Lung Cancer Life Expectancy

Hi Harshtuktuk,

Yes Stage 4 lung cancer is very difficult to hold back but it does happen and increasingly so with the developments of new treatments.

You also have to remember that those statistics cover everyone who has had stage 4 lung cancer including the very old, the very frail, those with other illnesses, heavy smokers etc etc. 

My gorgeous wife was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and because of it's aggressive nature and spread she was given 2-3 months to live - that was just over 5 years ago and although our lives and lifestyle has changed we have still had a very good 5 years.

Andy

Hi Andy, you have really just made my day

 I to have stage 4 lung cancer but they say all they can do is palliative care because my type of cancer will not respond to medication. They ate going to try chemo to delay things. Your lovely wine babe's story gives us all hope. 

Please give her a hug from me and wish her well.xxx

Not to sure what happened there but it should read your lovely wife's story. Xx

Hey don't worry Dorset - Rona and I liked the'wine babe' !!!!

Cheers Andy, not sure what happened as I hadn't even had any wine then. May be it was on my mind as today is my birthday and my girlfriends took me out for a boozy lunch. Well a girl has to make the most of things.

Trisha 

Hi All and particularly  Harshtuktuk,

Things have moved on dramatically since so many of the statistics you can Dr Google !!! Like others I was given 4-6 months when diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and am still "kicking cancer's ass" 4 years on.

Whenever someone new joins us my first advice is "Do not Google" and to stick to this site and Cancer Research sire and possibly Roy Castle Lung Foundation for information. Many of the others will be very dated and give a false dire situation.

I hope that your dear friend will now be going through many tests/biopsies etc and that soon she/he will have a treatment plan in place. It is a dreadful time, when waiting for the results of all these tests, and is one of the most stressful life experiences. Please be prepared to hold your friend up during this time. Once a treatment plan is in place then, at last, you will both be able to start the fight.

It used to be chemotherapy was the only way forward but nowadays there are immunological drugs and targetted therapy drugs along with so many options with surgery i.e. micro/video assisted etc. SO it's not all gloom and doom at all.

Although whatever treatment is decided on may be classified as "palliative" it certainly gives hope to many more years of life. There are many of us on this forum who are in that position and this Community gives so much support to anyone who joins us on this "roller coaster" that is cancer. My advice at the mo would be to point your friend in our direction and also to a Macmillan Nurse also (can be referred by the GP). They and us all here can support and commiserate with your friend and enable him/her to see their way forward.

This friend of yours will need close support also from friends and relatives. It's an awful and sometimes lonely situation to be in so my best advice otherwise is to just "be there" for him/her. There is another group on the Community called "Supporting a person with Cancer", which you may find more informative for you in the days to come.

I do so hope your friend will be here for many years to come & not as some of the "statistics" warn.

Love and Hugs

Diz xxx

Hi Andy,

Is your wife small cell or non small cell ? Also is you using targeted therapy now?

thanks

Hi Sharon - Rona has non small cell cancer and has been on Crizotinib , an ALK inhibitor targetted therapy, for several months now and, although we are told that it will not last forever, it has been more successful than we could possibly have hoped for in terms of halting progression.

Pls feel free to ask any questions.

Good Luck

Andy xx

Thanks Andy, that is just amazing 5 years.

Did she have chemo or radiotherapy before the Crizotinib, and did they just offer it or do you have to ask?

x

Hi Sharon - she has had 2 variations of chemo, plus she's been on 2 sets of trials without success before Crizotinib, which she was offered without asking.

Andy xx