Help for my parents

lynntaylor
lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
in Lung Cancer #1
Hello all,
My family just found out my father has lung cancer. To say the lest, we are devastated. We don't know the stage yet... he just had surgery last Friday, and they were unable to remove the tumor. So we are still waiting for the final path results. I am looking for help, support for my dad and mom. I want so desparately to help them through this. Would do anything to make this go away. Any advice, books, support groups you could recommend? Anyone been to MD Anderson? Or other major cancer center?
Thanks for any info you can provide,
Lynn

Comments

  • helenmills
    helenmills Member Posts: 8
    #2
    hope this helps
    Hello lynntaylor, im sorry to hear of your recent news - i was in the same boat not too long ago, anyway - i was just wondering if ur dad smokes - in my experiences i have found that if they do smoke if they stop immediately it greatly improves chance of survival and recovery ...and it could make all the difference
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #3
    Lynn
    Hi Lynn, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and calm down. I know how scary it is but please don't automatically assume this is a death sentence. It's NOT. So many of us think that way until we have had a chance to do some research and talk with all the doctors.

    I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC adenocarcinoma in May '09 and was informed of this by the surgeon who did the biopsy. He explained that it was inoperable because of the location (it was too close or touching the pulmonary artery) so I automatically thought my days were numbered. Two weeks later after having a PET scan I was told that I also had SCC Supraglottic laryngeal cancer. Now I knew I was going to die...WRONG!!! After meeting with my radiation and medical oncologists and listening to their plans to treat both cancers I was much more relaxed and hopeful. I am now 22 months post diagnosis and 18 months post treatment and doing fine.

    You need to find all the information you can from your father's doctors, type of cancer, stage, treatment plan (chemo and radiation, just chemo, just radiation, etc) If you can go to the doctor's appointments with him it would help you to understand and be sure to ask questions.

    If you can give us more information on his cancer and his treatment plan we can help you through all of this and be able to tell you what to expect for side effects from the treatment.

    It's scary, we were all scared in the beginning, but it can be beat!!! I can't help you on MD Anderson or any of the other major cancer centers but I know there are others here who can help you with that information.

    Please stay calm, for yourself and your father. It sounds impossible now but once you have calmed down and learn more about his cancer you will see that all is not bleak.

    Please keep us posted on how you, your dad and your family are doing.

    We are here to help you,
    Glenna
  • angelyn
    angelyn Member Posts: 51
    #4
    Glenna M said:

    Lynn
    Hi Lynn, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and calm down. I know how scary it is but please don't automatically assume this is a death sentence. It's NOT. So many of us think that way until we have had a chance to do some research and talk with all the doctors.

    I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC adenocarcinoma in May '09 and was informed of this by the surgeon who did the biopsy. He explained that it was inoperable because of the location (it was too close or touching the pulmonary artery) so I automatically thought my days were numbered. Two weeks later after having a PET scan I was told that I also had SCC Supraglottic laryngeal cancer. Now I knew I was going to die...WRONG!!! After meeting with my radiation and medical oncologists and listening to their plans to treat both cancers I was much more relaxed and hopeful. I am now 22 months post diagnosis and 18 months post treatment and doing fine.

    You need to find all the information you can from your father's doctors, type of cancer, stage, treatment plan (chemo and radiation, just chemo, just radiation, etc) If you can go to the doctor's appointments with him it would help you to understand and be sure to ask questions.

    If you can give us more information on his cancer and his treatment plan we can help you through all of this and be able to tell you what to expect for side effects from the treatment.

    It's scary, we were all scared in the beginning, but it can be beat!!! I can't help you on MD Anderson or any of the other major cancer centers but I know there are others here who can help you with that information.

    Please stay calm, for yourself and your father. It sounds impossible now but once you have calmed down and learn more about his cancer you will see that all is not bleak.

    Please keep us posted on how you, your dad and your family are doing.

    We are here to help you,
    Glenna

    Thank you Glenna
    Thank you Glenna for your post. You give me HOPE. My mother has SCLC, recurring after only 7 months. Hopefully this time the chemo will work and we will have more time together. Best wishes to you.
    Angie
  • luz del lago
    luz del lago Member Posts: 449
    #5
    Glenna M said:

    Lynn
    Hi Lynn, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and calm down. I know how scary it is but please don't automatically assume this is a death sentence. It's NOT. So many of us think that way until we have had a chance to do some research and talk with all the doctors.

    I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC adenocarcinoma in May '09 and was informed of this by the surgeon who did the biopsy. He explained that it was inoperable because of the location (it was too close or touching the pulmonary artery) so I automatically thought my days were numbered. Two weeks later after having a PET scan I was told that I also had SCC Supraglottic laryngeal cancer. Now I knew I was going to die...WRONG!!! After meeting with my radiation and medical oncologists and listening to their plans to treat both cancers I was much more relaxed and hopeful. I am now 22 months post diagnosis and 18 months post treatment and doing fine.

    You need to find all the information you can from your father's doctors, type of cancer, stage, treatment plan (chemo and radiation, just chemo, just radiation, etc) If you can go to the doctor's appointments with him it would help you to understand and be sure to ask questions.

    If you can give us more information on his cancer and his treatment plan we can help you through all of this and be able to tell you what to expect for side effects from the treatment.

    It's scary, we were all scared in the beginning, but it can be beat!!! I can't help you on MD Anderson or any of the other major cancer centers but I know there are others here who can help you with that information.

    Please stay calm, for yourself and your father. It sounds impossible now but once you have calmed down and learn more about his cancer you will see that all is not bleak.

    Please keep us posted on how you, your dad and your family are doing.

    We are here to help you,
    Glenna

    Glenna
    So great to see you are doing fine! You are an inspiration! Keep sharing your story, it seems that there are so many in need of hope and inspiration.

    Take care, dear one,

    Lucy
  • lynntaylor
    lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
    #6
    Glenna M said:

    Lynn
    Hi Lynn, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and calm down. I know how scary it is but please don't automatically assume this is a death sentence. It's NOT. So many of us think that way until we have had a chance to do some research and talk with all the doctors.

    I was diagnosed with inoperable NSCLC adenocarcinoma in May '09 and was informed of this by the surgeon who did the biopsy. He explained that it was inoperable because of the location (it was too close or touching the pulmonary artery) so I automatically thought my days were numbered. Two weeks later after having a PET scan I was told that I also had SCC Supraglottic laryngeal cancer. Now I knew I was going to die...WRONG!!! After meeting with my radiation and medical oncologists and listening to their plans to treat both cancers I was much more relaxed and hopeful. I am now 22 months post diagnosis and 18 months post treatment and doing fine.

    You need to find all the information you can from your father's doctors, type of cancer, stage, treatment plan (chemo and radiation, just chemo, just radiation, etc) If you can go to the doctor's appointments with him it would help you to understand and be sure to ask questions.

    If you can give us more information on his cancer and his treatment plan we can help you through all of this and be able to tell you what to expect for side effects from the treatment.

    It's scary, we were all scared in the beginning, but it can be beat!!! I can't help you on MD Anderson or any of the other major cancer centers but I know there are others here who can help you with that information.

    Please stay calm, for yourself and your father. It sounds impossible now but once you have calmed down and learn more about his cancer you will see that all is not bleak.

    Please keep us posted on how you, your dad and your family are doing.

    We are here to help you,
    Glenna

    Thank you Glenna. Your
    Thank you Glenna. Your story and strength is very encouraging. I am so thankful to have found this site. The internet has so many frightening statistics and information. I am trying very hard to be strong for my parents, and my children (ages 7 & 9... both adore their granddaddy)... and so far I've done okay around them. But inside I just want to scream. I have read everything I can get my hands on... and continue to order books and reach out. But, it's so hard to know where to turn. My sense of hope is building slowly, and I truly am feeling stronger and ready to help my dad fight. Again, this site has really helped... it is humbling to read of others challenges, and so encouraging to read of others strength and courage. I really am amazed. Anyway, I will share my father's treatment plan once we have it all figured out. And I hope some can offer me input and experience that will help me help my father through this.
    Thanks again,
    Lynn
  • lynntaylor
    lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
    #7
    helenmills said:

    hope this helps
    Hello lynntaylor, im sorry to hear of your recent news - i was in the same boat not too long ago, anyway - i was just wondering if ur dad smokes - in my experiences i have found that if they do smoke if they stop immediately it greatly improves chance of survival and recovery ...and it could make all the difference

    thank you
    Hi Helen,
    Thank you for reaching out to me. My dad quit smoking 10 years ago. I was/am so proud of him for that. It is a horrible habit to break. So, luckily he has that behind him. I saw your profile, and am very sorry for your losses. You're right,... cancer does seem like a plague... more and more people seem to be faceed with this battle. It is such a devastating disease...
    Thanks again Helen,
    Lynn
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #8
    lynntaylor said:

    Thank you Glenna. Your
    Thank you Glenna. Your story and strength is very encouraging. I am so thankful to have found this site. The internet has so many frightening statistics and information. I am trying very hard to be strong for my parents, and my children (ages 7 & 9... both adore their granddaddy)... and so far I've done okay around them. But inside I just want to scream. I have read everything I can get my hands on... and continue to order books and reach out. But, it's so hard to know where to turn. My sense of hope is building slowly, and I truly am feeling stronger and ready to help my dad fight. Again, this site has really helped... it is humbling to read of others challenges, and so encouraging to read of others strength and courage. I really am amazed. Anyway, I will share my father's treatment plan once we have it all figured out. And I hope some can offer me input and experience that will help me help my father through this.
    Thanks again,
    Lynn

    Lynn
    A word of caution...DON"T read the statistics on the internet!!! Most of them are so outdated. My doctors all told me to stay away from the internet. There are very few websites about cancer that are reliable sources of information. Some websites prey upon people, using their fears to get them to believe their promises. I stay mostly on CSN because everyone here has experienced situations similar to mine and they can advise me better than anyone, other than my doctors.

    Once you have your father's treatment plan, and the type of chemo he will be receiving, many of us will be able to help you understand what to expect. We are all here for you and your family.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna
  • lynntaylor
    lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
    #9
    Glenna M said:

    Lynn
    A word of caution...DON"T read the statistics on the internet!!! Most of them are so outdated. My doctors all told me to stay away from the internet. There are very few websites about cancer that are reliable sources of information. Some websites prey upon people, using their fears to get them to believe their promises. I stay mostly on CSN because everyone here has experienced situations similar to mine and they can advise me better than anyone, other than my doctors.

    Once you have your father's treatment plan, and the type of chemo he will be receiving, many of us will be able to help you understand what to expect. We are all here for you and your family.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna

    Thanks again
    Thanks again Glenna.
  • lynntaylor
    lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
    #10
    Glenna M said:

    Lynn
    A word of caution...DON"T read the statistics on the internet!!! Most of them are so outdated. My doctors all told me to stay away from the internet. There are very few websites about cancer that are reliable sources of information. Some websites prey upon people, using their fears to get them to believe their promises. I stay mostly on CSN because everyone here has experienced situations similar to mine and they can advise me better than anyone, other than my doctors.

    Once you have your father's treatment plan, and the type of chemo he will be receiving, many of us will be able to help you understand what to expect. We are all here for you and your family.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna

    Thanks again
    Thanks again Glenna.
  • TKSpunkster
    TKSpunkster Member Posts: 10
    #11
    md Anderson
    I'm sorry to hear what you and your family are going through. I noticed you asked about md Anderson and I will say If is one of the best. My mom and my best friends mom went to him and all staff, himself, and facility are wonderful. Both my mom and friends mom are cancer survivors with the help of md Anderson. Also read a lot me reviews and seems to be rated 1. Just thought I'd share. Prayers and thoughts are with you.

    ,TK
  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #12
    What Glenna said ...
    ... about reading the stats on the internet.

    Your dad can do this, and he can have a good outcome. Hang in there!
  • lynntaylor
    lynntaylor Member Posts: 39
    #13
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    What Glenna said ...
    ... about reading the stats on the internet.

    Your dad can do this, and he can have a good outcome. Hang in there!

    Thank you!!
    Thank you. You have such reassuring and positive posts... and I really appreciate them. Best wishes to you.
    LT

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