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MIL's doctors are on my list.
First they told her (without being able to do a biopsy) that she had lung cancer.
Then once they did the biopsy, they said it wasn't cancer - it was a bacterial infection.
Then she had another biopsy yesterday and they're again saying it is cancer.
I get that doctors aren't perfect, and they make mistakes. But if it's been cancer this whole time, has she missed out on valuable treatment time? She's not strong enough to go through chemo, and last time it was talked about was refusing it anyway. I guess they're going to discuss treatment options tomorrow.
This has just been a crazy rollercoaster. First everyone was sad because we were told she had cancer. (And with her refusing chemo, we were scared she wouldn't last much longer.) Then we were all happy to find out it wasn't. Now, just before the holidays, we find out that it is cancer? This sucks.
Re: MIL's doctors are on my list.
It's entirely possible they biopsied different sites - because this "thing" in her lungs is supposedly the size of a baseball. It's huge. If it is in fact all cancerous tumor, I don't know what they're going to do.
I get all my info from H, who gets it from his mom. Unfortunately, she doesn't always understand what her doctors tell her, or gets it mixed up. So I think he'll need to talk to his dad to get the full story.
Hugs (I would insert the zombie hug guy here, but the smileys don't work on my computer).
In my experience, which is from a different kind of cancer, so your MIL's experience might be totally different, the next step will probably be a scan of some kind (CT or PET and possibly MRI) to see if it's spread (metastasized). If it hasn't, there might be some options. If it has, there probably still are options, but if she's refusing chemo or is too sick to do it, those options may be limited. Again, I don't know lung cancer (although I do have a close family friend in chemo for it now).
If you decide you want or need any help navigating any of this or would like to know some online resource (warning: these don't always give a lot of hope or actually HELP), please let me know. It's a terrifying place to be, as I unfortunately know all too well.
Also, does your MIL have anyone nearby who could go to important meetings with her to take notes? I found that to be really helpful. I also made a list of questions ahead of time, so I could make sure I didn't forget anything. It is EXTREMELY overwhelming to hear all of this stuff, and I was in perfect health (other than being pregnant), and DH and I both had backgrounds in science/health stuff. If there isn't anyone to go with her, would her Dr's be ok with her tape recording what they say so you can get the straight scoop? My dr's were hesitant, but let me (I decided not to again after the first appt).
Hugs, hugs, hugs.
Thank you!
She had a PET scan a few months ago, and it was only in her lungs. I don't know if they'll do another one right now or not.
FIL goes with her to every appointment because she doesn't drive, or get around very well (her overall health is poor and she's not terribly mobile). And because she can sometimes be an ostrich & stick her head in the sand (hence the sometimes being confused about what her doctors said). And H's older sister goes with them to appointments when she can.
I guess now we just wait & see what the Dr says tomorrow and go from there. There was talk about radiation a few months ago, so I'd assume that's still an option.