What is the next step after a lung cancer diagnosis?

My future mother-in law has been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has only been sick a few months. I don't know if it is small cell or non-small cell though. Within two days of being hospitalized they had to place her on a vent and they have drained over a quart of fluid from her paracardium. She is breathing on her own but the tumor has blocked her airway and the tube is physically holding it open. She has now been intebated for about a month. She has also been given one treatment of chemo. I have been told that it is stage IV by a family member but I know that doctors do not categorize small cell lung cancer this way.
My question is what is the next step? Because I am not "officially" a part of this family (the wedding is next spring) doctors and nurses will not tell me details. Other family members do not want to know the bad news and don't ask. I am trying to console her husband as well as my fiance. And they do not understand what is going on. Please help me help them.

If the cancer is stage 4 it has to be somewhere else in the body as well. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 non small cell lung cancer because they found a brain tumor. All cancers can be stage 4 but they have to metasticize to another place in the body. She may have to have surgery to remove the tumor from her lung if the chemo does nothing for it. She can also have radiation treatments but she has to be strong enough to have the chemo. I will pray for your future mother in law and hope that she has successful treatments.

In general, each hospital has a medical social worker, especially on the oncology wards. It is often possible for families to meet as a unit or individually with the social worker. You might ask family members if they would be interested in meeting with the social worker to discuss your mother in laws situation. This is not to find out medical information, but to sort out your feelings and how to handle the situation. If family members agree than you could ask the social worker to meet with the family and discuss this issue.

Since you are not a family member than your place is one of being supportive. Do not try to advise about something in which you have so little knowledge. You can however talk to the social worker about your own feelings of powerlessness and what you can do to be the most helpful.

If you cannot find a medical social worker, there is an online free service, non-profit organization who can help you during this process.
Contact Cancer Care. They have social workers who can sort this out and guide you during this journey:

Cancer Care
http://www.cancercare.org/

Lung carcinoma is a malignant lung tumor usually categorized as small cell or non鈥搒mall cell. Cigarette smoking is the major risk factor for most types. Symptoms include cough, chest discomfort, and, less commonly, hemoptysis, but many patients are asymptomatic and some present with metastatic disease. Diagnosis is suspected by chest x-ray or CT scan and confirmed by biopsy. Treatment is with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy. Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis is poor, and attention is focused on early detection and prevention.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC, also called "oat cell carcinoma") is the less common form of lung cancer. It tends to start in the larger breathing tubes and grows rapidly becoming quite large. The oncogene most commonly involved is L-myc. The "oat" cell contains dense neurosecretory granules which give this an endocrine/paraneoplastic syndrome association. It is initially more sensitive to chemotherapy, but ultimately carries a worse prognosis and is often metastatic at presentation. This type of lung cancer is strongly associated with smoking.
Small cell lung cancer is classified as limited stage if it is confined to one half of the chest and within the scope of a single radiotherapy field. Otherwise it is extensive stage (cancer has spread outside the chest).
Please note that I am not a medical professional.
Please see the web pages for more details on Lung carcinoma.

HON, SORRY TO SAY SHE'S ON HER DEATHBED AND YOUR FUTURE FATHER IN LAW SHOULD HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO ASK THE DOCTOR POINT BLANK WHAT THE PROGNOSIS IS.........