My brother with stage 4 cancer

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Hi, I hope you can help. My brother has lung cancer (don’t know if SC or NSC) and he’s in Canada. I don’t know much but I’m trying to work out how urgent it is that I get there. He had surgery over a year ago for his lung cancer and I understand that went well. He had a single, small brain tumour surgically removed this July. And he has just been diagnosed with kidney cancer. I don’t get any information as he doesn’t like to talk about it so I cannot ask him directly. All I know about treatment is that there are plans for 5 radiation therapy treatments in a month’s time, for the kidneys, and that this is to try to halt the growth of that cancer. I know he is able to walk and he has some appetite but apart from that I don’t know anything. The kidney cancer was found only a few days ago. I don’t know whether I should be planning to go next week or whether I can go in late December or early January. Any advice gratefully received. 

  • Hi Uxia

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to our online community. My name is Sarah one of the nurses.

    I am sorry to hear that your brother has been diagnosed with lung cancer. I cannot imagine how difficult that must be for you being so far away and can understand your worries about the right time to go and visit.

    It is difficult for us to be able to say for sure when you should plan a visit to your brother. It sounds like he is going through different treatments. It can depend on whether you would like to go and support your brother through treatment such as radiotherapy, as this can be tiring.

    Prognosis or survival depends on many factors including how someone responds to treatment. Cancer which cannot be cured can be treated for many months or years if the cancer responds to treatment.

    It can be helpful to call through and speak with one of our nurses. Sometimes understanding a bit more about your brother’s cancer can help us be more specific when it comes to urgency.

    It is also important to look after yourself. Our lung cancer and friends and family forums provide a place to reach out to others who can understand part of what you are going through.

    I hope this information helps. Please feel free to get back in touch if you want more information or support.

    Best wishes,

    Sarah

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email

    Ref/ SS/LJ

    Sarah S-Macmillan Cancer Information Nurse Specialist