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Suffering From Small Cell Lung Cancer. Dehydrated, Low Electrolyte And Potassium Levels. On Oxygen.What Is The Survival Chances?
my mother in law has small cell lung cancer and is leaving the hospital after a 6 days - she hasn t been eating and was dehydrated and her potasium and electrolytes were low - she still is not eating - she had her 1st round of chemo last week - she is very weak and is on oxygen 24/7 - she is drinking a very small amount of fluids - We think she has given up and is ready to pass - how long can she live with hardly no food and very little fluids? Thanks
Sat, 22 Jun 2013
hi,
For extensive stage small cell lung cancer, the median survival is 6 to 12 months with treatment, and only 2 to 4 months without treatment.There's one last thing that is very important to keep in mind. While small cell lung cancer is not usually curable, it is treatable. These treatments may not only improve survival, but help with the symptoms of lung cancer as well. An increased level of the substances lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or alkaline phosphatase, or a low level of sodium in your blood, is associated with poorer survival.As you informed in your case that she is dehydrated and loss of appetite so without fluids and food our immune system will be challenged and we can aquire more infections and it will become one more factor for poor prognosis.Make sure the patient is rehydrated before discharged and if possible consult your doctor and atleast insert her PEG so that you can give feeds in intervals even medicines and fluids.Thank you.
For extensive stage small cell lung cancer, the median survival is 6 to 12 months with treatment, and only 2 to 4 months without treatment.There's one last thing that is very important to keep in mind. While small cell lung cancer is not usually curable, it is treatable. These treatments may not only improve survival, but help with the symptoms of lung cancer as well. An increased level of the substances lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or alkaline phosphatase, or a low level of sodium in your blood, is associated with poorer survival.As you informed in your case that she is dehydrated and loss of appetite so without fluids and food our immune system will be challenged and we can aquire more infections and it will become one more factor for poor prognosis.Make sure the patient is rehydrated before discharged and if possible consult your doctor and atleast insert her PEG so that you can give feeds in intervals even medicines and fluids.Thank you.
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