Last Sunday my Father found out that He's got lung cancer

Dave67
Dave67 Member Posts: 5
in Lung Cancer #1

Last sunday my Father was coughing up blood and my Mother and I ran him to the hospital. They gave my Father a CAT scan and found 5cm and 1cm tumors in his lungs. The doctors have him on a heavy amount of medicines before he goes to the oncologist in Blue Ridge,Georgia week after next. The doctor said the tumors were in the lower lobes of his lungs. The doctor said he probably had Non-small cell lung cancer. The doctor said the oncologist would give him a PET scan to stage the cancer and find out if it has spread.The doctor said he would most likely get chemotherapy and radiation before surgery. My Father is 70 years old and quit smoking 14 years ago. The doctor said what caused the cancer was probably the toxic chemicals he was around for 35 years at Lockheed. I can barely think right now and feel completely lost. I never thought this would ever happen to my Father but cancer does run in our family(His Father died of lung cancer and his brother has prostate cancer). I'm glad i found this message board so that i could talk to people in the same of similar situations as me.

Comments

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #2
    Your father

    So sorry to hear about your father.  We have a saying that it isn't cancer until a biopsy says it is.  Years ago my husband's doctor sent him for a chest x-ray and then a CT scan.  Told him he had cancer in his lungs to far advance to do anything about.    He saw a lung specialist who did a bronoscope and I remember very well the specialist coming out and telling me he didn't have cancer but a severe lung infection.  Yes he did do a biopsy during this procedure.  Fast forward until 4 years ago when my husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer at the age of 74.  He underwent radiation, chemo and then surgery.  He did great with his treatment and surgery and was clear for a year when they found cancer at the cervical of his esophagus (rare).  He did another round of radiation and chemo and was clear for about 7 months when the cancer at the cervical of his esophagus reoccurred and cancer was found in his right lung (biopsy proved this).  We are 2 years out from this find.  My husband elected no further treatment and has lasted longer than expected.

    What I'm trying to say is until they do a biopsy no doctor can be sure it is cancer.   Before any treatment, I would get a second opinion and see a doctor who specializes in lung cancer.  Age 70 is not that old to have to undergo treatment for cancer.  Like I said my husband was 74 when he was first diagnosed.  Everyone is different in how they respond to treatment.  And yes my husband was a smoker, a pipe smoker for too many years to count. 

    Wishing you and your family peace and comfort -- Sharon

  • Dave67
    Dave67 Member Posts: 5
    #3
    Ladylacy said:

    Your father

    So sorry to hear about your father.  We have a saying that it isn't cancer until a biopsy says it is.  Years ago my husband's doctor sent him for a chest x-ray and then a CT scan.  Told him he had cancer in his lungs to far advance to do anything about.    He saw a lung specialist who did a bronoscope and I remember very well the specialist coming out and telling me he didn't have cancer but a severe lung infection.  Yes he did do a biopsy during this procedure.  Fast forward until 4 years ago when my husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer at the age of 74.  He underwent radiation, chemo and then surgery.  He did great with his treatment and surgery and was clear for a year when they found cancer at the cervical of his esophagus (rare).  He did another round of radiation and chemo and was clear for about 7 months when the cancer at the cervical of his esophagus reoccurred and cancer was found in his right lung (biopsy proved this).  We are 2 years out from this find.  My husband elected no further treatment and has lasted longer than expected.

    What I'm trying to say is until they do a biopsy no doctor can be sure it is cancer.   Before any treatment, I would get a second opinion and see a doctor who specializes in lung cancer.  Age 70 is not that old to have to undergo treatment for cancer.  Like I said my husband was 74 when he was first diagnosed.  Everyone is different in how they respond to treatment.  And yes my husband was a smoker, a pipe smoker for too many years to count. 

    Wishing you and your family peace and comfort -- Sharon

    Thanks for the kind

    Thanks for the kind words,Sharon! I'll try to think positively about this like y'all try to. My Dad is very depressed and has gotten kind of mean(I wonder if anybody has had to deal with that?). The doctor has given him antidepressants to help him(valium). The doctor is loading him up with anti infection medicine before he goes to the oncologist because he's hoping that it might shrink the masses before he has the appointment.

  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #4
    Dave67 said:

    Thanks for the kind

    Thanks for the kind words,Sharon! I'll try to think positively about this like y'all try to. My Dad is very depressed and has gotten kind of mean(I wonder if anybody has had to deal with that?). The doctor has given him antidepressants to help him(valium). The doctor is loading him up with anti infection medicine before he goes to the oncologist because he's hoping that it might shrink the masses before he has the appointment.

    Dave

    I'm sorry you had to find us.  You might want to post this on the Inspire Web site in the Lung Cancer section also.  The CSN sight is a good site but Inspire has more traffic.  I hope for the best for your father. Lori

  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #5
    In addition to echoing the

    In addition to echoing the good info you've received so far let me tell you that cancer treatment has changed greatly in the last few years.  Patients receive steroids during chemo that help prevent the terrible nausea And other side effects of treatment.  If he is not taking an antidepressant or anti anxiety med at this time, obtain an Rx for him.  

    This disease carries a lot of misinformation.  It is not an automatic death sentence.  My stage four cancer was diagnosed in 10/2010, I lead a pretty good life.  

  • Leyla
    Leyla Member Posts: 2
    #6
    dennycee said:

    In addition to echoing the

    In addition to echoing the good info you've received so far let me tell you that cancer treatment has changed greatly in the last few years.  Patients receive steroids during chemo that help prevent the terrible nausea And other side effects of treatment.  If he is not taking an antidepressant or anti anxiety med at this time, obtain an Rx for him.  

    This disease carries a lot of misinformation.  It is not an automatic death sentence.  My stage four cancer was diagnosed in 10/2010, I lead a pretty good life.  

    Hello I just came across your

    Hello I just came across your post its been a nightmare trying to find long term stage 4 surviviours my father has been diagnosed with non small cell we are all very distressed if this was not bad enough his pet scan also indicates rectal cancer it's all far to confusing I was wondering what type of lung cancer you had and where it spread to any info would be great :( 

  • Dave67
    Dave67 Member Posts: 5
    #7
    dennycee said:

    In addition to echoing the

    In addition to echoing the good info you've received so far let me tell you that cancer treatment has changed greatly in the last few years.  Patients receive steroids during chemo that help prevent the terrible nausea And other side effects of treatment.  If he is not taking an antidepressant or anti anxiety med at this time, obtain an Rx for him.  

    This disease carries a lot of misinformation.  It is not an automatic death sentence.  My stage four cancer was diagnosed in 10/2010, I lead a pretty good life.  

    Thanks for the kind words!

    Thanks for the kind words! The doctor put him on Valium for his depression

  • Dave67
    Dave67 Member Posts: 5
    #8
    Leyla said:

    Hello I just came across your

    Hello I just came across your post its been a nightmare trying to find long term stage 4 surviviours my father has been diagnosed with non small cell we are all very distressed if this was not bad enough his pet scan also indicates rectal cancer it's all far to confusing I was wondering what type of lung cancer you had and where it spread to any info would be great :( 

    My Father has an appointment

    My Father has an appointment with one doctor on Wednesday and he will go see the oncologist next week and take the PET scan and i believe other tests to figure out if he's got cancer and what stage it's in.

  • Dave67
    Dave67 Member Posts: 5
    #9
    My Father is having a CAT

    My Father is having a CAT scan tomorrow at 9:30 to find out what the masses are on his lungs and the appointment to the oncologist will be made for next week where he'll get a PET scan and be staged and see if it has spread.

  • rdn2blazer
    rdn2blazer Member Posts: 46
    #10
    Dave67 said:

    My Father is having a CAT

    My Father is having a CAT scan tomorrow at 9:30 to find out what the masses are on his lungs and the appointment to the oncologist will be made for next week where he'll get a PET scan and be staged and see if it has spread.

    So sorry to hear about your

    So sorry to hear about your father. Prayers sent. All I can tell you is keep hoping. Do not give up. Hoping for survival. I've survived the loss of 1/2 a lung and two brain mets and one major brain surgery. I still hope to survive this to.

Discussion Boards