Lung cancer has spread to bones?Progression?

My sister inlaw has been diagnosed with lung cancer that has already spread to her bones,it was caught to late.They say she only has about 1 month to live.Does anyone know what the progression will be,what effects it will have on her before the end?They are giving her pain meds and she is in the hospital.And what are some of the signs that we missed before it got to late.I've checked online but every thing is so vague.She had no lung pain and didn't cough up blood or anything.Thanks.

Thanks for the kind thoughts and words,she's already in the hospital and they said she won't be going home.Thanks again.

Unfortunately there often are no symptoms until it has progressed beyond a treatable stage. Controlling her pain is the only thing they can do to help her. Annual physicals are necessary to attempt to catch many diseases in their early stages.

I send my thoughts and prayers to you. You're right. She is terminal now. Most likely there were no signs. Sometimes as much as a slight pain in rib area,the shoulder or arm. DO NOT blame yourself or anyone for "missing" any signs. There most likely was none. They will keep her as comfortable as they can. If they are telling you a month,it won't be. I am sure Hospice is most likely involved. If Hospice is not involved yet,you may want to discuss this option with your brother. They are able to give stronger medication and more frequent. My sincere sympathy.

Unfortunately lung cancer shows very few symptoms until late stages. Lung cancer is not painful and the only real symptoms are a cough that does not go away and some shortness of breath. It has spread to the bones ant that can be painful. Bone pain is the hardest to control. She will have good days and bad days with the pain. Please contact a hospice near you. Get a recommendation from the hospital. If she chooses to die at home then they can help with medical equipment and supplies. The hospice is available 24 hours a day and provided help and support during this time. There are in some place hospice units at hospitals that will accept patients that have less than a month to live. They are all about support and help. There a long term health care facilities (nursing home) that will also help but they normally contact a hospice to provided some funding. Because Bone pain is so difficult to control they have drugs that help ie roxonal unfortunately they also make the person sleepy and as a result they don;t communicate well. Please contact a hospice check out several. they will take you through the process of her end of life issues to include legal, burial and medical. They provide support to her as well as family. As in everything some are better than others so check out several in our area.

In February 1995, my mom had a bad cough and was given antibiotics. She was diagnosed with lung cancer (stage 4) on April 1. No April fools joke, but I wished it was a really bad one. She started chemo and it made her sick as a dog. By May she could no longer eat and had a morphine pump. In June they tried radiation. This made her unable to drink. And scarred her neck badly. Crushed ice hurt her to drink. She weighed about 140 before the illness. In the middle of June the cancer spread to her bones and this is when the really bad pain started. By August they said no more chemo since it has spread regardless. October 5th she died at home with her family around her.

I hate to sound so glum but that was her experience with lung cancer. The only way they could have caught it sooner was if they were looking for lung cancer but since she had no symptons it was too late.

Be strong for her and your family.

There is some great research listed on OncologyZone ( http://www.oncologyzone.com ) that provides some research about this.....