Help Our Family Fight Stage IV Cancer

On October 27th, my mama laid down for a nap and woke up very confused and slurring her words. We rushed her to the hospital thinking it was a possible stroke. After a CT scan, doctors from Duke came on the computer screen to tell us she had lesions on her brain. Cancer. When a bed opened up, she was transferred to Greenville to undergo tests to find out where it started.

After a few days, we learned that she has Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to the brain.

The lesions were causing pressure and the severe confusion. She stayed in Greenville for a week and began radiation treatments (spot treatments to the 11 lesions they found). They also put her on a high dose of steroids to bring down the inflammation.

After returning home from brain radiation at ECU, she began to see local oncologists to discuss the plan for her. They decided to give Immunotherapy a try.

In order to receive immunotherapy, she would wean off steroids.

After her first immunotherapy,, she really went downhill. She lost use of her left hand, was drooling and had trouble eating and walking. So then they bumped her steroids back up.

In December, she had a fever. Took her to the hospital to find she had obstructive pneumonia due to the growth of the tumor on her lung. They immediately started radiation to her lungs to relieve pressure from that.

Her second immunotherapy was Jan 15th and a few days after she began deteriorating again.

The medical oncologist and radiation oncologist are unsure why she continues to have so much inflammation, whether it is due to the way the brain lesions are responding to radiation, the immunotherapy or if the cancer is progressing. Doctors have admitted they are "running out of options." She can barely stand alone, is using a walker and has fallen multiple times because she is so weak.

Her last MRI was Jan 21, which showed some blood in and around lesions. This could be from the radiation or progression. Still unsure. She has started physical therapy and occupational therapy.

As of Valentines Day, she has been officially transferred to the doctors at DUKE with the Brain Metastasis team. They are waiting for all of her records from Outer Banks Cancer Center and ECU Greenville to determine the new plan. He is certain that the weakness is from prolonged use of steroids. There is talk of a new chemo drug geared towards brain tumors and inflammation (to get her off steroids) and/or surgery or more radiation.

It has been the longest and heartbreaking almost 4 months of our lives. My dad still tries to work full time as do I, but she cannot be left alone. We take turns taking days off during the week and recruiting other family members to help out as well.

My mama still has a long road. She is basically starting over with new doctors and new plan of treatment. We will hear from new doctor at Duke tomorrow what they plan. Then later schedule consult with medical oncologist to determine how continue to treat the lung cancer.

Between now working parttime for my Dad, possibly hiring an aid to be with her and bills...we need help.