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Stage IV Lung Cancer. Chest Pain, Breathlessness. How Long Do Patients Last Once Morphine Is Started?
My mother has stage IV lung cancer , was diagnosed in August and was given 2-4 months. She does not complain of any pain but has s/sx of chest pain . Morphine was just started for the pain. She is extremely short of breath but O2 sats are still about 95. My father died of lung cancer 5 months ago and once we started him on morphine, it was only a matter of days. How long do patients usually last once the morphine is started?
Fri, 16 Nov 2012
Hi Kpookie2
Its unfortunate your mother has stage 1V Lung cancer. Prognosis is extremely poor with an average survival of 4-6 months (depending on various factors). I didnt understand what you meant by "but has s/sx of chest pain". Starting morphine and a patient"s duration of life has no relationship. Morphine is started for pain. Life expectancy( number of days you expect patient to live ) depends on various factors like disease stage / general condition of the patient / Is there an option for further cancer treatment and if so what is the response to that treatment. So dont worry, just because she has been started on morphine does not mean she is going to die soon (unfortunately like your father). Last but not he least nobody including doctors can predict anybody"s life expectancy. It can go both ways
Hope i was clear enough
Dr Edison
Its unfortunate your mother has stage 1V Lung cancer. Prognosis is extremely poor with an average survival of 4-6 months (depending on various factors). I didnt understand what you meant by "but has s/sx of chest pain". Starting morphine and a patient"s duration of life has no relationship. Morphine is started for pain. Life expectancy( number of days you expect patient to live ) depends on various factors like disease stage / general condition of the patient / Is there an option for further cancer treatment and if so what is the response to that treatment. So dont worry, just because she has been started on morphine does not mean she is going to die soon (unfortunately like your father). Last but not he least nobody including doctors can predict anybody"s life expectancy. It can go both ways
Hope i was clear enough
Dr Edison
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