Advice going forward - Cancer: Lung Message Board

grannynancy · 09-30-2008, 08:54 PM

My father is 83 years old

About 15 years ago he was diagnosed with colon cancer treated surgically and with chemo - no recurrance and has had some small skin cancers off and on.

Feb 2007 he was diagnosed with lung cancer - stage I - surgically removed no follow up chemo or radiation - - and none of the nodules was spread of colon cancer

Spring 2008 he was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer and placed on chemo - spread was to lungs and bone but not brain. The new cancer was not in the area operated on the first time. PET scan after chemo showed no activity but througout process his CEA has climbed steadily and has accelearated and is now 300.

Throughout all of this he has had no symptoms but on his diagnosis stage IV in July was told maybe 1-3 months no chemo, 6 months with, but the doctor was very pleased with the results of the chemo and how well he tolerated it. He is on an ongong regimen with Avastin.

They just did another PET scan of his entire torso. We will know the results in a few days.

What other kinds of questions should we be asking? What would you be doing right now?

grannynancy · 10-01-2008, 11:27 AM

Oh for reference, he has adenocarcinoma - that is NOT small cell cancer I believe - I just don't know what to do.

Should have been more on top of it but after his surgery my mother had a massive stroke, they are both living with us, and it has been a real challenge to keep up with both of them and continue to work full time.

daughter issues · 10-01-2008, 06:59 PM

When my Mom found out she had lung cancer she was told to get a brain scan as soon as possible because apparently that's usually (what she was told) where it will spread to. We fought to get her a brain scan. At the time it hadn't mets to the brain, but it did not long after.

Good luck, and you and your father are in my prayers.