	AllExperts > Oncology (General Cancer)
	Search

About Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
Questions concerning Cancer, Oncology, radiation Therapy, Tumours, Chemotherapy, Cytotoxic Drugs, Hormonal Therapy, Radiation Protection.

Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden. I also answer questions in these other categories: General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Oncology (General Cancer) > Non small cell lung cancer in non smoking female

Oncology (General Cancer) - Non small cell lung cancer in non smoking female

Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: Greetings.....we have a niece in Alvesta Sweden !
A dear friend was diagnosed 8 months ago with non small cell lung cancer that had metastacized to her adrenal glands, her liver and her lymph nodes in the pelvic region and now her brain. She had chemo treatments all summer long with three different drugs. Last month a painful seizure caused her shoulder to go out of its socket. The tests determined the seizure was caused by tumors now in the brain for which she just finished 11 radiation treatments. She DOES NOT want to know her own prognosis. She begins chemo again this week. Is it possible to survive another 8 months to a year with the above metasteces? They never could find the primary tumor. The oncologist said it was not the lung. She is a non smoker. However, the lung cancer was found when she got pnuemonia last April.....it showed up as a white mass on one lung and nodules on the other lung. Thank you for any input. If time is short, we'd like to talk to her about hospice. Many thanks.

ANSWER: I see, is she Swedish or American? Am I to understand that her cancer in her brain is different from that in her lungs, adrenal gland, liver etc. or is it the same cancer though probably not starting in her lungs but elsewhere but yet not determined? Please clarify. In both situations her prognosis is VERY bad and all what her treatment can do is just to postpone the final outcome unfortunately. This is in any case a stage 4 cancer situation so at present not curable and with a high degree of certainty eventually fatal. It is possible but far from certain that she may survive around 8 to 12 months more. But it is probable that the process will be faster. Exactly how fast no one can say at present. I'm sorry I have nothing better to tell you!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: P.S.
This is a second followup question to my original query re our dear friend's non small cell lung cancer. At the beginning of her treatment last springtime, a "port" was imbedded into her shoulder (?) so that the chemo could be administered that way. She was also put on Coumadin which she had to inject into her abdomen??? I know it is a blood thinner but usally taken orally. This regimen has caused her to be hospitilized at least two or three times due to low blood count; blood transfusions were given. Isn't this counter productive? The blood thinners were to prevent a reoccurence of the BLOOD CLOTS which landed her in the hospital the first time. Then, either the coumadin or the chemo caused the low blood count. We are all in our early 60's and thinking that the cure is worse than the disease. She said her breathing capacity is 95% which we would think is pretty darn good for stage four lung cancer. My husband seems to think all this treatment is just a money making proposition. To go back to the beginning, the very first treatment was simply to remove the fluid from around her lung cavity........once that was done, she felt GREAT. This was before chemo. Wouldn't it be simpler to just keep the fluid out of the lungs and assure good breathing? The lung tumor HAS NOT ADVANCED AT ALL. Neither has it shrunk from all the chemo. But the cancer has metastacized to the pelvic lymph nodes....etc. as I explained earlier. We were just wondering if the quality of life this past summer might have been more enjoyable without the chemo. Thank you kindly.

Answer
I see. No I do not think it is a mon ey maker. The combined therapy most probably increases her survival time BUT it will NOT change the end result unfortunately. Just fluid removal works for such a short time that it can NOT be recommended alone.
Please do keep me posted!

Add to this Answer Ask a Question