Q&A: My Mother has small cell lung cancer, about how long might she have?
Question by Emmy j: My Mother has small cell lung cancer, about how long might she have?
She was diagnosed in April, 2008. It is in the extended phase and they recently found the cancer in her bones (like her pelvic bones) and as of friday they also found legions all over the front and back of her brain. The doctors are not wanting to give us a time estimite on how long she might have and I just really need to know. I was wondering if any one out there knew a good web site or has gone through this with a loved one and could possibly shed some light on this subject.
Best answer:
Answer by Nub Pwner
There is no estimate when it comes to the amount of time left… The doctors said that my grandmother had 5 years left. She ended up living for another 5 years. You cannot go on what a doctor says or what anyone might say. Just spend every day with her like it is her last.
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We can’t tell you exactly how much time she has. The oncologist doesn’t want to make predictions based on statistics because they are always wrong for each special individual. I can tell you that you will probably see it coming when it gets down to the last month or two, and you will see a downward trend even before that. As long as she is able to be active, maintain her strength, eat well, maintain her weight and have no trouble breathing, you should have some time left. Enjoy every good day to the fullest.
Why do you really want to know? Over my 20 years as a cancer specialist doctor, I saw hundreds of people with lung cancers. Each was different. Often family members would push to know the future.
When they heard numbers they didn’t like, they often bargained for a more favorable prediction as if that might help. It’s a no win situation for doctors to make guesses like this.
You will hear many answers on this site where people say the doctor “gave” someone a certain amount of time and it turned out to be wrong. That is because it is always a guess based on statistics. Maybe your mom will do much better than the average statistical person.
Here’s a site you can use to study the stats if you wish.
You are looking for “Stage IV lung cancer”
http://lungdiseases.about.com/od/lungcancer/a/lungcancerstage.htm
If you want a medical professional site with statistics from multiple university group studies (much more complex) – -
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000062945.html#REF_44
Here you are looking for extensive stage or stage IV small cell lung carcinoma.
Emmy,
I cannot give you a better answer than the doctor, but I do moderate a support group and it may help you. It is a close group with some very nice people.
To the Doctor Above–Would you consider joining the group to provide some medical responses?
take every day as it comes and every day is a bonus every time i leave my kids or at the end of a call to them i tell them that i love them so if anything happens we know the last words spoken was I Love you ty this it is a comfort to our family my husband has terminal lung cancer which had spread to the brain this tumour was removed and the lung one was shrunk after radiation it is hard to accept and that’s why i say every day is a bonus enjoy your time with your Mum make evey day count as they are precious to both of you i wish you well and your Mum take care