Daddysgirl78

A warm hello to everyone in the Lungevity Community. Well after all the chemo and radiation we received the amazing news that my Father was operable. He had his surgery to remove his tumor (the size of a baseball), upper R lobe of lung, 4 ribs, a vertebra and also had his spine scraped on 7/8/14. He was hospitalized for 7 days then released. He's doing pretty well but the he has HORRIBLE numbness and a shooting pain up his arm and adjusting to the shortness of breath as he's always been very active. He had his check up on Wednesday and he has to do 4 more cycles as 1 of the 10 lymph nodes they took had cancer cells in it. The tumor was completely DEAD though and the surgeon did get clean margins. At least this chemo is only 3 hours instead of 8.... I'm just praying he doesn't get sick and keeps his perfect healthy record with chemo. Thanks for all the support and continued prayers are needed my friends.

Thanks Katie!

My Daddy's MRI results are in and he's OPERABLE!! This is huge!!! We also found out that there is no vertebrae or spine involvement. Praise the Lord!!! His surgery is set of July 8th, they're going to remove the tumor and 3, possibly 4 ribs. The Surgeon said he'll be in ICU- 2-3 days and another 6-7 days on the regular floor. I'm nervous for him but this was his decision and as he listened intently to the Oncologist and Surgeon urging surgery, he said he'd be a fool to not do the surgery. This is his chance. I'm overjoyed. Definitely a happy heart here. I decided to take an FMLA to move out to my Parents house and help out a couple weeks. Just wish my work was more understanding, unnecessary stress! Ugh!! Thanks for listening! Jennifer -My Daddy has a Stage 3A, Pancoast Tumor, R lung. DX 2/6/14, 4 Cycles of Chemo, 32 Trmts of 66 grey radiation... Next stop surgery!!!

My Daddy's MRI results are in and he's OPERABLE!! This is huge!!! We also found out that there is no vertebrae or spine involvement. Praise the Lord!!! His surgery is set of July 8th, they're going to remove the tumor and 3, possibly 4 ribs. The Surgeon said he'll be in ICU- 2-3 days and another 6-7 days on the regular floor. I'm nervous for him but this was his decision and as he listened intently to the Oncologist and Surgeon urging surgery, he said he'd be a fool to not do the surgery. This is his chance. I'm overjoyed. Definitely a happy heart here. I decided to take an FMLA to move out to my Parents house and help out a couple weeks. Just wish my work was more understanding, unnecessary stress! Ugh!! Thanks for listening! Jennifer -My Daddy has a Stage 3A, Pancoast Tumor, R lung. DX 2/6/14, 4 Cycles of Chemo, 32 Trmts of 66 grey radiation... Next stop surgery!!!

Hello new friend! My Daddy was also diagnosed with Lung Cancer, Stage 3a non-small cell (squamous) with a Pancoast Tumor. He chose to do all the radiation and chemo as he said "I'm going to fight to stay here as long as I can." I was overjoyed to hear that but terrified for him. He's done 32 treatments of the strongest radiation (66 grey) and 4 cycles (8 all day treatments) of chemotherapy. At this point his PET scan indicated his treatments have worked!! Praise the Lord! Please keep in mind he had very little side affects from the treatments also (but everyone is different)... no sickness at all. He was extremely tired and his radiation area felt a little sunburnish to him but other than that he's done amazingly!! He still has a long road ahead of him on the path of being CURED! His surgery isn't going to be easy (if he's operable), due to the location and this pesky tumor it's going to be a very invasive surgery (lots of nerves:()-- they're going to have to remove ribs, some vertebrae and we're hopeful his spine isn't affected so they can GREEN LIGHT surgery. The best chance a cancer patient has is getting the cancer OUT! We find out Wednesday. The Surgeon told him all this and his response... "I didn't come this far to give up, if I'm a candidate--I'm DOING IT!!" I know exactly what you're going through, my Daddy is my entire world. It's a horrible emotional turmoil and you really question everything... why-why-why!!! I will be taking an FMLA from work if he has surgery because I know he'll need me. I've been there for every treatment and Doctor's appt and I wouldn't have it any other way. Your Dad is going to have to face the music and with cancer it's ALWAYS better to get on the treatments ASAP and strike aggressively. I wish I knew a way to convince him. Perhaps an intervention with the entire family telling him you NEED him here!! I wish you all the best and please keep us posted. You're in my thoughts. -Jennifer

WOW!! Thank you so much for posting about this! My Dad was diagnosed with Stage 3a with a Pancoast Tumor on 2/5/14 and is currently battling. You're such and inspiration! Many blessings to you! ~Jennifer

If you whipped Breast Cancer you can do the same with Lung Cancer. Have faith and believe. I feel you're absolutely right, a positive mind is key!! Wishing you all the best new friend. <3 ~Jennifer (Daddy was diagnosed with Stage 3a Lung Cancer with Pancoast Tumor- 2/5/14)

A warm hello to everyone in the Lungevity Community. I'm really happy to be here! My whole world has been flipped upside down as my first love has been diagnosed with Cancer. My 63 y/o Daddy (Yes, I'm 36 and call him that, Forever Daddy's Girl:) was diagnosed with Stage 3a, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer on 2/5/14 and has a "Pancoast Tumor" on his top right lung. A little background, he worked in an asbestos filled auto plant for almost 38 years and was a social smoker for a good part of his life before quitting in 1999. After we lost my 4 y/o nephew to eye cancer, it was really eye opening for both him and my Mother and I'm proud to say they never picked another cigarette up! After his port placement, aggressive radiation and chemotherapy began. As of today he's done 32 treatments of intense 66 grey radiation and (4 cycles) 8 hour chemotherapy. His chemotherapy consist of: Cisplatin and Vinorelbine along with his fluids and nausea medication. He's currently taking gabapentin twice a day to ease some nerve pain from the location of the tumor on his bronchial plexus but he hasn't been taking PAIN medications for almost 2 months now and hasn't gotten sick from chemo at all! He's amazing. We had an appointment with his Oncologist and he reported the radiation and chemo did it's job! From there we had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon who said that due to the position of his tumor he would have to remove 3-4 ribs and some of his vertebrae. That was pretty tough to hear and immensely scary for my Daddy! The Surgeon also is getting a Neurosurgeon on board as it "maybe" invading his spine and if that's the case he may not be operable. He went for an MRI of his Spine on Friday and our appointment is Wednesday to get the final word. We hope an pray he's operable and I wanted to reach out in hopes to find other people with his type of tumor or Stage 3 that underwent surgery and how recovery was...? Any advice and experiences would be very helpful. We're all broken hearted but staying positive and optimistic. Thank you for taking the time to read our story... Jennifer