Emphysema and possible chance of lung cancer?

Last Monday my grandmother had to get chest x-rays and they found a mass -- The doctors didnt like the way that it looked so she had an appointment with a different doctor to discuss things, which was today -- I just found out that she has Emphysema and Monday will get a bronchoscope biopsy to find out if she she lung cancer.

I am very scared and concerned for what she may have to go through in the future is she does have lung cancer. It is bad enough having emphysema, but that and cancer. She also has diabetes and is not in the best of health.

Yes she did smoke for quite a bit of her life and did quit and has for 8 years now.

I just dont want anything to happen to her.

What is to be expected in her future?

I know that the cause is due to her smoking so please I really dont wanna hear its her fault for smoking.

I know how you feel, but there is hope if it turns out to be cnacer.

I am currently in the Bahamas with my Mother who has Terminal Lung Cancer. There is a clinic here that has been in operation for over 30 years. We have been here for 4 of our 8 week stay, everyday is really neat. A lot of the patients stick around in the meeting room/ waiting room to visit, and share stories and catch up. There were 40 people all talking and laughing, talking about cancer and life, the returning patients talk about how bad their cancer was 4, 8, 10 even 18 years ago when they started coming to the clinic, the cancer that has since disappeared. There is nothing dangerous or foreign to the treatment, just building up your immune system in a very effective manner. If you want to know more contact me or go to www.immunemedicine.com I cannot tell you how impressed I am with what I have seen and how my Mother has already improved. I know one man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he skipped all US, conventional (poisonous, dangerous) options and went to the Bahamas and is doing great now. Another man who has been coming here for 18 years that had prostate cancer. People with just about every type of cancer. But, they are honest here, you send them your medical information and they will tell you whether they believe they can help you or not, and they will send you home if they don't think you are benefiting.

My mom has shown drastic improvements and is feeling so much better. and we are in the Bahamas so we are having a good Mother-Daughter vacation.

I have also done a lot of research on the Cesium Chloride/DMSO treatment and think that it has merit and you can do it at home.

The clinic here believes that a supplement/liquid called VIBE works really well in addition to other treatments, I am going to look in to that some more.

US doctors push chemo and radiation, but when you look at the statistics and side effects it is not a good option for most people. My Mom had both before we came here and now that I know more about them and have researched them I feel horrible that I let her go through them. She was lucky (so far) the only long term side effect she has shown is short term memory loss.

The stories I have heard from the other patients here about how they were treated by US medicine astound me. One lady went home to have a shunt put in her liver so she would be ok to come here, but they refused to put it in unless she agreed to do chemotherapy, is that what our country is about? Denying helpful procedures unless we agree to dangerous, toxic ones? The drug companies run US medicine at least when it comes to cancer treatment and it is sad. Most doctors will tell you not to try alternative medicine and some will refuse to even see you again if you do. To some degree they are not to blame, they have not been taught anything about it other than that it is evil and wrong and they would be rejected by their colleagues if they suggested alternatives.

I would also like to tell you about another lady staying at the house we are staying at, she is 86 years old and has breast cancer. She arrived at the clinic the same day we did and is doing very well. Her immune system continues to improve and she gained 2 pounds since last week. She is absolutely thrilled with this treatment and knows that it is helping her.

There is another elderly gentleman who just finished his 8-week treatment and is feeling better as he returns home. He has cancer around his optic nerve, but also had diabeties. His daughter said that while he was here on the treatment he needed a lot less insulin than usual. I am NOT claiming that the treatment also helps with diabeties, I am just saying that is what his experience was.

Please whatever you do, research first.

One very helpful website is www.cancertutor.com

Good luck!!

I'm sorry to say the prognosis is not very good.

I'm not sure that you've asked an actual question, but just as general information lung cancer is very common in patients with emphysema because they are both usually caused by the same factors. i.e...smoking.

lost both of my parents to emphysema. my father pasted within three or four years, never quit smoking and didn't follow doctor advice, my mother lived 11 years plus, she followed doctor advice and gave up smoking. both had trouble their last years but mom was around to see her grandchildren. brings tears to my eyes still. u have my prayers. tough love and you can all enjoy the life she has with her still. helping her will help you, i know. be there for her... and she will always be with you.

my grandmother was diagnosed with both of your concerns aswell. it is a really tough thing to deal with. i'll be straight down the line ok..... expect to find that your gran will have trouble breathing and eventually have to be using an oxygen tank. i can't say how quickly things will progress for it's different for everyone. just be there for your gran, support her in every way and don't have any regrets. wait and see what see what the doctor says too, it may not be as bad as you think. my gran survived 10years with emphysimia and lung cancer so keep your chin up.

I have had my one lung removed in 1990 due to lung cancer, and at present have emphysema with only 19% lung function.

My quality of life is not as great as it used to be, but I live a reasonably active life, thanks to modern medication.

So there is life after emphysema, cancer is a different story all together, depending if you have it in one lung or both.

Smoking is one of the curses of the modern world, just a pity that the majority of smokers ignore all the warnings and think that it will never happen to them. Nicotine is also one of the most addictive drugs that is freely available to the public.