Just diagnosed

[Tracyd02]

Hello, my mum has just been diagnosed with lung cancer metastatic lymph node bone cancer. I'm just researching as much as I can before our meeting on Wednesday to see how the Drs will handle the treatment. They have confirmed it's in operable and 8x5x4cms. Which I think is quite large. Any questions you feel I should be asking please share still in shock as it has come on very soon about 6 weeks

[Tcam]

Hi there, firstly so sorry about your news. Take a pen and pad on Wednesday, it’s a lot to take in. sending positive hugs. x

[Bow-19]

It’s worth asking if your mum has been tested for mutations eg EGFR, ALK, ROS1. This usually involves taking a biopsy from the tumour and then testing it. If one is found Targeted Therapies are sometimes available for treatment. Roy Castle do a leaflet about this so it’s worth reading that too. I always write my questions down before an appointment and as said before take a pen and paper to write down what has been said. Ask lots of questions if you want to know the full picture. Possibly first line treatment and if n when that doesn’t work what the second line one is, then the third etc. About the possible side effects of the treatment and how these are managed. Also the support that is available is there a lung cancer nurse or Mac Millan Nurse for you to speak to as and when you need it? I was diagnosed 4 years ago and found both of these types of Nurses useful in the early stages and still have their phone numbers. Hope this helps x

[Tracyd02 in reply to Bow-19]

Hello Bow19

Thankyou, I will take pen and paper and have my questions ready - I seem to have a lot my mum has one - around timelines I've explained we have to be positive but at the moment understand I need to let her vent and I just need to listen.

[Bow-19 in reply to Tracyd02]

Sounds like you are being a good daughter x

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi TracyD02,

I am so sorry to hear the news about your mums diagnosis.

Some questions you might want to ask at the oncologist might be;

Will any other tests be needed?

What are the treatment options available to her?

( for example targeted therapies,chemotherapy or radiotherapy)

How often will she receive the treatment for?

Where will she receive the treatment?

What are the side effects of any proposed treatment?

Is there a way to minimize the side effects?

Are clinical trials an option?

If you ask about any specific treatment and are told this is not an option ask the reason why.

See attached links.

roycastle.org/how-we-help/l...

roycastle.org/system/file_u...

Please don't hesitate to call our nurse led Helpline 0800 358 7200 after you have read the online material if you want to ask anything specific before you see the oncologist at your hospital appointment.

Kind regards,

All the team at the Roy Castle Helpline

[Tcam]

was thinking of you wednesday, i do hope it went well. 🤞

[Tracyd02]

Hi Tcam,

Wednesday was a waste of time the consultation repeated everything that we had been told Friday - he didn't realise we had been informed by his colleague 🙈. Met ongolocy dr yesterday can't start chemo til 22/12 as no free appointments, will request radiotherapy need to await appointment. Just keep reminding us that it's in 3 places therefore stage 4 , rapidly productive cancer but responds well to chemo 80% - they said hoping to give my mum 12mths