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Need Info/Help IIIB Lung Cancer Dad just dignosed

joem
Posts: 6
Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 05, 2005 - 3:01 pm

My dad who is 69 was just diagnosed with IIIb NSCLC, he has a large mass in his right Bronchus and the says it is also in the area behind and in front of his lungs as well as a plueral effusion (fluid), and also mediam sterum? I think, this is all so new to me. The initial doc we met with advised it is not operable nor will radiation work, so Chemo is the only option. Can anyone tell me who the best doc is in Pittsburgh? We are getting a second opinion and also seeing if he meets any protocol for clinical trial from the Univeristy of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. Any information or help that you can provide would be great, the prognosis we got is not good, my dad is a huge part of my life and we are all devistated as this came out of nowhere, he is not really sick except for a cough and some shortness of breath right now. He is also considering not doing anything, any information would greatly help.

Thanks,

Joe
Fatboy
Posts: 25
 Joined: Mar 2004
Jan 05, 2005 - 5:52 pm

Joem, my prayers go out to you and your dad. Glad to hear you are getting a 2nd opinion. I'll check back later to see how you two are doing. Take care and may God bless you both.

Fatboy (gini)

joem
Posts: 6
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 06, 2005 - 7:09 pm

Thanks for your thoughts Fatboy, I will check back in and let you all know how it goes Tuesday with the other Doctor, my dad was thinking of not going, but I think I have him talked into going to get another opinion.

Thanks Again,

Joe
Plymouthean's picture
Plymouthean
Posts: 264
 Joined: Jan 2004
Jan 06, 2005 - 5:40 pm

Hi Joe,
Do your best to encourage your dad not to give up. I was diagnosed, at age 67, with nsclc, stage IIIa. I was considered inoperable and incurable. Chemo, radiation and surgery got me straightened out. I'm 38 months out, and still cancer free. Your dad may have a different situation, but who can tell what is possible if we fight. I felt that I had no alternative but to fight, and here I am. Please stay in touch with us. God bless. Ernie
joem
Posts: 6
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 06, 2005 - 7:11 pm

Erine,

God Bless You, I hope you continue to be healthy and cancer free I will pass your expeience onto my dad, hearing experieces like yours gives me some hope, but I seem to dwell on the worst case. Thanks for the encouragement, I will let you know what happens and how my dad progresses.

Thanks a bunch,

Joe
kimbo43's picture
kimbo43
Posts: 1
 Joined: Mar 2004
Jan 07, 2005 - 9:38 pm

joe so sorry to hear about your dad did he ever work around asbestos because my father did and my husband did sounds like he needs to be checked he may have a law suit if he was exposed i hope you find a good doctor god bless
joem
Posts: 6
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 10, 2005 - 7:24 am

Kimbo,

No he never work with asbestos, he was a smoker up until about 9 years ago when he had by-pass surgery. Before he retired he was a teacher. Thanks for you toughts
DoubleKnot
Posts: 41
 Joined: Dec 2004
Jan 08, 2005 - 6:34 pm

Hello Joe,

Well your Dad & my husband seem to be going through similar cancers right now. A tumor was found in my husband's left lung, the size 5 cm., non-small cell squamous type, stage questionable but possibly Stage 2. It is right behind the heart, so they don't know whether it is operable or not right now. He has to see a surgeon for a consultation to see if surgery could be performed and what the outcome could possibly be for him. He also has to have a Pulmonary Function Test before he sees the surgeon. After these appts. then he will see a Radiologist to see if he is a candidate for radiation treatments. The Oncologist said that radiation treatments would "just buy him some more time", but it wouldn't be a cure. He also has spots between his lungs. My husband had strokes in the past, so this is another problem for him. My husband is about the same age as your Dad. I wish your Dad, you, and the rest of the family the best of luck. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. It sure isn't an easy road to travel, is it? Hang in there and stay strong though.

DoubleKnot
joem
Posts: 6
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 10, 2005 - 7:27 am

DoubleKnot,

I will pray for your husband and as well as you and your family, I hope everything turns out for the best. As we are hoping for the best as well but everything they are telling us is to the contrary or at least when they give the prognosis of what the medium survival time is and it is not much. God Bless.

Thanks
michaelcie
Posts: 133
 Joined: Nov 2001
Jan 10, 2005 - 11:57 am

hi Joe, I am mike,I have sclc and am in remission almost three years now, I was treated at Allegheny General Hospital, in Pittsburgh, by Dr. Jane Raymond,Allegheny Hematology Associates, phone # 412-359-6147. She was excellent and did give me my life back, hope this helps and may God Bless. Mike
joem
Posts: 6
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 10, 2005 - 12:44 pm

thanks for the info michaelcie

Had anyone heard of Dr Chandra Belani, he is the doctor that we are getting the second opinion from at the University of Pittsburgh Hillman Caner Center, our referring doctor said that he is specializes in lung cancer?
glasgowcelt
Posts: 4
 Joined: Jan 2005
Jan 10, 2005 - 4:12 pm

hi there

i would encourage you to look at my post as my mum has responded well to her treatment although the cancer in her lung was small cell. look us salvestrols on a web search also as this is a new pioneering treatment as far as a ican gather. its helping my mum
good luck
bobennett
Posts: 7
 Joined: May 2004
Jan 10, 2005 - 5:10 pm

Joe,
I considered doing nothing as well and I did not think I would be here at this point. Fortunately I went with treatment. Treatment and other changes have allowed me to be here at this point. So first off don’t give up hope.
For lack of a better way to phrase it as things move through the process it gets easier.
My Onc also says no surgery or radiation. Once it is out, it is out, and radiation and surgery is of little help, though many think its worth a shot. I agree with the conventional wisdom. Don’t beat down the body.
As odd as it sounds I have become healthier since I was diagnosed, so once again don’t give up hope, you never know.
Good luck in you fight and hang in there..
Bo
EdK
Posts: 1
 Joined: Dec 2004
Jan 13, 2005 - 3:00 pm

Sorry to hear about your dad. in october of 2003 I was dx with 111 A NSC LC (Squaous Cell Carcinoma) in my right lung. Surgeon at U.O. PA said they could not operate but wanted to give me 8 weeks of combined chemo and radiation. to see if the mass could be shrunk enough to operatwe. After Radiation & chem, Teh surgeon said the thought he could remove all the cancer by removing my right lung, which was done in Febv 2004. Since then I have had some other complications but last Thursday (Jan6) I had a CAT SCAN of the chest and abdomen and all was cancer free. I now only see my sergeon every 6 months and oncoligist ever 3 months. For more information u can E Mail me @ EdwardK56@aol.com All hope is not lost these days, Doc's said that I might not make to easter of 2004, I am still here and appear to be cancer free. the Removal of my lung is a 4 hour operatiom. However, when they went in to the chest area they found that the tumor had gotten behing the heart and had also attached itself to my essopofus. This was not good, but all is well now. Good Dr's, Surgeons, and lots of Faith does change things. Good luck to u and I hope all works out for u. My Surgeon was Dr. Joseph Shrager @ the U of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Sincerely, Ed Kerwin
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