Does anyone have (or know anyone with) stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer? How long did they live?

Question

My father was diagnosed in April. I'm curious to know how long others out there with this disease survived and how their quality of life is.

Thanks.

Answer 1

My husband,44, had 50% of right lung removed 3 yrs ago on Aug.12th, officially diagnosed with stage 4 non-small cell, did a clinical trial chemo program. His problems actually began in June that year ( that's ANOTHER story!). The "suspicious" mass on his lung wasn't discovered until late July. It started to spread to his brain, opted for radiation,(he was afraid of becoming a "vegatable") He passed Nov.22nd that year, 4 days after last radiation treatment. Hospice had come in 2 days earlier. Docs warned him the radiation will "make him or break him",he said "whatever it takes for it not to go to my brain".
There were good days and bad. We made it to Maine in Oct. for my best friends wedding. He insisted on going,it was between treatments. In the end he was still talking to everyone around him,said his good-byes to a host of friends and family that came by. Asked for our pastor. I finally had to tell him it was OK to let go,kids and I would be OK.
3 months, 10 days. We don't really know how long he actually had it, never had common symptoms.

Answer 2

Non-small cell cancer can spread through the lymphatic system and through the blood. It can directly invade also to involve the center of the chest (mediastinum), the lining of the chest, the ribs or, if it is in the top part of the lung, the nerves and blood vessels leading into the arm. When non-small cell lung cancer enters the bloodstream, it can spread to distant sites such as the liver, bones, brain and other places in the lung..........The cancer has spread to distant sites
plus the following if the tumor has spread:
Severe headaches
Double vision
Pain in bones, chest, abdomen, neck or arms Physical examination: enlarged liver or other abdominal mass Bone scan or bone biopsy CT scan of liver or adrenal glands liver biopsy PET, CT or MRI scans of the brain
Chemotherapy: Platinum drug combined with Taxol, Taxotere, Gemzar or Navelbine appear to be more effective than simple palliative care. Additionally, they may relieve symptoms and reduce tumor size
5 year: less than 5% ........you should have asked the doctor..........

Answer 3

Sorry to hear that yr Dad had this type of lung cancer!! Hope he does not smoke anymore. In any case NSCLC has about a 5-7 years survival rate as it tends to spread via the lymphatic system. The cancer can lead to mucus production (gray, dense, firm) and be careful from pneumonia as a complication. God bless!

Answer 4

first of all let me say that you are in my thoughts.... I have know three people with lung cancer. One of them lived over three years after the initial diagnosis and eventually died of heart failure, non related to cancer at all. Another lady I knew lived only 3 months, but hers was not just localized to her lung, it was throughout her body. The other lady I knew lived several years, about 5 and she did die after a long hard battle with cancer. Just remember that your dad is not these people and treatment can slow down and even stop the process.

Answer 5

Treatment of stage IV non-small cell lung cancer may include the following:

External radiation therapy as palliative therapy , to relieve pain and other symptoms and improve the quality of life .
Chemotherapy .
Laser therapy and/or internal radiation therapy .
Clinical trials of chemotherapy.
Clinical trials of biologic therapy .

Please look into the biologic it is like a immunization that helps your body fight the cancer and I have been hearing it is promising

Answer 6

I think non small cell is better than small cell lung cancer my mom had small cell and she did chemo and radiation and lived for a year after her diagnoses.

Answer 7

thats what i had im 5 yrs into recovery im very lucky to be alive. Im not sure about what stage i was in but they did not hesitate taking my right lung out. im pretty sure that is was stage 4.