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Having Stage 4 Lung Cancer. Metastasized To Liver, Spine, Brain. Has Pulmonary Hypertension, COPD. Treatment?
My sister is 64 and has stage 4 lung cancer that has metasisized to her liver, spine and brain. She also has pulmonary hypertension , COPD , scleraderma * shogrens syndrome. She has been doing chemo since Aug. 2012 and has now decided to stop. How quickly does the cancer take over under these circumstances? I know there is no exact answer, but I have no idea if it s quick (a month) or slow (several months).
posted on
Fri, 15 Feb 2013
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 16 Feb 2013
Answered on
Sun, 17 Feb 2013
Last reviewed on
Hello,
Sorry to learn about your sister's condition.
As far as life expectancy is concerned, stage 4 lung cancer life expectancy can vary considerably among different people.
Stage 4 lung cancer encompasses several lung cancer types, and includes cancers that have spread to only one distant region or those that have spread extensively. Since the metastasis had occurs to various distant regions,the outlook looks still more bleak,as there are many other associated co morbities also.
If docs are providing treatment ,then they at least have hope of extending life, quality life, for the person we are talking about it here. I would advise that since that time cannot be precisely measured even in the worst case scenario, that it be lived as if every day were the last, spent enjoying life, friends, family, spent loving and laughing.
Keep giving her good treatment and good psychological support and care and forget about the timing of death,which nobody can tell.
Thanks
Sorry to learn about your sister's condition.
As far as life expectancy is concerned, stage 4 lung cancer life expectancy can vary considerably among different people.
Stage 4 lung cancer encompasses several lung cancer types, and includes cancers that have spread to only one distant region or those that have spread extensively. Since the metastasis had occurs to various distant regions,the outlook looks still more bleak,as there are many other associated co morbities also.
If docs are providing treatment ,then they at least have hope of extending life, quality life, for the person we are talking about it here. I would advise that since that time cannot be precisely measured even in the worst case scenario, that it be lived as if every day were the last, spent enjoying life, friends, family, spent loving and laughing.
Keep giving her good treatment and good psychological support and care and forget about the timing of death,which nobody can tell.
Thanks
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