Cancer Support Group

Does anyone know if "chemo-brain" can start as quickly as the day of the first treatment? Mom has a lot going on right now and I'm having trouble attributing a cause to her confusion. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer (with bone metastasis) on March 29th. Dad died unexpectedly 6 days later, leaving her alone. She had been mentally alert and oriented and highly functional in spite of her chronic illnesses (osteo and rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative disc disease, osteoporosis, etc.) but in the past month, she has had changes in her mental status from confused and irritable, then back to almost normal, if just a little bit slower than usual to process things. Twice, she has had high calcium levels (causing confusion and irritability) due to the bone cancer and her mental status returned to normal after the calcium got stabilized. She had an appointment on Thursday for her first chemo treatment, but was so sedated (a marked change from her visit just the day before) that we were sent to the ER instead, where they decided it was just a buildup of pain medicine.) She rested that day and on Friday morning, she was back to usual again. So she had chemo number 1 yesterday. Today, her aphasia (she has had trouble getting the right word from time to time before) seems worse and she is confused at times. I am wondering if this would be a result of the chemo or if it's too soon for that kind of a response. I know she's very tired (sleeping right now!) and that this is to be expected after the chemo. Anyway, enough rambling. I appreciate anyone's insight here :)

I have a friend that has lung cancer stage 4 , how long will he live

i have a friend who has breat cancer and is refusing treatment. Does anyone know how long she may live without treatment.

Hello. I have been living with Breast Cancer since I was first diagnosed in 2008. In Jan of 2009 had a radical mastectomy of the left breast. then came chemo and in Sept of same year radiation for six weeks.......told I was done. Then on to Tamoxifen for 5 years. Well, during the latter part of the third year, fatigue and general feeling of unwell ness. Had CT Scan to find Metastises to the Liver.....Stage Four Metastic Breast Cancer. Have been on chemo for six months. Have decided that chemo is not the way to go. Want whatever time left on my terms not the chemo.....watched three chemo buddies die off and that's not how I want to go! So eating very well and living each day to the fullest! Anyone out there feel the same? Have been off of chemo for three weeks now and just starting to get strength back. don't know if the neurapothy in my feet will go away. Just happy I stopped chemo before it could get any worse!

Hi, over the last many years I have been a care giver to several. First with a friend whose father was failing with emphesyma , then to a former partner whose son died suddenly and now my own daughter has been diagnosed with breast cancer. With the trials of caring for someone either in the dying process or the grieving process I found found myself entirely alone. Now with this latest diagnosis I am finding myself at times in a distressed emotional state. My daughter and I have been waiting in what I call the "lull" (before the storm) for about 6 weeks while testing was done and results were being made known. Now we are in the waiting "lull" for meeting with her new surgeon and the actual operation date. What we do know is that she will have a complete breast removal and along with all lymph nodes under her arm. In the meantime during her recovery I will not only be looking after her but the household which includes hubby and four children. My own emotions have to be kept in check in order to not bring into the situation any negative attitudes but I find myself also needing to reach out for support. So that is why I have tried to seek out some place I could express with other who have walked or are walking this same path. I have found this site and I am hoping I will be able to connect here and make friends who travel a similar path. So here goes...anyone out there? ...Janny

My 82 year old father was just diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. I'm not sure what to do as my parents live in CA but I live in FL. My older brother and his wife live part time in LA but I don't want the burden of caring for him to be all on their shoulders. We are planning on moving Mom and Dad to my brother's home and out of their apartment so there's a feeling of community. I'm not afraid of his death but the path he has to take - the physical and emotional pain for him and for Mom. He's been in bad health for many years to the point they used all their savings to pay for his care and recovery from illnesses. I don't know anything about hospice care or how to make what remains of his life comfortable while he gets some mild treatment to keep his other bodily organs working.

Hi y'all..I'm new here and I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have found a support network. My Mother was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2012. She had surgery in March and they removed all the tumors on her lung<>they did remove the cancer. The plan was to remove a portion of her lung or the complete lung. We were informed after surgery that there wasn't much of the lung to remove, I still to this day do not understand that statement. He also removed some lymph nodes to see if the cancer had spread, sadly it has. She has stage 3 lung cancer. Remember, I'm new here. Thank Y'all for listening.....Peace

My boyfriend's mum has cancer. She has had it for three years. She lives with her daughter, who takes care of her, and her daughter's child- a wonderful three year old. My boyfriend is of course having a terrible time with this, as his mother has changed completely since she was healthy only a few years ago, and as he feels helpless (very common and to be expected). I don't know, though, how much I can expect from him. When we fight, even discuss little things that don't seem to be a big deal, he yells and swears at me. He says really hurtful and insulting things. When I bring this up to him, he says that he has so much going on right now and that he needs support (of course) and brings up another couple, in which the husband's parents were dying of cancer and how he, the husband, got a drinking problem and would yell and insult his wife like crazy. He says that he isn't nearly that bad, and he isn't, but he definitely yells and swears at me and insults me. I just don't know if I should be expected to take it and if I am being unreasonable by moving out- I know he needs support but I moved into his place without asking (even though I basically lived there months prior to that- I literally was never at my own place.) and I think we have resolved that issue, but I still feel terrible for encroaching on his space (although, I didn't move most of my things in and I always had another place to go). So, we get into fights every three weeks or so, even over little things that I don't think warrant yelling or insulting, and yesterday was one of those. I got so fed up that I moved out all my stuff while he was at his family's yesterday. I really, really want things to work out with us because, despite some faults, he is a wonderful person. He does have an anger problem, which he recognizes, but I don't know if I am being selfish and unreasonable by putting my foot down with the insulting and yelling and swearing. I just don't think that is how people who love each other should treat one another- I want to be there to help him, but it is really hard when I just keep getting told that I am ignorant and know absolutely nothing and have no idea what he is dealing with and don't even try.

Our 45 yr. old daughter has been fighting for 12 yrs. Started in breast and is now in liver, stomach, spine and lungs. She is amazing and everyone we know loves her. She was an incredible teacher and had hoped to get her PhD but not to be. Married with a 6 yr. old dtr. and a hospice nurse comes to her home. She is still functioning and pain appears to be under control but she is always incredibly tired. She has lost about 70 lbs.but doesn't appear ill. All our children are very tall...she is 6'4" and the shortest child is my height at 5'11" and has played volleyball internationally until the CA struck. She lives in Mass. and my husband and I are in Calif. We will be going back in May and know that we will be making further trips...Dr. has now given her 3-7 months. We are devastated and I have been dealing with health issues for the past mo. and 1/2. Any suggestions on how to handle our grief?

My husband in May 2011 was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. He has two surgeries, chemo and radiation since then. After his successful resection (Whipple) for the cancer he has lost 100 lbs , unable to eat, Is being feed presently via J tube in small intestine. One month ago they found spots on his liver. Believe he is not strong enough for chemo therapy. I am so thankful that I have him at home and pray daily he will feel good. We do have some pain free days and I am greatful. But I feel helpless on helping him. I pray that the body can rid itself of this disease but feel my faith is not strong enough. We have not discussed the final end of this disease. He says he is just going to get stronger and start eating again and not worry about that other stuff. Our adult children are supportive but have jobs and children to care for. Guess I just need to know I can help him and continue to pray.