Lung Cancer Questions
98 Question and Answer Results
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What could be causing my husband's shortness of breath?
I read through your question, and the first thing I have to say is that your husband's case is very complex. He was basically told he had less than a year to live in 2008, and now he has lived for 2 more years. Your main question is really about his shortness of breath... -
Does coughing and phlegm mean my mother's lung cancer has returned?
It is important to remember that while coughing and lung cancer are related, a cough can be caused by other possibilities. A cancer patient can catch a viral or bacterial infection (both of which can also cause headaches) as easily, or even more easily, than a person without cancer. People with cancer can develop ordinary illnesses as well... -
Would a CAT scan show metastases?
Hi: -
What do I do after my doctor telling me I have six months to live?
No doctor has a crystal ball to know exactly how long you have to live but your disease is serious. If your oncologist is not offering you any other chemotherapy (there may be none except those that are not likely to help or are likely to make you feel awful), then hospice is a reasonable option... -
Why are my husband's dementia and hallucinations at night?
While many different kinds of cancer spread to other parts of the body, lung cancer is one that spreads to the brain. When this happens, the person may experience headaches, even seizures, and other neurological symptoms such as speech problems, confusion, and quite frequently, hallucinations... -
Should I let me father-in-law smoke if it means he'll take his pills?
I have seen this before -- you're not alone in bargaining with the patient to do things that are GOOD for them. It doesn't seem to make sense. However, there are many considerations behind it: Could they clinically depressed? Are they fatigued or in pain? Have they given up on a cure or on life in general... -
How can I keep active with lung cancer?
You likely have the double dilemma of low energy from your disease and a change in lung function, which makes it hard to catch your breath or do deep breathing. As you know from your history of going to the gym, breathing is a critical piece of exercise, and your challenge is not to overexert... -
What charities fight lung cancer?
Hello, That is a very generous gesture. If you'd like to make a donation to an organization focused on lung cancer, The Bonnie J. Addario Foundation is very active: http://www.lungcancerfoundation.org/how-to-help/donate-online-now/. -
How can I get my anxiety under control while caring for my mother with lung cancer?
Your anxiety is a natural response to being under extreme stress. Nobody has a crystal ball and can tell you what is going to happen, and that's really hard to cope with. Remind yourself that you're not crazy when you feel like you're about to crack under the pressure... -
Can you have partial lung cancer?
With a cancer diagnosis, that means there is presence of cancer. It does not mean that a part of the body is 100% cancerous. With the HIPAA laws, it's true that you will not find additional information from the care providers, but you should try to glean the information from your brother first... -
Does a lung mass equal cancer?
Hi. It is important to ask your doctor what type of mass you have. A mass can be cancer as well as not. Your doctor will tell you what test have been done and what type of mass, cancer or not you have. It is of ten intimidating to ask doctors important questions but you should schedule time in the office... -
How can I support my wife, emotionally, as she deals with lung cancer?
You're in good company. I've had several questions about patients with neoplasms lately, many from caregivers experiencing things like you are. -
How do I know if it's the right time for my father with lung cancer to enter hospice?
It's tough to know what the right course of action is when you have limited information, but let's talk about what you do know. If he was diagnosed in November, that means that they have a baseline of what his illness was then. For example, they will have scans and other images that will show where and what size the cancer is... -
How careful of germs do we need to be when my father's white blood count is low?
This is a case where you've got to balance health needs with quality of life. Yes, it's important to be careful about infection, so if visitors have colds or coughs, you should definitely have them stay away. But in general, we encourage patients and caregivers not to let fear of infection drive them to live in a bubble... -
Should we see an ear, nose and throat specialist for my mother's issues with taste?
Rather than starting with an ear, nose and throat specialist, it's probably a better idea to contact your mother's primary care physician and ask for an appointment. At that appointment, describe your mother's symptoms and ask if there are additional tests that should be performed, particularly tests for recurrent, or metastatic cancer... -
Does my husband have symptoms of dementia?
Your husband has obvious dementia symptoms, somewhat consistent with one of the less common, younger onset dementias called frontal temporal dementia (FTD). His ability "to fool" the testers is typical of people with FTD. First, ask yourself if this is a significant change from the person he was (when he wasn't depressed)... -
Should I be worried about lung nodules?
I know that moving is stressful, but you really need to get established with a new doctor. The new doctor will probably want to look through your old health records when they meet you, so anything (old tests, notes, medication lists) that you can bring to your appointment would be helpful... -
Can I initiate getting DPOA or health care proxy for my brother?
There are two possible complications with having you or one of your siblings appointed as your brother’s health care proxy. -
How do we decide if mom should get treatment for her cancer?
18 years after colon cancer, this could also be a new cancer. In any case, it is important to talk to an oncologist to get full information. The decision of whether to treat a cancer is a case of balancing the benefits and burdens. It is reasonable at age 87, especially if your mother is confused... -
Is there a set amout of chemotherapy a lung cancer can receive?
You ask several questions having to do with chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. From your description it sounds like your mother's cancer is metastatic. If so I am very sad to write that yes, the outlook for your mother is as bleak as it seems...
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