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Showing content with the highest reputation on 04/16/2017 in all areas

  1. michellep

    Lost

    I've been away from the message boards for a while and just saw your post. My heart truly goes out to you and I hope you can get some answers soon. Please let us know how things are going. Don't forget to take care of yourself too.....that's also very important. ((hugs))
    1 point
  2. Nimo, Welcome here. Sorry I missed your post yesterday. First some questions: (i) what was the basis of diagnosis of adenocarcinoma? (ii) did the PET occur before the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or after? (iii) did the PET show adenocarcinoma in the lung, metastasis to the rib, and metastatic activity in the prostate? (iv) I assume the 13mm met is in the rib not on it, correct? I've known of people who've been diagnosed with two different cancers. Most common of these is lung cancer and a slow growing type of prostate cancer. But assuming the adenocarcinoma diagnosis was validated by pathology examination, prostate cancer was validated by pathology examination, and the PET showed metastatic involvement in the lung, ribs and prostate, I'd assume your dad has stage 4 prostate cancer with a lung cancer tumor. If this assumption is correct, the larger challenge will be treating the stage 4 prostate cancer. If the lung tumor is confirmed as adenocarcinoma and all other tumors are confirmed as prostate, it may be possible to use stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to address the lung tumor, then treat stage 4 prostate cancer with chemotherapy. Alternatively, perhaps the idea is to use external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) to address the lung and rib metastasis. Radiation can be used against both types of tumors and perhaps that is why the radio oncologist was essential to the consultation. My understanding is that chemotherapy recipes for lung cancer and prostate cancers are different. But, all of the aforementioned are my assumption and speculation. I'm not a doctor and could be wrong. The fundamental questions to ask the oncologist are: does he have two different forms (lung and prostate) of cancer? What stage is each form of cancer? What is the treatment plan? Are there chemotherapies that are effective against adenocarcinoma and prostate cancer? Let us know after the Tuesday consultation. Stay the course. Tom
    1 point
  3. lsaut

    Lost

    Yes - we brought it up in February and understandably were instructed to keep an eye on his symptoms (at that point weight loss was very minimal and cough was less severe, skin was good). In the four weeks since that appointment, we went on a planned family vacation and upon arriving home Tuesday, I called his family doctor. He was so weak on vacation - we even used a wheelchair. This was a huge change and I know it was a shock for us all. He brought many meals back up on vacation, and I don't know if it was because of vacation, or the coughing, or new nauseousness. He's eating so much less in the last month. My worry is that his last CT scan, in February, was only chest and throat (where his tumours have been) but the last MRI was in August, so we don't know about mets beyond chest and throat right now. There are so many things that could be going on. I don't understand what bloodwork can or cannot show, and frankly, I haven't educated myself to the fullest extent on those details because there is just too much to know. I've left it to the medical professionals to guide us along. My plan is to call the oncologist (or have the Family doctor call) after Tuesday's appointment. The oncologist is three hours away but is amazing and I know that they will help how and when they can. I'm delicately insisting that he see his family doctor (until now I've accepted his wishes to only see the oncologist regularly). I am not going to the appointment with him (I've only missed one or two in the last 1.5 years, but I think he needs to do this one on his own). The nurses are good to speak to me afterwards. I spoke to his family nurse earlier today and outlined all of my concerns. I was just notified that they are able to do a chest xray tomorrow and have ordered bloodwork for Monday. He is trying so hard to maintain his daily activities and functions but it is increasingly obvious that this is a struggle. Due to family turmoil, his divorce from my mom, and not having a huge social circle to begin with, he only has a handful of other people and honestly, it will be outside my comfort zone to reach out to them, but I am going to start doing so shortly. He needs visitors and unfortunately, I can't drop everything in the evenings and on the weekends, even though I want to. I appreciate the responses SO MUCH. It's nice to know I'm not alone. Thank you.
    1 point
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