Stage iV NSC Lung Cancer - Cancer: Lung Message Board

tgreen62061 · 05-21-2003, 07:34 PM

3 weeks ago my father was diagnosed with NSCLC, The next week he fell and broke his leg. This delayed chemo for 1 week but allowed for further testing. After the latest round of CAT Scans, Bone Scans and MRI's it was discovered to his cancer had spread to both lungs, adrenal gland, abdominal lymph nodes, liver.
Today it was confirmed that it hass spread to his spine (lumbar 3&4). Needless to say this has been a bad month. He is so down right now. It is more disbeleif I think. He starts radiation tomorrow and he is scared. So am I. I am an only child, my parents divorced some 20+ years ago.
He says that he wants to fight the cancer, but he has lost so much weight and it is obvious that he is very ill. He started morphine for the pain last week. The primary tumor has already eroded one rib. The morphine is helping with the pain but, he is insiting on remaining independent. He want to drive and resume living alone.
I do not know how to handle this. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank You and God Bless

NancyEllen · 05-21-2003, 09:06 PM

Tgreen, God bless you and your father. Tell him how much you love him and appreciate him now. Read a lot of the posts here. It is a big help. There is so much support here. I am praying for you both.

Nancy

mrsdlash · 05-22-2003, 12:53 AM

Hello, My heart aches for you and your father. I have just came through the same with my husband, who died 2 weeks ago.
Please, ask the doctor what good is done with the radiation at this point?? Will it ease pain? Some doctors would not give such treatment at this stage, except to reduce pain.
I watched my husband take treatments when he knew they would Not help him. And, he did it JUST for us! Fineally, we all asked him to Stop.And, he was relieved! But, then he had rashs and other unsual side effects from the treatment.
Still, I reccomend that you ask the doctor right straight,,,,what is the best for your dad, at this stage of the cancer.
For my husband it was Hospice and the Pain management they offered.
Oh, yeah, They asked me to remind people that their services are FREE, to all who need and can't afford to pay. That was a blessing for us.
God bless you both, hugs Donna

HoosierBj · 05-22-2003, 01:36 PM

Someone told me something once while my father was so sick with cancer and I would like to share it with you...
They said, "There is always Hope - but sometimes what you Hope for is what changes."

We all hoped that there would be a spontaneous remission from his multiple sites of cancer. We all hoped for a miracle. We all hoped for a major error in his test results.

In time our only Hope was for him to be at Peace.
And he was.

tgreen62061 · 07-30-2003, 07:25 PM

Well, The last 2 months have been a roller coaster. My dad's leg has healed, he completed his first course of radiation (lung and spine) and completed his Carbo/Taxol series. On the new scans the news was not very good. The Doctor has told him that only one of his tumors seems to have responded, but the other existing tumors and a few new ones are a concern. Basically, he said that the first line has failed and that there is not much more that could be done. He did offer some pallative chemo treatments that "might" prolong what time he has left. I did ask the obvious question of "What quality of life will he have if he does this second line chemo drug". The Doctor informed us that it might improve for a while. Otherwise, 2 months might be about it. Mt Dad, being the eternal gambler, opted for the 25% chance of prolonged life with better quality.
We have spent the last 4 weekends moving him out of his home, he can no longer care for himself (actually he has not lived alone since May. His business partner has been taking care of him since he broke his leg, she has been a saint. She takes him to the office everyday, it makes him feel better to be productive.
She and I are very concerned about this course of treatment (he is on Taxotere alone) at this time. He is now taking 60mg morphine 2 times a day, along with many other drugs to ease the pain, and to stop the upset stomach.
On top of all that, our best friends Mother dies of NSCLC 3 weeks ago. She has been telling us what her Mother went trhough and we are seeing the same progression with my Dad.
Well, I better go now, it has been a long, tiring day of Doctor visits and Chemo treatment. I better get some rest now, I may need the energy later.
Thank You for all of the encouragement, prayers and hugs.
Tracy