Dad has cancer

dgh1981 · New User Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Well, I just found out today that my dad has metastatic cancer in the lymph nodes in his neck. He has had pain in his neck for a little while now and then some lumps started to appear. Last week the largest lump was removed from his neck and I just heard the results today. Apparently the cancer didn't originate in his lymph nodes, but they're not sure where it came from yet. He has to see an Oncologist and hopefully we'll know more information soon. Dad's been a smoker for over 40 years, so I wouldn't rule lung cancer out. This is just so unreal right now. I'm pretty emotional, but at the same time I have a very scientific mind and I just want to know what exactly is going on and why it happened. Does lung cancer typically spread to lymph nodes? My dad had a lot of tests done this past april (cat scan, etc) and only 1 thing came back on the results. It showed that there was a thickening of the area between the outer part of the lung and the tiny air sacs. I can't remember what this was referred to..it was something like the (membrane filled with air). I don't know if maybe the cancer originated there or not. I guess I'll find out soon what the cause might be. I just hope Dad tries to fight this.

Thanks for listening.
_________________
-David

Muttsmom · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 5:42 pm Post subject: Re: Dad has cancer

Hi David,

I'm sorry to hear about your dad's dx. There is a cancer that is called, head and neck cancer, so it is possible that they found the primary tumor. My guess is they will do a PET Scan and take a look at everything. It can give false positives, but also detects cancer sooner then other tests. Hopefully they can get everything done and find out where the primary is from and start treatment accordingly.

Please keep us posted.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

freeio · Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject: many possibilities

David,

There are many possibilities for a primary tumor which results in lymphatic cancer. My primary cancer turned out to be pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but lung cancer is another possibility.

As Muttsmom said, one very sensitive test is a PET scan, which can find cancers in unsuspected places. I had one last year, and it was able to locate a new, unsuspected tumor, which answered a lot of questions as to what was going on.

In a PET scan, the patient is injected with a mildly radioactive form of glucose. After an hour of very quiet rest, the patient is put through a large donut-like machine, which senses where the glucose ended up. Cancer cells tend to use more glucose during rest, and so any hot spots are primary suspects as having tumor tissue. The test is painless, and takes a couple of hours to perform.

You might find my cancer blog of some use. It is listed at the bottom of the signature block below.

Marty
_________________
-------------------------------------------------
whipple procedure, Oct. 21, 2004
28 days of radiation
56 days of Chemo using Xeloda
diagnosed as progressive recurrent pancreatic adenocarcinoma (Stage IV) Jun. 20, 2006
was treated with gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and tarceva, which all failed.
Cancer blog: http://diehlmartin.com/cancer.html

dgh1981 · New User Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

Well, I just found out Friday that Dad definitely has lung cancer. I've been reading about lung cancer and I'm not sure what type it is yet. They did say that it is an aggressive form...so it might be small cell, but i'm not sure. He will be seeing an oncologist tomorrow and hopefully then we will be able to find out how extensive the cancer is. He's trying to be optimistic which is a good thing. I know if it's the small cell form then this is not good news, but I'll wait for the doctor to say for sure.

It must be aggressive because in April his lungs looked fairly clear other then a "thickened bolus" in his right lung. Evidently the doctors didn't think this was a major issue because it just said on the report to "follow up in 6-9 months". Then all of the sudden within the last month his neck lymph nodes swell and cause him pain. This is all unreal.

I'll post more when I find more details. Posting on these forums helps me cope in a way. Thanks for listening.
_________________
-David

Muttsmom · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Re: Dad has cancer

Hi David,

I'm not an expert in lung cancer, but a dear friend of the family's was dx with small cell lung cancer. She was told that even though small cell is the most aggressive, it responds better to chemo then other kinds of lung cancer. That is also true with Breast Cancer. Chemo can attack the cancer cells better if it's faster growing.

Please keep us updated on your dad's path report.

It makes me so mad that this day and age, so many, including myself were told to play the wait and see game, and if cancer is involved, that just gives it more time to grow and spread.

Prayers to you and your dad.
_________________
Nancy
2/14/02 ILC 43 - 5.5 cm 9+/16 nodes
Stage IIIA er/pr+ Her2-
2/02 MRM
FECx6 radsx33
Tamoxifen - Arimidex (chemo induced menopause)
4/03 SM w/bilat. recon.
9/03 expanders removed
5/04 repair reconst. disaster
10/04 Actonel for bone/joint pain from Arimidex
NED - 5 years
3/07 Diabetes
In memory of Kim 12/1/04

brainman · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:10 am Post subject: Re: Dad has cancer

Hi dgh1981, how is your father doing? Has he started his treatments yet?

I have been following your father's story since you first posted back in August and just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about and praying for you and your father.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

laji · New User Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

Hi David,

Sorry to hear that your father is suffering from those. Any updates from his doctors? Is he getting better?

Prays to your father and your family,
_________________
Thanks,
Laji

laji · New User Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 2

I am totally with you Muttsmom. I guess many doctors are seeing those too often so they might get indifferent to the cancer patients. You are right, once one knows he or she might have cancer, he/she really should push things forward and don't delay the treatment as the cancerous cells could grow really fast.

Laji

[quote="Muttsmom"]Hi David,

I'm not an expert in lung cancer, but a dear friend of the family's was dx with small cell lung cancer. She was told that even though small cell is the most aggressive, it responds better to chemo then other kinds of lung cancer. That is also true with Breast Cancer. Chemo can attack the cancer cells better if it's faster growing.

Please keep us updated on your dad's path report.

It makes me so mad that this day and age, so many, including myself were told to play the wait and see game, and if cancer is involved, that just gives it more time to grow and spread.

Prayers to you and your dad.[/quote]
_________________
Thanks,
Laji

jazzeroo · Regular Joined: 21 Oct 2006 Posts: 20

hey man im sorry about that, i know how you feel, but you ask if lung cancer usualy spreads to the lymphnodes, my mother had small cell lung cancer and thats the first place it spread to.
im praying for you.

brainman · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Dad has cancer

Hi guys, I just wanted to let you laji and jazzeroo know that Muttsmom is currently not active and freeio died a few months ago. I have not hear from David since August. You night what to start a new thread.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lung Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others