Anyone :( 

I am so sorry to hear your Dad's news. My partner has just started chemo for lung cancer and I know how shocked, scared and worried you must feel. Waiting for the official diagnosis and plan is a very stressful time. We found it almost unbearable, grappling with the unknown.

Once the cancer is confirmed, he'll get a treatment plan and you should feel a bit better, because something is being done. Try and look after yourself [and him] as well as you can-I just mean like being kind to yourselves and having any treats you might fancy.

Unfortunately, most of your [and my] questions are very difficult to answer, but you'll soon get lots more information from the oncologist and cancer nurses..

Good luck to you both x

Hi sorry to hear about your dad. My dad also got diagnosed 4 weeks ago and he was up on a roof 5 weeks ago working. He showed no signs apart from a cough which he was told was asthma. Then he went for routine  medical and they sent for X-ray.  They found a mass about 4 inches. They told us to expect the worse and when had ct scan and a pet scan 2 weeks ago and biopsy taken it showed it had also spread to stomach and three lymph nodes. 

My dad is 75 and quite a fit man and we are in complete shock as he gave up smoking 55 years ago but they said it could also be when he worked with asbestos all those years ago too. 

It’s hsppening so quickly and at stage 4. In 4 weeks he has had scans and tests and next week he is due for a breathing test and we find out if he can have immunotherapy by them looking at the biopsy. They said because he is fit they are going to see if this helps but he may not be able to have that yet so it may be chemotherapy before Xmas. It won’t cure it but will help for a while  

i had to be signed off work as in total shock and mum is a mess too.  

Hope you get your answers soon and chat if you need x

Thank you all for your replies. I am so sorry to hear of your family members. I think its such a shock isnt it!

My mum and dad seem very positive about it. The consultant gave him a 60-70% chance and said in his minds eye he was a fit man. I think its about 3cm or so and the size of a small plum and he is 99% sure its malignant. He was very positive about it all and they had mentioned surgery and then 4 weeks treatment. My dad had said he wouldnt have treatment before the diagnosis but said the consultant was so positive he is going to. At the moment I am taking relief from this and praying its operable for him. Surely the consultant wouldnt be positive if they didnt think it?

He has COPD so he has to have breathing tests as I guess that could complicate things too for him. 

How are your husband and dad doing? What stage was your husbands Monica?

Oh Shaz I can only imagine how scary this all is for you. Its a shock when they seem so fit and how life can change in one moment. 

I have everything crossed for both of you that things can work out x

My darling's diagnosis was stage 3-advanced but localised. He has started chemo and is in good spirits. He found it less unpleasant than he had imagined and is out playing golf as I'm writing this! His tumour is a little bigger than your Dad's-about 5 cm. As it is also in the lymph nodes, surgery was not an option. He has 4 cycles of chemo followed by radiotherapy. The fact that he is fit and well and only 62 is in his favour.

LD, its good that the oncologist is so positive. I think its unlikely that anyone would raise false hopes, and positivity is very important for your Dad. 

I want you to know I am thinking about you, and you too Shaz. We are all on such a hard road with this blasted illness and we need to support each other wherever we can.

All the very best wishes to you both and to your respective families x

Thank Monica. So does stage 3 advanced mean with the treatment its curable? I'm still confused by lots of the stages and terminology. Sounds like he is doing amazing! How often are his cycles? I think getting out and playing golf will only make his recovery even better. Sounds like he's got a great mindset!

Did he have any symptoms? If it wasnt for the chest infection and COPD my dad wouldnt of known. He has actually put on half a stone recently. I'm praying so hard it hasnt spread. I guess the CT scan wouldnt of shown that? I hate waiting as my mind goes off and thinks the worst!

I hope his treatment is over soon and you can have a lovely family Xmas together x

Hi LD

Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.

As far as I know, the stages don't really tell you if its curable or not-just how far the cancer has spread. I think a lot depends on the type of cancer, exactly where it is, how fit you are and a big helping of luck! I do think a positive attitude is massively helpful though!

My understanding is that the chemo is to stablilise or hopefully shrink the tumour and then the radiotherapy could burn it away but we have a long way to go before we get to that stage. 

Dave's only symptom was to cough up a bit of blood back in August. The Doctor examined him and said it was probably nothing, and nothing turned up in bloods or chest xray. He then had the CT scan and we were told it looked like lung cancer. The next day he brought up more blood and that was when it felt like the sky had fallen in!

The stage was confirmed after a brochoscopy, a PET scan and a MRI scan in case it was also in his brain. [Thankfully not!] The PEt scan was what gave us the staging. He looks really well and he is eating like a horse, but even if all goes well and his chemo works, with no interruptions he will have treatment at least until the Spring.

The waiting is definitely the worst. I hope your Dad gets started soon.

Much love x

Wow its astounds me that people have cancer with no symptons. I dont want people to be ill but I wish symptoms showed sooner and then maybe it would be caught earlier and have better outcomes for people. 

So was surgery not an option for Dave? I am hopeful as they mentioned it there is a good chance it can be cut away as surely they wouldnt get hopes up? 4 weeks of treatment seems short aswell. All I can do is keep hoping and praying for the best.

I hope his treatment goes smoothly and all is well. Sounds like he's doing amazing and spring will be here before you know it. Someone who worked in oncology mentioned a salt room she sat in and said really helped with her breathing. I doubt my dad would do it but maybe some alternative therapies could help too? x

Agreed on the no symtoms thing-I keep hearing about so many people who find out by accident.

Before he had the PET scan, as far as I understand, all options were on the table but after all his tests they said surgery wasn't possible because of where it was and the fact that it had spread to the surrounding lymph nodes.

I tend to agree with you that if they've specifically mentioned surgery, they must think its possible. But even if it isnt, a different option might be best for your dad, depending on the kind of cancer he has. Some people are able to have immunotherapy which gets good reports but only some people can have it.

Funnily enough, his breathing is fine. He had a lung function test and did really well, - we live on the Northumbrian coast and walk on the beach most days. At the moment he has no symptoms at all. He eats well and is active and enjoying life.

How is your Dad just now? Has he had all his tests and when will he see the oncologist?

x

Oh no I hope that doesnt mean the options are off the table for him after his PET too :( I am praying it hasnt spread too - I thought they could remove lymph nodes too? (and the lady who I know who works in Oncology actually said ask if they do remove them as that can prevent it reoccuring)

Ahh he sounds like he is doing so well - long may it continue.

Dad is doing well and feeling well. His diagnosis was only last week so we are now waiting for the futher tests to be arranged (assume PET scan but not sure what else) As of now he has only had the CT scan. I hate this waiting as my mind gets away with me and worries :(  x