Mom's challanges
 

Please help. Mom was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer (pleural effusion) in Oct. 2007 after lab results of the fluid came back positive for abnormal cells. She has had nothing identified on repeated CAT/ PET scans but agreed to begin chemo imediately. She tolerated Carbo and Taxol remarkedly well for 11 weekly sessions. I felt that it was to good to be true that she had such minimal side effects.

While getting in her car to drive and join the family for Christmas, she lost her balance and fell. That was the beginning of the problems. She began to use a walker as her stability got worse. She was complaining of the typical tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes. She was beginning to not be able to feel the bottoms of her feet, thus the balance problem. Alternative meds (Tarceva) were discussed and a decision was made to suspend treatment as the nuropaphy continued to get worse within the next 2 weeks. They believed Taxol to be the problem. Scans were conducted again to rule out the spread of cancer in the brain and elsewhere. Everything negative.

She was sent to a neurologist and then to a rehab center for extensive physical therapy to work on her balance. We were told it could take weeks or months for improvement of the nuropaphy. We are very concerned and searching for answers since the problem has gotten far worse in the last few weeks. Mom has basically lost the use of her legs from the knees down. The ankles can not support any weight even while trying to left up from the wheelchair. They are very concerned about her rolling over on them and causing a break. She can bearly move her toes and cannot feel any touches to them. The feet have began to turn inward from loss of muscle support. The calves are getting smaller. She is being fitted with special boots to restrict foot drop. Braces are being ordered to see if they can help support the upper body.

At some point we are going to have to revisit the cancer. Her anxiety level is understandably high but she has unbelievable poise as she meets the next day and looks forward to being bale to go home and get life back to nornal. Thank you for any insight or sharing. I'm her only son and constantly preoccuipied with wanted to make the right decisions with her. Chuck..

Chuck
 

Hi. I am so sorry you are going through this. My mom battled small cell lung cancer for a year and a half. It too is such a horrible disease. There is a wonderful website www.lchelp.org which helped me tremendously during my mom's illness. I am a two-year breast cancer survivor, but work for the LUNGevity Foundation which raises money for lung cancer research. If you have any further questions, please let me know. Your family is in my prayers.

Lisa

Chuck, you and your mom are now in my thoughts and prayers as well. Just make sure that you try to take care of yourself, too, and eat well and rest when you can. You have come to a great site for information and support. Take care, Bill

Chuck, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, and I know how frustrating and scary the loss of balance and ability to walk can be; my dad is struggling with Parkinson's and has difficulty walking too. It's a day to day struggle, but physical therapy and medication help.
Hope your mom keeps her spirits up during this difficult time, and as Bill says, you mus take care of yourself too. It's hard to take time for yourself when you need too, I know, but it's so important.

<3 Lolly

Hi Chuck,

I'm sorry you and your mom are having to go through this. It's so hard and so scary when life is so uncertain.

I ask our Lord to hold you close - to bless you with His peace and to lead and guide you to what you need.

Mary Jo