| | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" Member | OP  "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" Member
Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 1 | Hi,
My family member has just been diagnosed with mouth cancer (which is fairly big) which is not able to be operated on and is not curable. She also has secondary lung cancer. We are still in the process of waiting for the PET scan and biopsy results. I am trying to learn as much as possible in order to help my loved one. I am finding that I am most anxious about knowing a timeline. My relative is a smoker and drinker, she is nearly 70 and it fairly sure she doesn't want treatment. I know nobody can give an exact timeline but are we looking at months or years?
She is not eating, feeling nauseous and fatigued.
Any advice would be helpful
Last edited by yellowrose; 07-03-2013 11:25 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | If she's not eating you need to do something to change that. People can live without food for a certain amount of time but eventually that will take it's toll. Time line...? no one can tell you. But if her cancer is advance and with no treatment, and she's not eating.. a few months maybe...
where is her tumor? I know you said OC and LC - I am assuming if they can pick up on the LC it's quite advanced.
OC can be very painful. Look into palliative care and meds for her to make this as easy as possible. Hugs.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | For some cancers, like advanced stage oropharyngeal, I heard several months, 6 months, with no treatment, but not even doctors can really say what will happen, and are often surprised, and proven wrong, when they do commit themselves to a lenght of time. Also, what is non operable to one doctor, may be treatable to another, and is where experience comes into practice, and not wanting to operate is different than incurable cancer.. Hopefully the PET/CT, biopsy, comes back with different findings than thought, and sounds as if not all cancer is proven yet, and anything lesser than expected offers a glimmer of hope, and opportunity for a 2nd opinion that may change matters, and maybe it won't, but is worth seeking. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Before we could even guess and that's what it would be, we need more info especially the Staging of the cancer. One thing puzzles me, you said diagnosed as cancer and then waiting for PET and biopsy results. At least with oral cancer, it can't be Dx'ed as cancer without a biopsy so if the results are still unavailable then how do you know? Also why are they saying it's untreatable?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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