non small cell lung cancer - Cancer: Lung Message Board

Marie1973 · 06-07-2008, 06:34 AM

Hi.Im new here.My dad was just diagosed with what appears to be end stage nsclc.He's 84 and in pretty good health otherwise.
He has a mass the size of a baseball in his left lung w/ lymph node involvement.

The doc says to get a biopsy (to know what kind of cancer it is for sure) & then get chemo & radiation.
With all the risks involved I dont know if this is the right thing to do.
Has anyone been in this situation that can lend advice?

My dad coughs up phlem all through the day and developed a low grade fever a few days ago, which goes down during the day.They think its tumor related.He's also had rapid breathing (30 breaths per minute) for at least the last week.But he says hes okay & not in any pain.

When he was diagnosed on Tuesday he said did not want treatment . I respect his wishes but yesterday I told him that it cant get any better without treatment & that theres a chance it can help.So he said he'll do it.

The doc said problems will develop in a few weeks if we do nothing.Such as pneumonia....etc.I dont know if the fever is considered a problem developing.
They say it takes a while for the chemo & radiation to work,so if its a matter of weeks before problems will arise how will treatment help?

I just dont want him to go through all this or suffer if it wont help. I asked just for radiation to try to shrink it without the biopsy or chemo to keep him comfortable but the doc said they wont give radiation without a biopsy.
Any suggestions please?
Thanks,
Marie

AnnD · 06-07-2008, 07:03 AM

I am so sorry that this is the diagnosis for your dad. My bother died from that a few years ago when he was early 60's. When I asked him what he was going to do he said that there was no cure and any treatment would only give him at best six more months....at the time he was getting around ok and caring for himself but on Oxygen all the time at home. He decided that he would choose euthanasia...he lived in the State of Oregon where it was legal. He said he didn't want to suffer the harsh treatments that it would take only to die anyway. But then that was his decision perhaps your dad wants to fight. Good luck to you and your dad it is a rough diagnosis.

dowser501 · 06-09-2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marie1973

Hi.Im new here.My dad was just diagosed with what appears to be end stage nsclc.He's 84 and in pretty good health otherwise.
He has a mass the size of a baseball in his left lung w/ lymph node involvement.

The doc says to get a biopsy (to know what kind of cancer it is for sure) & then get chemo & radiation.
With all the risks involved I dont know if this is the right thing to do.
Has anyone been in this situation that can lend advice?

My dad coughs up phlem all through the day and developed a low grade fever a few days ago, which goes down during the day.They think its tumor related.He's also had rapid breathing (30 breaths per minute) for at least the last week.But he says hes okay & not in any pain.

When he was diagnosed on Tuesday he said did not want treatment . I respect his wishes but yesterday I told him that it cant get any better without treatment & that theres a chance it can help.So he said he'll do it.

The doc said problems will develop in a few weeks if we do nothing.Such as pneumonia....etc.I dont know if the fever is considered a problem developing.
They say it takes a while for the chemo & radiation to work,so if its a matter of weeks before problems will arise how will treatment help?

I just dont want him to go through all this or suffer if it wont help. I asked just for radiation to try to shrink it without the biopsy or chemo to keep him comfortable but the doc said they wont give radiation without a biopsy.
Any suggestions please?
Thanks,
Marie

Mary I notice you are living in The USA. As it is spring there you should be able to purchase healthy young chenensis aloe vera potted plants at nurseries. I had lung cancer at 58 years of age ,bowel cancer a year later and have just finished a successful battle against nodular melanoma .
Take a potted aloe plant and cut off all the leaves at the base. THe curative element is in the leaf not the gel, so blend the whole leaf or leaves. add pure orange juce and a tablespoon or more of honey. After an x-ray I was told I was in trouble by my Doc and knowing my family history of lung , bowel and prostrate cancer , went for the above. I was breathing easier within 24 hours and the lung was ok after 3 months. I was 58. I am now 78 and have treated myself for bowel cancer , cleared up a nasty lump in my throat and another one in my mouth. I smoked heavily for 60 years and dealt a lot in asbestos. I am at the moment taking the hopefully last pictures of my vanishing melanoma. All the best Max

Clerklady · 06-09-2008, 10:43 AM

Maria,

My Mom who is 75 was diagnosed in Oct with a nickle size non small cell tumor on her lung. They did a biopsy and it was not a big deal, Mom made it though that fine, she also has intertissual lung diease form smoking and cooking in a resturant for 50 years. She under went chemo and radiation in December by then the tumor was the size of a half dollar with one of her lymph nodes involved. She was able to do 6 out of 12 chemo before the chemo made her so sick she could not do anymore, and also 38 radiation treatments. At 3 mos the tumor had shrunk to 1/2 and the lymph node was completely clear. She goes the end of this month and the Dr's were pretty confident that it would be gone as the radiation keeps working after treatments. She did pretty good with it all, was very, very tired but did well. She had other problems like RA and osteoprosis and fractures in her back, and also she is on full time oxygen, she does not caugh anymore but her lings rattle when the dr's listen to them for the diease. Her Docotors told us that with the treatment it would help in the end if they did not work, keeping her comforable. If you dad is in good health and can stand the chemo, that is what was hard on Mom. Mom was only 110# when she started chemo and had some phenomia along with some cracked ribs and she did the first six treatments, she got a uriniary tract infection and that with the chemo put her in the hospital, she is now 90# and it has been hard to get her to gain any weight back. God Bless you as you make your decisions, we know that the cancer is probaly is not going to kill my mom and it is not painful to her now and never was. Keep in touch, Denise

mishymay3 · 06-09-2008, 11:37 PM

Hi Marie,

First, I am sorry that you and your family are facing this. My father was diagnosed with stage 3b NSCLC February of 2007 at the age of 55 years old. He went for the chemo and radiation treatments only to be told after two months of treatments that his cancer spread. He fought so hard during this time. He thought he was going to be told good news. Unfortunately, he wasn't. After realizing the cancer had spread even after treatment, he went downhill very fast. He got pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week. He had to have oxygen from that point on. He was dying and no one told him. He still thought there was hope up until a week before his death. I still can't believe I am typing these words. It was a horrifying experience and I wish the doctors would have been honest and upfront with him. I feel that the chemo killed him faster. He died October 4, 2007, about 8 months after diagnosis at the age of 55.

I wish you and your family peace with the decision your father makes regarding treatment. It is not an easy decision to make, that is certain.

Michelle