.... when it's often offered to people who have other cancers who are Stage 4/metastatic?
I won't mention any particular cancers, but I have come across a few people on these boards, with varying types of cancer who have said how they're "having surgery" to treat cancer that has metastasisd either to their lungs, brain or liver.
I've automatically thought- "they must be Stage 1, 2 or 3 as they NEVER operate on Stage 4" but upon readingg further, these people are definitely Stage 4!
They seem to have way more treatment options offered them in general, not just surgery.
Yet if a person has Stage 4 lung cancer, it is chemo, immuno and radiotherapy only. That's it.
Why is this? Seems unfair to me.
Surely I can't be the only person who's wondered this?
Is it cost? Is it funding? Lack of research? Are we lung cancer patients seen as less worthy of saving? Or What?
They still cannot offer medical opinions, it is in the guidelines. I asked what cancer type it was, because I had surgery on my lung, even though I am stage 4. They removed the tumour in my bronchial airway by surgery, but could not remove the multiple tumours in both lungs, because there are just too many, and removing one lung would be pointless as the tumours are in both.
There have been a few people over the years that I have seen on this group, who have had surgery even though they were stage 4. It does really depend I think, on whether it is in one lung, or both. You can live a very happy life with one lung, but if it’s in both you have no surgery option.
The same I would of thought if it was in the kidneys. You can live without one, but not both. Some parts of the body can be cut away and replaced, the bowel for instance, breast or ovaries, or womb cancer as was my first diagnoses. But when you have major organs like the lungs, you really can’t go cutting them out.
I really do not believe that the oncologist will look at a stage 4 cancer patient, and just throw in the towel without fighting for them. Every oncologist I have met, and I have met a few through my own diagnoses, my mums cancer, genetic doctors, and personally through my daughter who works in cancer research, have all been very passionate about their patients. The work they do is tremendous, on the hospital floor, and behind the scenes, to see that their patients get the very best treatment.
If you really still believe this is true, then the best person to speak to about this is your oncologist, as he really is the only person who can tell you why you can’t have surgery. X
