Does Stage 4 Lung Cancer Fall Under Fast Growing Cancer?
My mom was diagnosed stage 4 lung cancer last month, please check the attached report and please answer my below questions.
1.Does this cancer fall under fast growing cancer?.
2.I know this question would be difficult to answer,whats the avaerage survival rate for these type of cancer.
3.She is undergoing chemotherapy,please let me know to what extend chemotherapy would help/.
thanks,
XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Yes this appears to be stage 4 lung cancer
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
I have gone through all the reports. My responses to your queries...
1. Yes, all lung cancers are considered aggressive and this sarcomatoid variety is considered having highly aggressive behavior.
2. Lung cancer with brain metastasis has got an average survival of six months to 1 year but it can certainly be more if the disease responds to RT and chemo. However survival beyond 3 years is unusual
3. Chemotherapy on an average extends survival by 3-6 months as compared to no chemo. Again, this varies and some patients benefit more than others. Some patients may have no benefit at all. This is difficult to predict.
Hope I have answered your queries. I will be available to answer further followup queries, if any.
1. What should be expect last few months?, radiation was done for head and does metastasis grow rapidly in brain again?.
2.My mother is very weak after first chemo and she lost hair,appetite etc.Is there any chance to grow hair once chemo is completed?.(doctor had recommended 6 chemo).
3.Coughing up blood is the main issue now, can we expect some relief after chemo treatment?
4.Any other better treatment available for this?.
thanks a lot for your response.
regards, XXXXXXX XXXXXX
Please refer below
Detailed Answer:
my answers..
in the last few months there may be pain, headache, vomiting, increasing bleeding, loss of apetite, weight loss and so forth. yes, brain mets may increase again after a few months
yes, hair may come back after chemo completed
coughing may decrease, along with reduced bleeding
you can get EGFR mutation testing done on biopsy. if it is positive then we can give oral drugs to control the cancer.
regards
Is there any better treatment available in India?.
thanks, XXXXXXX XXXXXX
yes maybe she is not tolerating chemotherapy
Detailed Answer:
In that case chemo needs to be stopped. Unfortunately there is no better treatment for this. Some radiotherapy may be considered for stopping the bleeding and EGFR targeted therapy if EGFR mutation is positive.
Supportive treatment is paramount now to improve her general condition.