[Hildy]

Here's what I don't understand....lung cancer is a devestating way to die. I watched my brother die of it...and it took awhile. Physically, your body is wrecked. Six weeks ago she belted out a song for a retiring hockey player. My brother could hardly breathe for over a year.

My point is that she looked fine...SIX WEEKS AGO. I just don't understand how it could have taken the toll it did in that short of time. Are there any Doctors or nurses out there who can explain that to me?

[buffyt]

They said she had a deep dry hacking cough for a long time before they discovered that she had lung cancer, so she may have had it for a very long time.

[Reddy]

"My point is that she looked fine...SIX WEEKS AGO. I just don't understand how it could have taken the toll it did in that short of time. Are there any Doctors or nurses out there who can explain that to me?"

From the experience with my mom (small cell lung cancer), you can feel pretty good during/after treatment for small amounts of time.

My mom was feeling "fine" on Wednesday, died the next Monday.

Small cell lung cancer can kill quickly, if that is what Dana Reeve had.

[sarasota]

I have a friend who has three new masses in her lungs after an August lung cancer surgery. And a tumor that is growing in spite of radiology treatments a month ago. What should I prepare for? Will she just slowly ebb away in terrible pain? What was your experience with your brother?