Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma
My niece (age 39) was diagnosed yesterday with stage four adenocarcinoma of
the lung, with mets to the lining of the lung, the adrenals and the liver.
Needless to say, we are devastated. I don't yet know whether there will be
any treatment. We would appreciate any ideas, direction, advice,
experience, etc. Also - Dr. Roda I need to know why the doctors waited so
long to establish a diagnosis.
The history:
January: pneumonia
March: continued coughing & shortness of breath
ct scan
told she had several nodules on lining of lung (possible meso diagnosis)
> quart of fluid drained from lung
11 tests of fluid showed no cancer cells
April: fine needle aspiration of lung "non-diagnostic"
her weight down to 80 pounds
May: told "you don't look like you have cancer"; put on steroids for
fluid & antibiotics in case the pneumonia was{*filter*} around
referred to second doctor for second opinion
June: second doctor said she should have a biopsy as soon as possible,
said it wouldn't be ethical for him to take the case
July saw thorasic surgeon who said that the March ct scan also showed a
spot on the lung itself and two lesions on the liver
biopsy with stage 4 diagnosis
The question: WHY DID NOTHING HAPPEN FOR THREE AND A HALF MONTHS WHEN THE
CT SCAN IN MARCH SHOWED MULTIPLE NODULES ON THE LINING OF THE LUNG, A SPOT
ON THE LUNG AND LESIONS ON THE LIVER? WHY DID NO ONE TELL HER WHAT WAS
GOING ON?
We are furious with her pulmonologist. Neither Dawn nor her husband
realized how serious this was - why should they when the doctor told her
she looked too good to have cancer? The rest of us knew it was cancer; I
felt like someone in a helicoptor looking down at a car fixing to cross in
front of a train; I knew what was coming but the people in the car didn't.
Donna
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