Sunday, November 28, 2010

What can I expect in the final stages of lung cancer


What can I expect in the final stages of lung cancer?
my grandma has lung cancer and I just wanna know how her physical appearance will change and how she will change i went in the other day to see her and she looked really bad and i just wanna be prepared I think she is in stage 4 but she is at least in stage 3. How will she change and what should i expect?
Cancer - 1 Answers
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I am very sorry you have to deal with all this hon. In all likelihood your grandma has been fighting the cancer a long time. Both the treatment and the disease have taken their toll. Basically there are two types of lung cancer, small cell, and non small cell. Staging of Non Small Cell Carcinoma. # Stage IIIA: The tumor may be any size. Cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes near the lungs and bronchi, and in the lymph nodes between the lungs but on the same side of the chest as the lung tumor. # Stage IIIB: The tumor may be any size. Cancer cells are found on the opposite side of the chest from the lung tumor or in the neck. The tumor may have invaded nearby organs, such as the heart, esophagus, or trachea. More than one malignant growth may be found within the same lobe of the lung. The doctor may find cancer cells in the pleural fluid. # Stage IV: Malignant growths may be found in more than one lobe of the same lung or in the other lung. Or cancer cells may be found in other parts of the body, such as the brain, adrenal gland, liver, or bone. Stages of Small Cell Lung Cancer Doctors describe small cell lung cancer using two stages: * Limited stage: Cancer is found only in one lung and its nearby tissues. * Extensive stage: Cancer is found in tissues of the chest outside of the lung in which it began. Or cancer is found in distant organs. Changes to her appearance will depend on what organs are affected. Certainly she will become thinner and her skin will have a bluish tinge due to lack of oxygen. She may need to be on an oxygen tank 24/7. Fatigue is a certainty. Her disease and her medications/side effects will affect her appetite so you should expect some weight loss. My best advice is to spend every day you can with your grandma.



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