adenocarcinoma, lung cancer
Quote:
> Yesterday my father-in-law who is 65 years old is diagnosed with lung
> cancer. From PET, cancer is spread to bone, spine, and pelvis.
> Doctor doesn't want to treat him and said that he will survive about 1
> year.
> First I would like to get more information if there is any possibility
> to treat him.
> I am wondering that getting chemotherapy or radiation theraph is really
> not worth to try.
> I tried to find any survival rate for his case from internet. But I
> couldn't.
> I will appreciate any comment or suggestion about my situation.
Hello,
Your father in law's cancer is not curable.
Doctors have been wrong before about prognosis, but not, I think with the
extent of disease of your FIL.
There are some statistics and prognosis here
http://www.***.com/
Stage 4 NSCLC "Between 15 and 35 out of every 100 people (15 - 35%) treated
for stage 4 lung cancer will be alive a year later."
Treatment decisions are often based on the Karnofsky Performance.
http://www.***.com/
If he's 30 or lower, he;s best seeking hospice care (palliative care at
home or in an institution).
Although it might be worth seeking an opinion from a radiation oncologist
to mitigate as much pain as possible with judicious RT, thereby hopefully
allowing him to have to take less pain meds, until closer to the end..
If his Karnofsky is 70 or 80, chemo may reduce the size of some tumours and
thereby improve his breathing.
If his breathing is fine, he may wish to wait and treat to symptoms.
Or if he has chronic lung problems (from, for instance, smoking), he may
think twice about chemo because of the side effects. His doctor knows him
more than we do.
So then is he better off seeking some RT and finishing projects,
travelling, visiting with relatives and enjoying what remains of his time.
People don't usually die of bone mets, but the advancing cancer processes
and/or if the cancer spreads to a vital organ or a preexisting condition
like heart problems, combined with chemo or a clot, or pneumonia or
bleeding.
Not knowing more, at the moment about the pelvic area and/or what else
mgiht be going on, some of which can sometimes be seen in {*filter*}work
results, a radiation oncologist would probably be able to assess his
situation more than anyone, over the internet,.can.
I'm not a doctor. If you wish ongoing support, try alt.support.cancer or
update us here, if you prefer.
I'm sorry about your father in law.
J
