My dad with lung cancer

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Hello everyone and my best wishes to you and yours.

I have been reading through the site for a while now and it has given me a lot of strength and a lot to reflect on.

My dad was diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer, stage 3a, last August- 2008, aged 75. He also discovered that he also has emphysema. When he was diagnosed, apart from the lung, there were cancer signs in the chest wall and lymph nodes near lung. He has had CT scans and a PET scan. There is only 1 PET scanner in Scotland at present.

He is an ex smoker (heavy) although not for the past 20 years. He sucessfully appeared to beat bladder cancer which has not reappeared in 2 years after a 10 year battle against that. He had chemo during that battle and successfully beat it.

His LC treatment is being undertaken by the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow, Scotland. It has a repuation for excellence in the cancer field. They certainly seem to have a very joined up approach which is reassuring for me.

I attended the consultants with him when they advised they could not operate but intended to administer chemo followed potentially by radiotherapy if he was fit and depending on the success of the chemo. I remember having to leave the room at one point to pull myself together.

The chemo was administered over a couple of months and was given by drip one week followed later by tablet chemo. He found the tablet chemo had quite a debilatating impact on him- tiredness but unable to sleep, loss of appetite. However, after the chemo and a scan they told us that the growths appeared to have shrunk and would attempt the radiotherapy. That was great news and gave us all a tremendous amount of comfort.

I based my views on initial discussions with the consultant when they told me that they were hopeful of stopping the LC in its tracks. I was surprised by that as I had wrongly assumed that a lack of surgery meant less of a chance. Before the radiation treatment started, however, I phoned the consultants team to check the situation and was told that the radiotherapy was palliative. That seemed at odds with what I was told earlier.

He has now recently completed 2 weeks of radiotherapy (10 days), with breaks at the weekend.

Now that this stage of treatment is complete, he is very tired with no appetite and is dehydrated. He has not eaten for the past 4 days and is not taking enough fluid. They were previously concerned about his kidneys, although there is no sign of cancer there. That adds to my concern. He says that he has little interest in food as he has difficulty swallowing and no appetite. He has been told that this will pass as the impact of the radiotherapy wears off. I hope it does.

The fact he is not eating really concerns me. The MacMillan nurses have arranged for a special anaesthetic for his throat to make swallowing easier. He is now waiting for his next scan so that we know where he stands with the cancer and what impact the treatment has had on it.

I now wonder what impact the lack of eating will have on him and his recovery. I am also concerned about the impact of the treatment on his body and if he would be able or want to go through it again. I don't yet know what the next stage might be or what might be involved in his treatment.

I am glad however that he does not appear to be in pain. That is something I was always really concerned about. I am grateful for that. He is also sleeping better at night as he has been given sleeping tablets.

I live with my wife and family, some distance from my dad, who lives on his own. We are a days travel away, so we are in touch daily by phone. My wife or I visit him every 2/3 weeks for a couple of days so that we can be near him. I had previously asked him to move in with us but he would not hear of it. Speaking to him last night, he sounded very, very tired. My wife will visit him next week.

As others have said, it is a roller coaster for everyone.

Best wishes to everyone out there in a similar position, my best thoughts are with you.

jenugl · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 7:14 am Post subject: Re: My dad with lung cancer

Hi Kenneth, I am sorry to hear of your fathers diagnosis. I know alot of patients lose their appetite while being treated for cancer, but it must be harder when it is painful to swallow. My partner (who has GBMIV) had a dietician come and see him when he was in hospital to make sure he was eating OK as he was losing alot of weight. She told him to make what small things he ate to be high in protein and calories to try and keep the weight up - he used and still does a protein powder in alot of things. It must be so hard living so far away from your father. Make the most out of the time you spend on the phone and visiting him. My prayers and support are with you and your family. Jen.
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Love to all. Jen.
_____________________________

Partner of GBMIV survivor - so far.

http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9502

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 822

Hi Kenneth,

I'm sorry that your Dad is struggling right now since the radiation. The swallowing is indeed a bear to deal with for a few weeks. A friend of mine went through this type of radiation (close to the esophagus) and tried the numbing solution just prior to eating. It was pretty much liquid for her during that time. It does pass in a few weeks, but I hope he tries to get protein drinks down to maintain some weight. You'll see him bounce back from the effects of treatment too.

Sounds promising for him, with a good team in place. I've seen many success stories with Stage IIIa. Surgery is always the best option, but not everyone's tumors cooperate with where they are located. He's on the right course and I wish him the best of luck.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Thankyou very much for the above support and advice.

I spoke to my dad last night and he has enjoyed some food, both at breakfast and lunch and is preparing his evening meal. He sounded better as well!

My wife is visiting him for a few days on Thursday and he is looking forward to that.

I will keep posting because apart from the support I have had, it might give encouragement to someone else.

Take care everyone! Kenny

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

An update.

Spoke to my dad again last night and he is sounding so much better. It is very reassuring, although I know this might change in the future.

He sounded positive and said he was enjoying his food and putting on a bit of weight- he had lost about 1 1/2 stones. He was also able to to go out and do some shopping! We had a bit of a laugh which was good.

My lovely, caring wife is travelling down today and will stay with him over the weekend. He is looking forward to that. I will stay at home and do the domestics with my two daughters.

Take care everyone, my best wishes are with you.

ksplat · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:08 am Post subject: Re: My dad with lung cancer

Hello Kenny

I am so very pleased to read that your Dad is doing better. Thanks for the update.

Thinking of you.

Cheers, Aussie Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

thompsontwin · New User Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 3

Hi Kenneth,
So sorry to hear about your dad. Your story sounds exactly like mine. My dad was diagnosed October 2006, stage 4 with mets in chest wall and lymph nodes, bone and liver. He did not take radiation. He is 77 lived on his own. In the beginning he would not hear of moving in with us. Due to weakness, and serious cellulitis infection, not eating or drinking, he finally moved in with us about a month ago. His last chemo treatment was Jan. 24 and his appetite hasn't returned and he sleeps alot and can only get up to go to the bathroom. They gave him 12- 18 months with chemo. It has been 17 months. Seeing my dad struggle on his own at first living alone was really bad, trying to walk he would stubble into walls and has bruises all over his arms and legs, and got a cut on his leg that turned into cellulitis, wasn't eating or taking care of himself. Just try and reassure him "its only temporary" until he gets better, which is the goal here for my dad, it gives him encouragement that he needs and a positive outlook for him despite the situation. It finally worked for my dad. I hope this helps and I feel for you and your family, its tough being an "Adult Kid" and having to see your parents go through something like this. I lost my mom to breast cancer in 1995 that wasn't easy either. Hang in there and you will know the right thing to do when the time comes.

~Patti~ Smile

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks for the thoughtful posts Angie and Patti. My best thoughts are with you too!! I have taken encouragement from your posts and most others I have read on the site. It is some community! Very Happy

My wife is now back home having spent time with my dad. He had a huge appetite, had done some housework and cooking. He has been out to the shops and drove my wife to the airport. I know a lot of that must have taken a terrific amount of effort and was largely for our benefit. However, he has now got on the move again which is great, particularly for his frame of mind.

He is now waiting for a further scan and the current state of play.

He is hoping to fly up after that.

Take care everyone.

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

Hello everyone

Of course I still have major concerns at the back of my mind but things appear to be going well for my dad, so I thought I would share another update which might help someone else.

After the chemo, followed by palliative radiotherapy, which took a while for my dad to get over, he is continuing to eat well and is motivated to get up and about. He shops, cooks and meets up with friends. He has a love of golf and has been visiting the club to meet his friends, usually for a coffee and a chat with folk that have known him a long time. This week he managed 5 holes of golf. Yes he was tired but he said the buzz he got from doing it was worth it.

The fact he has done this is really quite amazing, given my initial thoughts when we started on this journey. It says a lot for his motivation and I believe that is important for him.

He has phoned the hospital to check on what heppens next and meets his care team on Tuesday. I know that the radiotherapy carries on working for a while and I am not sure when a check will be taken on the effectiveness of the treatment.

I will post an update once we meet with the team.

Take care everyone and my best thoughts are with you.

ksplat · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:19 am Post subject: Re: My dad with lung cancer

Dear Kenny

I was very pleased to read the latest update on yr Dad. He is doing so well....amazing that he was up to 5 rounds of golf! What a guy!! You must be so encouraged & buoyed by his strength & courage.

Thanks for the update, your Dad's story will be a catalyst & inspiration to many of us here.

All the best & cheers, Angie.
_________________
Brother has GBMIV
Diagnosed Feb 07
46 Yrs young!
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=19227

"Without Faith We Have Nothing"

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 822

Kenny!

Thanks so much for posting an update -- and such an encouraging one. Very Happy

It makes me smile to hear about your Dad golfing as my husband still enjoyed many rounds after we thought it would never be possible.

Go Kenny's Dad!!! I know how excited your whole family is by this total turnaround and may he keep going strong for a long, long time.

Congratulations.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

kenneth scotland · New User Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 7

[quote="ksplat"]Dear Kenny

I was very pleased to read the latest update on yr Dad. He is doing so well....amazing that he was up to 5 rounds of golf! What a guy!! You must be so encouraged & buoyed by his strength & courage.

Thanks for the update, your Dad's story will be a catalyst & inspiration to many of us here.

All the best & cheers, Angie.[/quote]

Sorry, that should have been 5 holes of golf within the one round. Not sure if anyone could manage 5 rounds!! OOppss.

At least I retain the sense of humour. Still the 5 holes is utterly remarkable and thanks for your comments which mean so much.

Yes. I hope it kindles hope in others!

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