012 - CT scan, NED. I am now a 5 year survivor!

June 2009 - Wife Rose diagnosed with breast cancer
Stage III IDC
Sept 2009 - Finished 4 rounds of chemo (AC)
Nov 2009 - Surgery
March 2010 - Finished 12 weeks of weekly Taxol
August 2010 - CT scan, NED
August 2011 - Checkup, NED
August 2012 - Checkup, NED
The rest of my story is at:

http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/vi ... hp?t=38841

My blog - uneasy-rider.com

Hi Kay,
Welcome to LCSC,glad you found us,your mum and I just about mirror each other for dx,only difference is ,my upper right lung was removed,but I do have some problems in the breathing stakes,fortunately is restricted to walking uphills,definate dis- advantage if you live in Scotland.Wish I could advise you on your mums situation,but I just dont know,why dont you visit our link with cancergrace and ask the excellent oncologist Dr West or Dr Wiess for an opinion,theyll be pleased to give you a prompt reply.
Best wishes,your mum is blessed with having such a daughter.

_________________
Regards,
Eric Byrne

To read my story, please follow the link : http://lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?t=43268

Hi Kay,
I had my upper left lobe removed and at six weeks I was still a mess. It's a pretty major surgery. Make sure she isn't shy about taking her pain pills. Medications could also be part of the problem too. I would definitely pin one of your Mom's doc's into a corner and get some answers. Some docs you just have to keep bugging them to death to get any answers. So go get 'em!

Dana

_________________
Mar. '08-Routine xray found Spot tip of upper left lung.
Dr orders CAT. growth confirmed.
Sent to Pulmonolgist who orders PET.
Pet results-my spot lights up like a Christmas tree.
Can't reach spot for biopsy referred to surgeon.
Surgical Biopsy scheduled for Apr. 28th '08
Apr. '08-Surgeon found SCLC, removed upper left lobe and surronding lymph nodes.
Everything biopsied no other cancer found, declaired NED by surgeon on Apr.28th '08
ONC wants me to start adjuvant therapy.
June '08-MRI brain scan and CAT NED
Chemo cisplatin/vp16 3 days every 3 weeks 4 sessions ended Aug. '08
Partial hearing loss due to Cisplatin
Sept. '08 1st CAT after treatment NED
Dec. '08-2nd CAT after treatment NED
Apr. '09-MRI (brain) and CAT NED
Aug. '09-CAT NED
Dec. '09-CAT and MRI NED
Apr. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Oct. '10-CAT and MRI NED
Jan. '11-XRay NED
Oct. '11-CAT NED

Hi Kay and welcome! I also was stage 2b and had my entire right lung removed in Aug.2005. At first my breathing was so bad that I thought I had made a big mistake by having surgery. Little by little it has gotten much better and I have no regrets now. I hope you and your Mom the very best! Prayers said for a good recovery for your Mom.

_________________
Dxed nslc stage2b,Aug.05 had right lung and 17 nodes removed which 2 had shown to be effected.August 27,05 had surgery redone again to stop bleeding. Started chemo sept.05 as a precaustioary. Have 3 month visit followups and have been ned so far and am hoping and praying to stay that way.Grade3 squamous cell type(T2,N1,Mo)tumor 10.5 cemtimeters,1 peribronchial node and 1 10R node involved

Thank you so much for all of your positive replies.

Mum has been taking an anti-inflamatory pill since Wednesday and she has been like a different person - she went for a walk yesterday (without oxygen) and said she walked the equivalent of about 4 holes of golf! It just shows that once the pain is under control, the rest may follow.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Kay

Kay,

I hope your mum continues to improve! I liked hearing that the anti-infoammatory had such a good effect on her.

Susan

_________________
76 year-old mom diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer January 5, 2007.

15 radiation treatments to the spine and four rounds of chemo, Jan-May, 2007.

Stable disease May, 2007-May, 2008.

Bone scan May, 2008 shows new mets in the spine, pelvis and ribs.

July, 2008--finished radiation and has a Quadramet treatment.

October, 2008--Scans show mild progression. Began chemo (carbo/taxol/avistin). Will have four rounds of threatment (every 21 days) and scan in January.

01/05/2009--TWO YEAR SURVIVOR!

4/2009--STABLE! No treatment. Next scan in July

7/2009--Scan shows pleural effusion. Fluid drained and malignant. Cancer has spread to other lung and a 13 mm lesion is seen on the liver. Mom to begin Alimta on 8/3

11/2009--Alimta was hard on mom and scans showed progression.

12/2009--began Tarceva, noticed almost immediate improvement.

2/25/2010--Celebrated Mom's 80th birthday!

5/15/2010--Mom watched her oldest granddaughter graduate from college and then paritied well into the night! She's still feeling great.

6/15/2010--Mom watched her youngest granddaughter graduate from high school. Still feeling great!

8/2010-10/2010--Mom begins feeling tired and stays in bed more and more. Scans reveal that the cancer is moving rapidly throughout her body.

10/13/2010--Mom wins her battle once and for all, and passes to a place where the cancer can no longer touch her.

For a more detailed timeline see:

http://www.lungevity.org/l_community/viewtopic.php?p=360385#360385