We found out yesterday that my mom has lung cancer. She is now going to get a second opinion on her DR. orders. She goes today or Monday. All I know is that the spot is in the upper right lung and My Mom tells us its about the size of a penny. My Dad is taking real hard. He kept asking my sister(who is a nurse) is she going to be okay. I am just kinda lost I want to just sit down and cry. I really haven't explained it to my 4 kids. My middle dd came to my room last night and said Mom you told us that if you got any more information about Grandma you would tell us so told her she may have cancer and that if she understood what cancer was and she said yes they learned about it in school and big tears came down her cheak. She said Grandma going to be alright she is to onery. Oldest dd spent all evening in her room. All 4 of my kids are real close to Grandma and Grandpa. I haven't said anything to the twins I am waiting to see whats down the road if she starts cemo or radiation. then I will explain. I will post as soon as she gets her second opinion and I know more. please say a prayer for my Family. thank you all for being here for me

By Yjja123 on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:31 am:

I am so sorry! You are in my thoughts and prayers!

By Colette on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:35 am:

((Shann and family))

By Ginny~moderator on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:37 am:

Oh Shann. How frightening and sad.

I will pray for your family.

I think you should take some time to cry and be held by your husband, and to hold and hug your mother, and your father and sister. There is nothing wrong with people who love each other expressing their emotions with each other.

Then you can start exploring all of the medical options, and your sister will undoubtedly know the best places to start.

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 09:41 am:

Well, I've BTDT. Does your mom live near you? Someone should go with her to the doctor's appointment, and to the appointment with the oncologist. You need to make a list of questions:

* What kind of cancer (small cell or non-small cell)
* What stage is it?
* What are the treatment options (radiation or chemo or combination of both), or is surgery an option?
* If she has chemotherapy, find out which drugs they will use

Has she had a PET scan? That will show if the cancer has spread. If she hasn't had one, make sure one is scheduled.

At this point, you really need a lot of answers, and you're going to have to be aggressive with the docs and not let them brush you off. She needs an advocate, someone who will go to the appointments with her, ask the questions, write down the answers, tell the rest of the family. Doctors tend to give you vague answers unless you push them for specifics. I learned all of this the hard way.

And a positive attitude helps! Keeping her strengh up through treatment is important, so even when her appetite is not good, it's important to get nourishment into her. There are meds for nausea, meds for appetite stimulation, etc., that you can ask for. Also, if she *does* have radiation and has side effects from that, i.e. burned skin, etc., I can send you a link to a product that works wonders for that.

Right now, you need to talk to the docs and get information. If you want other info, I have some that might help.

Prayers headed your way.

By Dandjmom on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 10:10 am:

Your and your entire family are in my thoughts and my prayers.

By Happynerdmom on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 10:11 am:

I'm sorry, Shann. Thoughts and prayers for your family. (((hugs)))

By Debbie on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 10:11 am:

{{{hugs}}} I'm so sorry.

Karen has some great advice above.

To give you some hope, the stepmom of a good friend of mine was diagnosed with lung cancer last October. She is cancer free as of last week.

By Angellew on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 12:36 pm:

{{{Shann}}} I'm so sorry.

By Shann on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 01:13 pm:

Thank you all Mom is in really good spirits. she is a very strong healthy woman. She lives about an hour from me.My oldest ds lives about an hour other ds lives 20 min maybe and my brother an hour away. So my sisters and brother and I have all talked with Mom and atleast one of us will go with her or all will be going with her to her appointments. As for the scans she has had 2 so far on was xray and the other Mri. she goes in for another test Monday. and then we will go from there. Thank you all for your prayers. I will post when I find out more. Karen Thank you I will pass this all on to mom and I have wrote down questions that I would like to ask her dr.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 02:30 pm:

Prayer said. ((((((((((HUGS)))))))))

By Kernkate on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 02:32 pm:

Shann, Big hugs to you...as Karen...I have just BTDT. My Dad just finished up Chemo and Radiation in June for lung cancer.
Karen has given you the best advice.
She was a god sent to me when my Dad when thru it.
As for my Dad we won't know if he is cancer free until September when they do more scans...
Thoughts and prayers to all of you. Try and be strong!

By Crystal915 on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 05:52 pm:

(((Hugs))))

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 10, 2007 - 07:00 pm:

{{{HUGS}}}

By Karen~admin on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 09:19 am:

Shann, let us know what you gain from the new doc's appointment. Feel free to email me if you want to. I took care of my mom for several years after she was diagnosed with lung cancer - she had non-small cell, which is actually the *better* cancer-it's slower growing. So I have some info that might benefit you.

By Shann on Saturday, August 11, 2007 - 11:44 am:

Thank you Karen. Her appt is Monday I will post as soon as I hear something