Lung Cancer stage 3B

daughter2t
daughter2t Member Posts: 12
in Lung Cancer #1
My Father was experiencing back pain and shortness of breath so he went to his family doctor to get himself checked. It was Dec.1st when he had gotten the results from his family doctor that he had Lung Cancer, a spot on his right lung about the size of an egg. She had made an appointment with a respritory doctor and the very next day he began testing to see if it had spread. On Dec.22nd the doctor had confirmed that that he indeed had lung cancer and because of the fluid that he had built up in his lungs he wasn't operable. He had stage 3b. He also had fluid drained from his lungs the first time. In January he had already had an oncoligist and were doing more tests to come up with a treatment plan. My dads tomour is pressing on his air passage tube and because the fluid in the lungs they could colappse, so it was important to have the fluid removed. On Jan 13 he began Radiation to shrink the tomour . Every morning for 2 weeks. On Feb. 6 he was admitted into the hospital for a pleurdisis. it went well and after a two week stay he"s now home and doing much better. He's a small guy start weight was 165,so im concerned about the weight he lost (almost 20 pounds). Since he"s been home he's gained about 7 pounds and his color is much better.He just had another appointment and was told that he begins chemo on monday mar 5th. Im so worried of what it's going to do to him. Is there anyone who is having similar symptoms from there cancer? what should we expect? is there hope ????

Comments

  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #2
    Somewhat similar profile here
    I was staged 3B in April 2010 with the main tumor in an airway, and underwent simultaneous radiation and chemo with good success. I didn't have any fluid. I'm also a small guy, and actually was diagnosed at about 140 lbs. I had to try really hard to pack on about ten pounds before starting treatment, and have had no problem maintaining low 160s (at least 15 above my previous healthy set point) since ending treatment.

    There is hope that he can get a good result out of this, and the chemo doesn't necessarily have to lay you low. I really didn't have much of a problem with it.

    Best of luck to your father.
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #3
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    Somewhat similar profile here
    I was staged 3B in April 2010 with the main tumor in an airway, and underwent simultaneous radiation and chemo with good success. I didn't have any fluid. I'm also a small guy, and actually was diagnosed at about 140 lbs. I had to try really hard to pack on about ten pounds before starting treatment, and have had no problem maintaining low 160s (at least 15 above my previous healthy set point) since ending treatment.

    There is hope that he can get a good result out of this, and the chemo doesn't necessarily have to lay you low. I really didn't have much of a problem with it.

    Best of luck to your father.

    Thank You
    Thank you for responding and telling me how you have been doing through your treatment.It gives hope when you hear positive feed back. You were stage 3B April 2010, what are you today after the course of treatment that you've had ?
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #4
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    Somewhat similar profile here
    I was staged 3B in April 2010 with the main tumor in an airway, and underwent simultaneous radiation and chemo with good success. I didn't have any fluid. I'm also a small guy, and actually was diagnosed at about 140 lbs. I had to try really hard to pack on about ten pounds before starting treatment, and have had no problem maintaining low 160s (at least 15 above my previous healthy set point) since ending treatment.

    There is hope that he can get a good result out of this, and the chemo doesn't necessarily have to lay you low. I really didn't have much of a problem with it.

    Best of luck to your father.

    Thank You
    Thank you for responding and telling me how you have been doing through your treatment.It gives hope when you hear positive feed back. You were stage 3B April 2010, what are you today after the course of treatment that you've had ?
  • Ex_Rock_n_Roller
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller Member Posts: 281 Member
    #5
    daughter2t said:

    Thank You
    Thank you for responding and telling me how you have been doing through your treatment.It gives hope when you hear positive feed back. You were stage 3B April 2010, what are you today after the course of treatment that you've had ?

    My onco does not talk of re-staging
    I think re-staging would basically be a guess, based on unknowns, so they don't do it where I'm being treated. I have been in "no evidence of cancer" status since the end of treatment, although my last scan showed something small and new. They're theorizing that may be the result of a cold, so I'm waiting for a mid-March repeat scan.

    Bottom line, good results, and pretty normal health so far as I can tell, since July 2010.
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #6
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    My onco does not talk of re-staging
    I think re-staging would basically be a guess, based on unknowns, so they don't do it where I'm being treated. I have been in "no evidence of cancer" status since the end of treatment, although my last scan showed something small and new. They're theorizing that may be the result of a cold, so I'm waiting for a mid-March repeat scan.

    Bottom line, good results, and pretty normal health so far as I can tell, since July 2010.

    Good Results
    Im happy to hear that you've had such great results,and your able to live a healthy normal life. My dad had a set back this weekend. Had major pain on his lower back, couldn't get out of bed. We took him to emerg and he had an mri done on his back that showed a tumor on his spine. still waiting to hear the course of action. worried sick !
  • positivewife
    positivewife Member Posts: 21
    #7
    daughter2t said:

    Good Results
    Im happy to hear that you've had such great results,and your able to live a healthy normal life. My dad had a set back this weekend. Had major pain on his lower back, couldn't get out of bed. We took him to emerg and he had an mri done on his back that showed a tumor on his spine. still waiting to hear the course of action. worried sick !

    Dad's back
    I was wondering what you found out about your dads back and what the doctors are doing for him?My husband has lung cancer and now he is having a great deal of pain in his back,
  • feistyD
    feistyD Member Posts: 21
    #8
    positivewife said:

    Dad's back
    I was wondering what you found out about your dads back and what the doctors are doing for him?My husband has lung cancer and now he is having a great deal of pain in his back,

    Back pain
    I have Stage IV lung cancer, but what first got me to the doctor was back pain. Turned out I had a tumor in my spine (L3 vertebrae). I would assume they have done an MRI or CAT scan on him, but if not, that would be my suggestion. I hope there's nothing there- best of luck to you. BTW, I am still around a year later, doing better that I was a year ago, if that's any consolation.
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #9
    positivewife said:

    Dad's back
    I was wondering what you found out about your dads back and what the doctors are doing for him?My husband has lung cancer and now he is having a great deal of pain in his back,

    Back Pain
    Sorry I havn't been on line till now. My dad's pain is still there but after MRI and CT scan they have found a spot on my dad's back; and while doing a follow up with the doctor the pain that was preventing him from walking which we thought was coming from his back is a spot on his pelvic bone. He has now had 2 radiations sessions on both areas. If your husband is having the pain talk to your doctor before it gets worse. My dad just woke up one day and couldn't move. It breaks my heart to see him in such pain. He's still fighting though so i hope he'll have his mobility back soon. I'll keep you posted with the results at the end of radiation. Your in my prayers .
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #10
    feistyD said:

    Back pain
    I have Stage IV lung cancer, but what first got me to the doctor was back pain. Turned out I had a tumor in my spine (L3 vertebrae). I would assume they have done an MRI or CAT scan on him, but if not, that would be my suggestion. I hope there's nothing there- best of luck to you. BTW, I am still around a year later, doing better that I was a year ago, if that's any consolation.

    Thank you , feistyD
    Thank you for posting your progress. It's comforting to know that there is hope and my dad will hopefully feel better soon. Have you had chemo ? My dad just started 1 session and had to stop because of this pain. It worries me that he's not having the treatments needed.
  • feistyD
    feistyD Member Posts: 21
    #11
    daughter2t said:

    Thank you , feistyD
    Thank you for posting your progress. It's comforting to know that there is hope and my dad will hopefully feel better soon. Have you had chemo ? My dad just started 1 session and had to stop because of this pain. It worries me that he's not having the treatments needed.

    Back pain
    I had radiation on the spine tumor last May, and then the whole vertebrae collapsed, so I had surgery to repair that on Feb 1. Before the surgery, the compressed vertebrae was pressing so much on my sciatic nerve that I could hardly walk. Now I can walk almost normally, which really brightens my day, I can tell you. I had eight rounds of chemotherapy last year (gemzar and taxotere), a short break over Christmas, and now I am doing Cisplatin/Taxol. I switched hospitals (from City of Hope to USC Norris) hoping to find someone who would do Cyberknife on my lung tumors, but because I am stage IV with a few spots here and there, they won't do it. I am pretty tough, as I have had a LOT of chemo. I'm hoping if I stick around long enough they'll relent and do the Cyberknife, or some other miracle treatment will emerge. It's been the worst year of my life, but I am still alive and kicking. I am better off than a year ago, that's all I can say. If you live near a major research university that your dad's insurance will cover, I would go there for a second opinion.
  • daughter2t
    daughter2t Member Posts: 12
    #12
    feistyD said:

    Back pain
    I had radiation on the spine tumor last May, and then the whole vertebrae collapsed, so I had surgery to repair that on Feb 1. Before the surgery, the compressed vertebrae was pressing so much on my sciatic nerve that I could hardly walk. Now I can walk almost normally, which really brightens my day, I can tell you. I had eight rounds of chemotherapy last year (gemzar and taxotere), a short break over Christmas, and now I am doing Cisplatin/Taxol. I switched hospitals (from City of Hope to USC Norris) hoping to find someone who would do Cyberknife on my lung tumors, but because I am stage IV with a few spots here and there, they won't do it. I am pretty tough, as I have had a LOT of chemo. I'm hoping if I stick around long enough they'll relent and do the Cyberknife, or some other miracle treatment will emerge. It's been the worst year of my life, but I am still alive and kicking. I am better off than a year ago, that's all I can say. If you live near a major research university that your dad's insurance will cover, I would go there for a second opinion.

    Back pain
    You have been through so much this past year. I admire your strength and determination to beat this. I pray that my dad has the strength to do the same. He's had 4 radiation sessions on his pelvic bone and still not able to get off his back the pain is so bad. This monday is the last, I hope that he regains his mobility. After your vertebrae collapsed until Feb.1st when you had your surgery, were you able to move ? We actually live in Toronto and have Princess Margret Cancer Hospital and my dads oncoligist comes very highly recommended. At this point were just waiting to see the outcome of the radiation therapy before we get to the next step. What is Cyberknife ?
  • positivewife
    positivewife Member Posts: 21
    #13
    daughter2t said:

    Back Pain
    Sorry I havn't been on line till now. My dad's pain is still there but after MRI and CT scan they have found a spot on my dad's back; and while doing a follow up with the doctor the pain that was preventing him from walking which we thought was coming from his back is a spot on his pelvic bone. He has now had 2 radiations sessions on both areas. If your husband is having the pain talk to your doctor before it gets worse. My dad just woke up one day and couldn't move. It breaks my heart to see him in such pain. He's still fighting though so i hope he'll have his mobility back soon. I'll keep you posted with the results at the end of radiation. Your in my prayers .

    Back pain
    My husband ended up having a pet scan it did not show any tumors in his back or cancer but it did show his cancer has spread from the lyump nodes into both lungs. He has 4 spots on his right lung and 2 spots on his left lung.They are going to try and do radiation on the large mass on the right lung and maybe chemo. We will find out next week if they are going to do chemo after his biopsy report comes back.His back is still very weak but I'm wondering if that is from all the radiation is has already had. He has had 35 radiation treatments and 12 chemo treatments. I hope your dad's pain gets better. Thank you for sharing I'm going to ask the doctor about his pelvic bone.You are in my prayers!
  • Dapsterd
    Dapsterd Member Posts: 291
    #14
    Ex_Rock_n_Roller said:

    My onco does not talk of re-staging
    I think re-staging would basically be a guess, based on unknowns, so they don't do it where I'm being treated. I have been in "no evidence of cancer" status since the end of treatment, although my last scan showed something small and new. They're theorizing that may be the result of a cold, so I'm waiting for a mid-March repeat scan.

    Bottom line, good results, and pretty normal health so far as I can tell, since July 2010.

    Scan
    Hey Ex-rocker----how are the scans?

    Dave

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