Metastasized lung cancer

Posted by harleydog @harleydog, Dec 14, 2018

Hello, my name is Tracie and my father was just diagnosed with 4th stage non cell lung cancer that had metastasized to the brain. We live far apart, so when I got to him he was very ill and close to death. After he got his brain scan the doctor put him on a Dexamethasone 6mg a day. He had made a huge turn around. Seems alert, eating well and no more falls. He wants me to go back home and I’m very concerned that his prognosis could change overnight . He has refused all other treatments because he is terminal, so it’s just the steroids. Does anyone know about how long these steroids will continue keeping his brain swelling down. He won’t let me bring in help and he won’t come home with me. I was hoping someone had a general idea on steroid use and there effectiveness. Can they suddenly stop helping? I’m very worried

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

Hi @harleydog...so sorry to hear about your father! My suggestion is talk to your father’s doctor and ask about hospice/palliative care for him if you haven’t already done so. You may want to check the web site https://www.drugs.com/dexamethasone.html relative to the drug.
These are difficult times for your family - I am sure...if you are a believer, prayer helps comfort us! Have a blessed day...

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@karen43

I was diagnosed in Jan 2019 with stage 4 mucinous adenocarcinomas which has metastized to the brain. I have completed 10 treatment sessions of whole brain radiation which had no impact on existing spots. The 2nd course of action was focused radiation on 3 areas of the brain which I completed 2 weeks ago. In 2 more weeks an MRI will be fine to see if it was effective. Has anyone had more than 2 series of radiation on the brain? Because if the brain involvement I’m not a good candidate for chemo
Thank you for whatever info you can share

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@karen43- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a 22 year lung cancer survivor. I am very sorry that the treatment chosen for your cancer has not been successful so far. I have had SBRT, a type of focused radiation twice for my lungs and they were both successful. One was Proton Beam and the other was Photon Beam. I was very tired after, are you experiencing this also? It took 6 months for the fatigue to peak and then things got better. I really hope that the focused radiation has zapped your cancer for good! Do you know that name for it? You have a very rare form of lung cancer, one I am not familiar with. The type of cancer that I have is called multifocal adenocarcinoma. Simply put this means that I grow more than once cancer at a time. I have had cancer in both lungs and am also stage 4.
Have they treated your lungs successfully? How did they treat it? Please let me know how you are doing. Is your breathing difficult?

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@merpreb

@karen43- Good morning and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am a 22 year lung cancer survivor. I am very sorry that the treatment chosen for your cancer has not been successful so far. I have had SBRT, a type of focused radiation twice for my lungs and they were both successful. One was Proton Beam and the other was Photon Beam. I was very tired after, are you experiencing this also? It took 6 months for the fatigue to peak and then things got better. I really hope that the focused radiation has zapped your cancer for good! Do you know that name for it? You have a very rare form of lung cancer, one I am not familiar with. The type of cancer that I have is called multifocal adenocarcinoma. Simply put this means that I grow more than once cancer at a time. I have had cancer in both lungs and am also stage 4.
Have they treated your lungs successfully? How did they treat it? Please let me know how you are doing. Is your breathing difficult?

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22 years. Wow!!!! I wasn’t sure I’d see spring! I am very tired!....but I’m functioning! Everything is a chore! My legs are weak making walking difficult but doable. Right now I’m just waiting for results of last brain radiation. I am not a good candidate for chemo.....I have none of the genetic markers for focused chemo. At first I was told, there were many options because lung cancer is studied so much, then after all biopsies are studied ... nothing! My family is very supportive if I chose to not do the generalized chemo program. At this point, not getting positive feedback from medical staff either.....quality of life issues. Merry, you’ve had both chemo and radiation on Your lungs? I have had nothing to lungs....very slow growing and no c(angels since Jan. It’s the brain they are focused on. The involvement is with the cerebellum and the occipital lobe......which explains the leg involvement. The brain remains intact.....for which I am very greatful. Thanks for getting back to me
Karen

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@karen43- Good morning. And welcome to Spring and you are still here to enjoy it with us! Can you get out and walk, or walk around your house? It should help you. I know that it's tough but exercise will help keep things in order. Your thinking will be clearer too.
Yes I had both generalized chemo and SBRT. What kind of focused radiation did you have? I think that you need to ask the doctor if you don't know. am so glad that your family are supportive. I'm very lucky with that too..
Quality of life needs to be considered when facing a potential danger to your life. It's easy to pass judgment on others about it but it is a very important consideration. Your standard of health, comfort, and happiness need to be assessed by you. What payoff will you get the most out of with these standards? Have you finished all of your necessary decisions about your end of life so that you won't have to make those decisions later on when you might not have full control over the decisions that you must make? Up-to-date will and other paper work? Although I have not reached the point of having to make these decisions because I am facing them I have made every possible ones because I don't want to be faced with anything that I might not be able to make when I am extremely ill. My will is up dated and my power for health care. I have a DNR signed with special circumstances stated. DO you have all of these very depressing but necessary papers up dated?
Other than extreme fatigue are you having other symptoms such as dizziness, headaches or mixed up thinking?

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