I believe that the drug they are referring to is Iressa. It is slightly beyond experimental at this point (at least for lung cancer). They are doing clinicals with Iressa for other forms of cancer as well.

See: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/c...Better_Use_of_Iressa_for_Lung_Cancer.asp

100 lbs is a huge weight loss (unless she was 4-500 lbs prior to this. I can't understand why they wouldn't insist on it - this shouldn't have to be your decision to make - that's why these doctors make the big bucks. It is to her advantage to try to continue eating orally also.

Your mother shouldn't be in pain. Patients have the right to adequate pain management - demand it. Use the pain scale to describe the pain levels to the nurses and doctors.

See: http://search.cancer.org/search?q=p...mcancer&restrict=cancer&filter=0