# So.. My Mom has lung cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571 "2004-03-21T18:12:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/1 "2004-03-21T18:12:40Z")
Yep that’s what it is. Mom has been sick for about 2 years now , getting worse and worse, her doctor said she had COPD. He did no extensive testing to see why nothing was helping her, she has run fever for 4 months strtaight. Two months ago I told him that this was rediculious and something needed to be done besides throwing anti-biotics at her every month. So he scheduled her a cat scan of her lungs. Her left lung has a tumor so big it fills the upper lobe of her left lung. The damn doctor she was seeing before was wrong, and I am so mad at him I could put my foot up his butt, sideways. Mom is starting to get radiation treatments now, and she is in la-la-land from the morphine (60 mg. twice a day with an elixer in between as needed or every two hours) . I am stay at her place during the week and coming home on week-ends so I won’t be around as much as I used to be. ps I will not be leaving the board due too the pay thing, my son will buy the first year for me. I think I will need my friends here now more than ever. All the care for Mom is mine as all my sisters live out of state. Any prayers, good thoughts ect. for Mom are more than welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/2 "2004-03-21T18:22:46Z")
You definitely have my very best wishes for your mom and your family, **Ayesha**. Keep us posted when you can. Take care. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/3 "2004-03-21T18:28:04Z")
My thoughts will definately be with you and your mother. I hope that all turns out for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/4 "2004-03-21T18:46:22Z")
I been there, worry-wise. ☹ My love to you & your Mom, and good luck. As for your moron ex-doc, write him a letter, & tell him about his screw-up. Make no threats, express no anger. Just calmly & baldly state the situation, & remind him of his error _without comment._ If he phones you, tell him “I decline to speak with you” _in just those words_, & hang up withoput saying anything else. Repeat this for 6 months. He’ll be sweating buckets about malpratice suits. And yes, keep photocopies of the letters. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/5 "2004-03-21T18:59:06Z")
Oh Aye, that really sucks. ☹ I’ll be sending my good thoughts your way. I’m sorry you have to take this responsibility on all by yourself. I know too well what that’s like, and it isn’t fair. Take good care of your mom but don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. I think I’ll call up my son’s grandfather to make sure his doctors have checked his lungs. He was diagnosed with COPD years ago and, with all the hospital visits and antibiotics he’s had over the last two years, I could probably write the same post you did. I always just assumed a “cancer check” was the next logical step. ---
**Author:** ![nisosbar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@nisosbar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nisosbar)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/6 "2004-03-21T18:59:24Z")
sorry to hear about this - rest assured, I will pray for your mom, that she get healthy and well! 🙂 Take care. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/7 "2004-03-21T19:14:55Z")
My Mom had small cell lung cancer, so you can contact me anytime with a question. I have an e-mail link in my profile. I’m hoping for the best for you and your mother. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/8 "2004-03-21T22:39:18Z")
I hope you mother gets well. Stay positive and happy, your mother needs it more then ever. ---
**Author:** ![Gazelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Gazelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gazelle)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/9 "2004-03-21T22:50:40Z")
**Ayesha** , I’m so sorry about your mother. I can’t imagine the worry and heartache you’re experiencing. Big hugs from Minnesota, girl. Love, Gazelle ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/10 "2004-03-21T22:52:35Z")
My best thoughts go to you and your Mom. Do all you can to keep her spirits up, and yours as well. All those little things you always wanted to do or say, do and say them now. Be positive, confident and firm, when it’s required. Sometimes in situations like this, the child must become the parent. Make it a good experience for you both. ---
**Author:** ![bittersweet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@bittersweet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bittersweet)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/11 "2004-03-21T23:25:19Z")
**Ayesha** , wishing your Mom a quick and total recovery. Also, my best wishes to you and your family – now is the time when all must be strong. The truth be told, some doctors need to realize they **are** still human, are **not** almighty and can be **very** wrong sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/12 "2004-03-22T00:09:24Z")
My best to you and your mother. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for you, but I wish you strength in the coming days and weeks. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/13 "2004-03-22T00:28:12Z")
Best wishes to you, your mother and your family. Remember to take some time out to look after yourself as well as your mum - it’s a big responsibilty, and a stressful one at that. It might be worth, if you have the energy, officially complaining to someone about the doctor. It might not go anywhere, but it will hopefully remind your doctor that he is not faultless, and may save someone else the worry and heartache you and your family are going through now. ---
**Author:** ![purrplebear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90ced4/32.png) [@purrplebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purrplebear)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/14 "2004-03-22T01:00:06Z")
☹ **Ayesha** , I am so sorry to hear that. I know what you are going through, though, in some way. Both my parents and my FIL fought lung cancer. If I can help in any way, just email me. In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your mother, and the rest of your family. Don’t forget to take care of yourself too, and get plenty of rest and eat enough. That will give you strength to do your best for your mom. I agree with what **Bosda** said too, about writing that moronic doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/15 "2004-03-22T01:30:44Z")
Been there. You’ve got my best wishes, for what it’s worth, and my hopes and prayers. And **Bosda** is quite correct. Do NOT threaten anything… but follow his instructions, and you will manage to cost your mom’s former physician at least a few nights’ sleep. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/16 "2004-03-22T02:38:01Z")
**Ayesha** , you and your family will be in our thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/17 "2004-03-22T02:46:43Z")
Sending warm thoughts your way. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/18 "2004-03-22T03:33:54Z")
I’ll pray. I’m getting lots of practice at praying for cancer patients right now. My husband’s godfather and very good friend is in hospital right now after several operations for lung cancer- it was misdiagnosed several times, and he’s probably had it for years, so they had to take part of his spine out, and things keep going wrong. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/19 "2004-03-22T04:01:36Z")
I am so sorry that this happened to your family. It is horrible that the doctor didn’t investigate things more carefully. Since your faith in doctors has understandably been shaken, my suggestion would be to be very aggressive in researching your options and get a second opinion if feasible. You may also want to look into the possibility of if your mother is eligible for any clinical trials. There is a page at [http://www.lungcancer.org/patients/clinical\_trials/ct\_are.htm](http://www.lungcancer.org/patients/clinical_trials/ct_are.htm) that talks a bit about that. I hope that all goes well for you and your family in this trying time. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571/20 "2004-03-22T04:07:28Z")
I hope your mom gets the good medical treatment she deserves from here on out. Sending good thoughts to you and your mom. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-mom-has-lung-cancer/235571.md?page=2)