How to Know What to Expect in the Final Stages of Lung Cancer

What to expect in the final stages of lung cancer will vary from patient to patient with the particular nature of their lung cancer, age, and treatment options chosen for lung cancer. However, there are ways to be relatively aware of what you can expect in the final stages of lung cancer so that you and your loved ones can be prepared.

Instructions

• 1

  Learn the differences between lung cancer stages.

  Stage I lung cancer is localized and the cancerous cells or tumor are relatively undeveloped allowing for more simple and localized treatment such as localized radiation or surgical removal. Stage II lung cancer involves a larger more developed tumor which complicates local treatment and may make removal of the tumor more difficult. Stage III involves lung cancer which has spread significantly through an area and has usually begun to infiltrate the localized lymph nodes around the original organ. Stage IV involves metastasized lung cancer which means the cancer has spread throughout the body or to other organs within the body and requires more systemic treatment such as chemotherapy.

• 2

  Press your lung cancer physician to explain to you how treatment options will change with the advancing of stages.

  Since around forty percent of lung cancer cases are not diagnosed until stage IV, many patients treatment options are limited. If however, you catch the cancer early, you should be informed as to how the doctor will phase in more difficult or systemic treatments. Is radiation being considered, will surgical removal be an option, when will chemotherapy be advised? These questions are all worth asking if you want to know what to expect in the final stages of cancer.

• 3

  Research the side effects of each lung cancer treatment option.

  If you have a portion of a lung removed you will experience increased shortness of breath, decreased athletic ability, and other related symptoms. If you go through radiation you may experience radiation sickness following your treatments. Chemotherapy also generally causes pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration.

• 4

  Be prepared for the signs of lung cancer spreading.

  You may have increased difficulty swallowing or catching your breath if the throat becomes infiltrated by the cancer. Your bones may start radiating pain in the back, hips, or ribs if the cancer moves into the bones. If the cancer moves more toward the neck or brain you may experience headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, or seizures.

• 5

  Understand how lung cancer usually ends.

  Lung cancer eventually begins to fill the lungs with fluid at such a rate the fluid has to be drained for the patient to get enough oxygen. At this point, generally all that can be offered is medicine to ease the pain, and what is often called palliative care. Generally speaking, the patient loses ability to fulfill their own oxygen needs, often sleeps more than he or she is awake, and eventually develops what is often called the "death rattle" in their breathing. When the cancer gets to this stage it is time to say goodbyes and notify family of what to expect as the final stages of cancer are completing their course.

  * See more information on the final stages of lung cancer and what to expect below.