Update from Megan, 19 Oct

All, Dr. Salimi, an oncology fellow, came by to see Grandma. Lang, Hong, Ruth and I were there. He asked questions about Grandma's medical history and the circumstances under which she came to the hospital. He explained about how lung cancer is "staged" and said that they knew Grandma was at least stage 3B because of the affirmative answers to the questions is there fluid in the lungs and does the fluid have cancerous cells. At stage 3B and above the cancer is "nonresectable", meaning not operable. He restated what the doctors earlier had said, which is that any oncology treatment (such as chemo or chemo and radiation), would be palliation only: it would not cure Grandma's cancer. The reasons to choose palliative therapy are that it might relieve symptoms or possibly prolong life. He said, though, that chemotherapy drugs are toxic by nature and that for someone who is already weak it could accelerate death. Dr. Salimi will be consulting with the oncology head and discussing whether palliative care is an option and if so, what benefit it would provide to Grandma. I am not sure whether it will be today or Monday before they come to a decision. Megan