Following an initial diagnosis following a routine chest x-ray, my step-mum was advised she had lung cancer (over the phone!) just before Christmas. She waited a month for a bronchoscopy which had to be cut short because her oxygen levels dipped throughout the procedure so a CT version was scheduled which was another months wait. The results were lung, liver, lymph nodes as well as a collapsed lung and given she has a multitude of other ailments, COPD probably being the worst and late stage they have decided to give her a weeks worth of radiotherapy in one session (tomorrow) to try and reduce the size of the mass in her lung to enable her to breathe more easily. She has been given slow release oral morphine which has helped with the coughing and the pain in her chest thus far. they have said they plan to give her palliative chemo via tablet form if she is eligible (I'm unsure what the eligibility criteria is as I haven't attended an appointment with her as her daughter travels up to take her to appointments and they don't seem to have asked that question) Does anyone else happen to know or have any experience with tablet form chemo and the eligibility? Im also surprised given the stage of the COPD and the fact one of her lungs is collapsed that they are giving her radiotherapy sessions which should be over 5 days, in one go.. radiotherapy damages the lungs?
Thanks in advance,
Ali
x
Hi Coco37 and welcome to the online community, but sorry to hear about your step mums condition. I am also sorry that she was told about her condition over the phone. People are saying that these things happen because of covid, however this was happening way before covid, as I was told over the phone, 6 years ago. It is not right, it should not happen this way, and covid is not an excuse. It is one of the things that really does upset me, as I said, I was told this way, whilst in the city centre shopping, and I collapsed with shock.
I am glad that the morphine has helped with the pain, and hopefully the radiotherapy will help with her breathing. I am guessing the lung is collapsing because of the COPD rather than the cancer. I would trust the Oncology teams decision as to why they are doing a high dose radiotherapy in one session. I have had lung radiotherapy myself as a high dose over 5 days, and it really did help me a lot.
As for the chemo tablet, I am sorry I can't really help with that. My Dad is on chemo tablets for his blood cancer, but they didn't talk about eligibilty. I wonder if they mean they have to see if she is fit enough to take the chemo tablets? It may be to do with how the liver will react to the tablets as she has mets there too? Im not sure, sorry, that is one thing that you will have to ask her team. Does she have a CNS nurse that is assigned to her? That will be a good way to go to ask that question.
I hope today went well for your step mum. Let us know how she gets on.
Take care
Thanks for replying Chelle - how you were told sounds awful! I hadn't realised that sort of thing even happened but I don't have a whole lot of experience with these things I guess although my eldest son was diagnosed with a tumour on his lung when he was 17 and his experience seems to have taken the same route my Dads did with the exception of the outcome of course - he is 24 now and thankfully it was picked up early (stage1) so he now has annual check ups for the next 15years because of the type of tumour it was. With my step-mum however its been very different and a long process thus far. Yes I think the lung collapse is COPD related. I do hope the radiotherapy gives her some pain relief.
Yes, it is in the liver also so perhaps your right. Will ask more questions when I see them tomorrow 
Ali
xx
