Is Lung Cancer Stage 4 A Death Sentence?

Lung Cancer Stage 4 is a dreaded diagnosis that people do not want to hear and I have seen for myself how the disease ravaged the body of my dear grandfather. The most alarming fact of this disease is that forty- percent of people who contracted it will find out that it is too late for them because it has already progressed. Worse, there is no cure for it that many of us feel hopeless and resigned to the fate of our loved ones who have it. Be as it may even if there is no cure for it as of the moment, there some methods to treat it and extend a person’s life. There is hope for many of us who have the disease because a number of clinical trials are underway to combat the progression of this deadly ailment.

 

Symptoms Of Stage 4 Lung Cancer

We often feel helpless when the doctor tells us that our loved ones are facing an uphill battle for survival because their tumors have metastasized from the original organ –lungs to other parts of the body specifically the esophagus or heart.  Furthermore, doctors will tell our loved ones who have the disease that cancer cells have spread to their lymph nodes or other places like neck, muscles and collar bone. Also, we have to bear with the fact that our loved ones will begin to manifest Lung Cancer Stage 4 such as wheezing, pain emanating from the arms, chest, shoulder, or back. Moreover, they will cough up blood, experience persistent cough, hoarseness, and shortness of breath as well as bouts of bronchitis or pneumonia.

 

More Symptoms Of Stage 4 Lung Cancer

For some of us, we may have a hard time feeding our loved ones who have the disease because the tumor has spread along the esophagus making it difficult for them to swallow. It is also painful for many of us to see them suffering very much from seizures, changes in their vision, headaches and the feeling of weakness on their part. Additionally, many of them will feel fatigued and notice rapid weight loss coupled with their loss of appetite. It seems that having Stage 4 cancer is a death sentence for our loved ones because it is now inoperable, but several treatments may help them cope with the disease such as chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can be very unpleasant for some but it will increase the chances of one’s survival.

 

Treatments That Will Help Alleviate The Symptoms Of Those With Lung Cancer Stage 4

 

If chemotherapy cannot be tolerated by our loved ones, their doctors may always recommend radiation therapy that will lessen the symptoms although it will not lead to a cure. This is very useful for our loved ones to withstand bone pain, lessen the tumors that obstruct their airways and bleeding lungs. It is disheartening to note that some studies indicate that cancer patients will not survive on their fifth year. Still, to somehow lessen the pain of our loved ones who have Lung Cancer Stage 4 we should carefully consider the treatment benefits as well as the risks involved and hope for the best that they will overcome the odds.