Hi everyone, new here. I just found out that my mom was diagnosed with stage 2 emphysema 4 days ago and am absolutely freaking out! So many questions and I have read just about everything on google. Also, found out by accident, and she doesn’t know i know. I am feeling extremely anxious and stressed. She started smoking at 15 I think, and quit about 6 years ago, she is 53. Many questions, and please be honest with me.
1. She’s going to begin treatment, is it gonna continue to get worse?
2. Life expectancy??? google is all over the place with this one, some things say 5 years???? is that possible?
3. Is she in pain :( I can’t talk to her about this and i’m sick to my stomach thinking about how she’s probably scared too and in pain
4. Is she going to need an oxygen machine? I keep seeing stuff like that and again, with treatment is this still progressive?
5. Is she more likely to develop lung cancer because she has this? Not in a sense that emphysema is going to cause cancer, but are those with emphysema also more likely to lung cancer? I’m so scared that this is just the start to a decline in her health
i’m absolutely so scared everyone and i don’t know what to do, any information would be great