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stage IV NSCLC Squamous Cell
Hello, Wondering if anyone can offer any suggestions, my mom was diagnosed in December. She has not begun any treatment yet, she is still deciding. Recently she is not wanting to eat. Nausea is causing her to not want to eat, and as soon as she eats she get pain in her hip, i know it may sound weird, but she does have tumor on her hip. She is taking meds for the nausea, but they do not seem to be helping right now. Any suggestions? I have heard that she should not wait to long to decide on chemo, but it has been almost a month since her diagnosis and still no decision on her part. Does this mean she is not wanting to go through chemo and just does not want to tell me? I'm not sure what to do to help her with eating, or her decision.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by DavidatpMOD on
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I also had the NSCLC Squamous cell and went through chemo and radiation. Has her cancer spread to her hip? You should probably talk to her Oncologist about the nausea. Whether or not to go through treatments is a very personal decision but it's one she should share with you and the rest of the family. Good luck, God bless and keep the faith...
David
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Permalink Reply by Hopefull2012 on -
Thank you for responding, yes it is in her hip, adrenal gland and lympnodes. I know it sounds bad, but after reading so many positive things about chemo/radiation I cant help but hope she will chose to fight. I dont know if it is denial on my part, but my gut says there is more for her. I know I am not the one experiencing the things she is going through, but I feel like her doctor has left her hopeless and scared. I dont want to be selfish, and I dont want her to suffer either decision she makes, and I have told her my feelings, but have also told her I will be here to support her no matter what she decides. I just want to be sure that I have looked into all the avenues for her, to give her all her options. I dont want to sway her either way, Just want to enjoy what ever time I have left with her. This whloe thing sucks! We can send a man to the moon but cannot cure cancer....I guess I am a little angry too. I remain strong for her and my daughter that is watching her grandmother go through this also. Bless you for taking the time to give me your thoughts. Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on -
Hi there,
I'm sorry about your mom. I assume by your questions that she has not volunteered any information about her decision-making. Have you asked her about that? Could be as simple as asking what she thinks is keeping her from making a decision. Ask her if she feels like she needs more information or if there is something that scares her about the options. Make sure she knows that you will support whatever decision she makes.
As for the eating, nausea can be caused by anxiety too, so it may or may not be related to her cancer. I'd echo what David said though about asking her oncologist what he/she thinks is going on. If a person is nauseus, sometimes it helps to fix small amounts of bland foods to eat over time, or see if she will drink a meal replacement shake like Boost or Ensure. Getting calories in her will be important if she chooses to go through chemotherapy. If she loses too much weight, she'll get weak and it will be harder on her to go through chemo.
Tough situation. The best you can do is make sure she knows you will support her and that you want to help her.
Keep us posted on what happens.
Amy
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Permalink Reply by Hopefull2012 on
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I took your advice and talked to her about taking the anxiety medication she has on a daily basis to see if that and the nausea meds he gave her will help. I have to tell you I feel like the food and pill pusher, sometimes she gets grumpy with me, but she knows i just want her to be strong and nutritioned as long as possible. We did talk a bit today about chemo/radiation, she said she will talk to him more when we go back on thursday, we do have a second opinion appointment next week, hoping for a more positive approch from this next appointment. I wanted to get her some multi vitamins, the cute chewy ones from costco, but I am afraid it may make her sick if she does not have enough food in her. Any thoughts on them? She does have glycerna, due to her diabetes and she is taking alot of other meds for high blood pressure and cholestorol, I know she is kinda pilled out.
Thank you for taking time to write to me, I really appreciate it.
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Permalink Reply by KDDHope on
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Hi, my dad has stage 3B NSCLC, and the best advice I can offer to you is to continue to do what you are doing. There were days my dad was very grumpy and would give me a hard time about taking medicine or eating or just getting up. I grew alot of patience during this time. We too went for a second opinion. I am not going to lie, it is an emotional roller coaster as the caregiver (by no means am I downplaying being the patient) to watch your loved one go through this. I remained strong in front of my father. For us it happened so fast, we went to the oncologist, on a Friday, and by the following Friday he had started chemo. We knew his best chance for survival was the treatment. The oncologist wanted my dad off all vitamins initially, but then he was able to take a multi-vitamin. I don't honestly remember the reasoning. Good luck, and I can tell you that you have come to the right place for support!
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Permalink Reply by Hopefull2012 on
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Well today we went for a second opinion. What a great doctor, this is the first appointment I have left from not feeling totally depressed. She is going tomorrow for radiation on her hip, and her back. She has decided to go ahead and try chemo, doctor said after radiation, he didnt recommend doing them both at the same time, just harder on her. So hopefully in about 2 weeks we will start her first round of chemo. I know the stats, but I am crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. I think my mom is even in a more positive frame of mind, I know it is not a cure, and she has a long road ahead of her, but it feels good to feel good for the moment. She still has good and bad days with eating but she is trying to eat more. Has anyone here used a canibis card before? She is kind of against it, but she said she will try if it will really help to settle her stomach and make her feel like eating more often. Thanks for all of your input, it is great to have people to talk with that know what she and I are going through.
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Permalink Reply by AmyLCA on
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Hi!
I'm glad she started radiation. It will hopefully help with her pain.
I don't know anything about cannabis cards but I assume that's for medical marijuana? I don't believe anyone has mentioned using it through this legal program but I know it is only legal in a dozen or so states at this point. Maybe someone else will chime in. There is a synthetic form of THC (the chemical in marijuana thought to help improve appetite) called Marinol that is available with prescription. I have heard from some folks that it helps with appetite so that might be something to consider talking to her doctor about too. Megace is another drug that may help. I know this just involves more pill-pushing, but sometimes these things are necessary evils. :-(
Hope this helps.
Amy
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