More Info on Mom's Cancer

I talked to my sister, Lisa, last night on the phone. She had found out some additional information that I did not know. Someone at the hospital had talked my mother into signing HIPPA release forms so that information can be shared with her, me, and Tom. So Lisa had called the hospital and spoken to one of the nurses. The nurse was able to tell her that the type of cancer we are dealing with is a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) called Adenocarcinoma. So Lisa had taken the day off work yesterday to do some research on it. Apparently the survival rate is not great. But it can vary widely depending on what stage the cancer is in when it is discovered. The nurses were not able to tell us that yet since the doctor has not yet transcribed his notes. They said to call back on Monday and hopefully they will know then. Sadly, the information I found on http://www.intelihealth.com/ states:

Expected Duration
Once it develops, adenocarcinoma of the lung will continue to grow and spread until it is treated.

Treatment
Surgery is the main treatment for all NSCL cancers if the cancer is contained in the chest and has no evidence of having spread to areas outside the chest. Three types of surgery can be used:
Wedge resection � Removal of only a small part of the lung
Lobectomy � Removal of one lobe of the lung
Pneumonectomy � Removal of the entire lung
VATS (Video-assisted thoracoscopy) � In this procedure, which can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, the surgeon places a flexible tube into an incision in the chest and can visually inspect the surrounding surfaces of the inner and outer linings of the lung area and even do surgery to remove abnormal areas. It is a less-invasive procedure compared to a larger operation, called a thoracotomy.
Since all of these surgical procedures require removal of a portion or the entire lung, and since many of the patients will have diminished lung function to begin with due to years of smoking, it is very important that a full evaluation of the existing lung function and the predicted lung function after an expected surgical removal be done. This is especially important for those with non cancerous abnormalities of their lungs, such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
Depending on how far the cancer has spread (the stage), treatments can include chemotherapy and radiation therapy before and/or after surgery. Stages are defined by the size of the tumor and how far it has spread. Stages I through III are further divided into two "A" and "B" categories. Stage I tumors are small and have not invaded the surrounding tissue or organs. Stage II and III tumors have invaded surrounding tissue and/or organs and have spread to lymph nodes. Stage IV tumors have spread outside the chest area.
People with serious medical problems that make it difficult for them to withstand surgery may receive radiation therapy to shrink the tumor, or a combination of radiation and chemotherapy.
When the tumor has spread significantly, chemotherapy drugs may be recommended to slow the growth of the cancer even if it cannot cure the disease. Chemotherapy has been shown to decrease symptoms and prolong life in advanced cases of lung cancer.
Over the past decade, a series of new treatments has been developed specifically as a result of better understanding of the genetics of lung cancer and the specific abnormalities of the lung cancer cell. These agents are called targeted therapies, since they specifically target the abnormal biochemical pathways that are crucial in the development and growth of the cancer. In specialized centers, the lung cancer tissue that is removed may be tested for specific genetic (DNA) abnormalities and then treated accordingly.
Radiation therapy also may be recommended to relieve symptoms. The use of radiation is especially important in the treatment of lung cancer that has spread to the brain or that has spread to the bone and is causing pain. As mentioned above, it is also used alone or in combination with chemotherapy to treat the lung cancer that is located in the chest area as well.

Prognosis
The outlook depends on the stage of the cancer and the overall health of the patient. In general, the prognosis is poor, especially if the lung cancer has spread to areas outside of the chest wall or has involved the lymph nodes of the mediastinum. This cancer can only be cured when surgery or radiation therapy can completely remove the tumor. However, many lung cancers are diagnosed at a stage when this is not possible. About 17% of people with adenocarcinoma survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.

We also looked up some information on the oncologist, Dr. Michael Huie. Here's a synopsis on him:

Huie, Michael, M.D.
Specialty:
Oncology
Practice Highlights:
As a board-certified medical oncologist, Michael Huie, M.D. provides care and treatment for patients with cancer. Dr. Huie received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also completed his residency and fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Huie sees patients with solid tumors and both benign and malignant hematologic disorders. In addition to seeing patients, Dr. Huie is a cancer researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “I enjoy clinical practice because it gives me the ability to help patients through difficult times. Combining my practice with research is fulfilling because it helps to further cancer treatment strategies and it allows me to incorporate cutting-edge clinical trial developments into my practice, helping more people overcome cancer,” says Dr. Huie. Monroe Clinic’s Oncology Center is a collaborative effort between Monroe Clinic and the University of Wisconsin. Patients receive personal, one-on-one care close to home while benefiting from the latest research from the University of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. To make an appointment with Dr. Huie, please call Monroe Clinic at 608-324-2685.
Location:
Monroe Clinic and Hospital
515 22nd Avenue
Monroe WI 53566
608-324-2685

I feel much better after finding out that Monroe Clinic works directly with the University of Madison. Mom is probably receiving better care than I initially thought. Still, we know that she is in either stage II or III of the cancer already so her prognosis seems dim. Hopefully we can find out some additional information on Monday. Lisa is also trying to take time off of work to come down from Eau Claire so she can talk to the doctor and ask questions when Mom goes in for her first chemotherapy treatment. It's not a bad idea, and I will probably try to do the same.

I looked at a couple of websites on getting a customized wig made from my mom's own hair. It looks like it would cost somewhere between $1,000-$2,000. Since my mom is not incredibly vain (and more than a little frugal), I think it would be a better idea to donate her hair to Locks of Love rather than going to the expense to have a wig made. Knowing her, she will probably be more comfortable in a scarf anyway. I looked up the guidelines and basically you only need 10 inches in order to donate. Layered hair is acceptable as long as the longest layer is 10 inches. Colored or permed hair is acceptable as well as long as it has not been bleached. They cannot accept hair that has been bleached. So my sister Lisa, myself, and my best friend Lani have all volunteered to donate our hair along with my mom. *Update - I discussed this with Mom and she agreed. We will go with the scarves and donate our hair.*

Anyway, since I have managed to pull myself together better today, I must complete some of the work that I neglected yesterday.