This really came as a surprise..please read - Cancer: Lung Message Board

HRATL · 05-29-2003, 08:52 PM

I've been posting for a couple months now, about my two problems and low and behold my nephew called today to tell me that my Brother who is 52 (smoker) has lung cancer...My knees went numb and started shaking so bad while I was on the phone..anyway he said that he only has 3 to 6 months to live..I thought OH MY GOD..is this a dream...MY BROTHER??? 7 years older than I.....
My nephew said something to the affect that it is brown spots all over his lungs..can anyone shed some light here for me? I haven't talked to my Brother yet, but will tomorrow..
Please give me your thoughts..

NancyEllen · 05-29-2003, 09:13 PM

I am sorry about your brother. If a physician has given 3-6 months to live, there has been a lot of tests done and blood work and also talk about chemo. You have a lot of questions to ask your brother. I don't mean to sound blunt but my father has lung cancer and I know every detail that has happened down to the low dose chemo treatment he is going through right now. How old is your brother? Has the cancer spread? Why have they told him he has such a short time to live? Let us all know after you talk to him.
You are in our prayers.

Nancy

HRATL · 05-30-2003, 08:02 PM

Nancy..Thank you so much for taking the time to post to me!!
I talked to my brother today and he said that he went back to the Doctors office this am..he said when he was at the Radiologists having X-Rays the Radiologist told him it was cancer, and said his lungs were full of something black? My nephew called the whole family....
Well my brother said the Doctor told him it was very bad pneumonia and to quit smoking and it might clear up, so my brother was on cloud nine..
But I can't believe the Radioligist told him it was cancer...Is this not right???

05-30-2003, 09:55 PM

Just for his peace of mind, tell him to get another Dr. to read his tests. Too many times the results are read wrong. Maybe a specialist...Good Luck. I just lost a brother...Cheryl

zuzu8 · 05-31-2003, 04:18 PM

It's NOT right.

Is your brother's doctor a GP or an oncologist? I HOPE a pulmonary oncologist.

It is unfathomable and unethical that a radiologist reports ANY findings or suspicions directly to the patient.

This may indeed be pneumonia, and if so, the radiologist, apart from being WAY out of line, was WRONG and scared the hell out of your brother for no reason.....

Let us know the next step....
Thinking of you,
zuzu xxxxx