A family member has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer and has been told that it has spread to the lymphnodes, is there any hope? Would someone with a medical background answer my question please, as we are desperate.
2007-03-11 03:46:38 · 10 answers · asked by marye 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
I am not a qualified Doctor but have also had someone in the family with a similar diagnosis and following an operation to remove the lymphnodes and chemo, he is well and although still goes for regular check-ups is alive a well. Be positive for your relation and give all the backing you can to help them through this worrying time. There is always hope. Don't despair even though you may be in shock at the moment.
2007-03-11 03:55:07 · answer #1 · answered by SYJ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a medical doctor, but because my son has stage IV abdominal cancer I have done a great deal of research and reading.
There is always hope, no matter what the original diagnosis may be. In my research I have found survivors for all types of cancer no matter what the stage or grade of cancer.
Do not look at statistics on the disease, instead concentrate on the patients age, overall health, and response to treatment. Find a doctor that you can talk to and trust with your family members health care. They don't need to be the best or the most brilliant, but they do need to have compassion and knowledge how to locate the best possible treatment for the type of cancer you're dealing with. Once you have found this doctor put your complete trust in them to find the best possible treatment.
And, just because a cancer has traveled into the lympth nodes does not mean it is an automatic death sentence. Geesh. There is sooo much misinformation on this site!
My son was diagnosed two years ago with stage IV abdominal sarcoma that had metastasized through his lympatic system. The original biopsy came from a node on his neck. He had multiple tumors scattered within the abdomen, chest wall, spleen, large and small intestine, right diaphragm, liver, and spots on the lungs. Pretty grim news for a 17 year old kid. Anyway he responded to chemotherapy, his large tumors shrunk, the smaller ones disappeared from the lymph nodes, chest, and lungs. He had two surgeries to remove the rest of the tumors, and will undergo a third this week to remove tumors from the dome of the liver.
Be strong and stay hopeful.
2007-03-11 04:32:35 · answer #2 · answered by Panda 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
There is always hope, but you must take one day at a time. Your relative will be under the care of an oncologist and also should be in contact with macmillan nurses. (If not, ask for a referal to be made).These people are all highly trained in dealing with what you are all going through.Treatment with cancer patients depends on how well the patient is, as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are very invasive to the body, and can cause patients to feel unwell just on the treatment. It is always a dreadfull time when a loved one is diagnosed with any illness,especially cancer. But just remember, treatments for cancer have moved on so much in the last 20 years. There is alot of support available for cancer patients and their families. As a District Nurse, I deal with cancer patients on a daily basis, and have seen many patients who have suprised me with their positive attitude to their illness. I believe this is an important part of any treatment. Give your relative all the encouragement you can. Treat every day as a special day, and talk about good things as well as shedding tears. Good luck for the future to you all.x
2007-03-11 05:50:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your oncologist can best answer this. They should listen to what the doctor prescribes in the way of chemo/surgery/radiation.
Then support yourself nutritionally as best you can as long as it is approved by the doctor. Not too much vitamins,etc. just enough. Lung cancer is a tough nut to crack.
What I would try...
I would go vegetarian and try juicing with various vegetable and fruits and soy milk or tofu smoothies (but that is not necessarily a cure, just good nutrition)....I would try sun chlorella algae or blue green algae as a detoxifier (but that is not to say it is a cure either...it has DNA and chlorophyll). Of course give up smoking and stay away from others who smoke...but that may be hardest to do if that factor is involved...These things are things that I personally would try, but not to say they are cures...they may or may not work out for you. It is hard to change eating habits or smoking habits when you are stressed out by major illness...that is when you want your comfort habits...for good or bad..
2007-03-11 05:59:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i'm sorry to hearken to about your father in regulation. i imagine they were suitable now to not deal with with radiation remedy, fantastically because it truly is so stepped ahead. the indicators you describe may be because of the tumours that are affecting his mind, they could no longer inevitably advise he has in reality a little while left. Morphine is an opiate analgesic and may reason human beings to hallucinate, it may also reason severe nausea, so this may also contribute to the indicators you've defined. the perfect issue you're saying, that he keeps affirming "he's able to flow", is likely because he's had sufficient. i imagine i could manage to flow too. wish this enables.
2016-12-01 20:08:52 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DEAR OF COURSE there is hope as the treatment with surgery / chemotherapy and finally radiation .
and we shouldn't forget the mental state of the patient as there is a great differences between a hopeful patient and others
2007-03-11 03:53:09 · answer #6 · answered by DR SMSM 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
your doctor in charge is the best person to answer this, because it's not easy telling someone to give up hope, because miracles do happen, as I am a living miracle, but, once it spreads it's just a matter of time...I am so sorry..but, talk to the doctor...sounds like you just need some comforting, but, at least you can have some time to prepare and say what you want to say to them...but, once in the lymph nodes it's just a matter of time...I'm sorry.
2007-03-11 03:52:46 · answer #7 · answered by Confused 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
this site is very good with imformation while the outlook looks bad a small percent has survived.
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=6747
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2991#nodes
All my very best wishes and thoughts with you xx
2007-03-11 03:57:09 · answer #8 · answered by Nutty Girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes there is always hope
2007-03-11 03:57:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
www.rain-tree.com/graviola.htm
2007-03-11 16:13:33 · answer #10 · answered by Bruce 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋