Lee-Anne

Hello, My father continues to lose weight no matter what he eats. The nurse and the doctor...we don't have an onc because Dad isn't taking chemo, say that this is normal, just part of the cancer process, without investigating or offering solutions. High calorie drinks don't help...they are actually mostly sugar anyway. Has anyone else been through this? He has gone from 204 to 164 in 5 months and continues to lose muscle mass as well as weight. He has no energy at all and feels frail. I would like to talk to anyone else who knows about this. Thanks

Hello everyone, I see that I should have just posted to one of the topics...it makes the strings easier to follow I guess. Anyway, I replied/ explained more in the caregiver section. By the way Marlon, my Dad is 64. Thanks so much Lee-Anne

Thanks everyone, I wish Dad had kept his screw you guys attitute that we developed for a while. It just seems that he has never had a break. Not one. Our GP misread the original Xray, the internist he insisted on seeing after getting no help from the GP said that something was wrong but it wasn't emphysema, cancer or heart disease except 2 weeks later after a VQ scan he was told it was most likely lung cancer. After travelling to have a biopsy via bronchoscope, Dad was admitted and a chest tube was inserted to drain the effusion that had developed after his lung had collapsed. Fluid was malignant. No surgery possible. Stayed in hospital for 2 weeks. Had palliative radiation treatment, lost 30 pounds, chest tube remained in for 7 weeks, doctors admitted it should never have been in that long after Dad travelled to hospital by ambulance due to severe pain caused by tube, found a staph infection and infectious disease team decided it was not a strain that required antibiotics, pulled the tube and sent Dad home. Monday was a good day. Appointment to have chemo on Wed March 19th. Blood work good enough for chemo. Denied chemo due to physical weakness. Informed of spots on liver and adrenal gland. Told that he may be able to take chemo later but it would only give him a bit longer and it would take a terrible tole on him. Dad has watched 3 of his brothers go through tough treatments for different kinds of cancer and lost one brother to mesothelioma. He is so tired and beat up and weak after all of the let downs. I wasn't able to be with my family at the appointment on Wed...I work 7 hours away. I left a week ago, I am not sure why he is so very weak if his blood is ok and the infection is not cause for concern. I have been working to get a second opinion since January and had high hopes for help from a friends collegue in California. That fell apart too. I want to send him to Ottawa to see a specialist but I don;t think he will agree now. Sigh. I am sooooo tired of the roller coaster taking us down, I sure hope it is time for an upswing, even alittle one. Sorry, I really rambled on this time. Thanks again everyone, God bless...I am sure some of this is familiar to many of you Lee-Anne

Hello, I posted this in late stage too My father has been very weak lately and he was to go for his first chemo treatment yesterday. The doctor said there was no way he could have chemo since he is so weak and informed him that he has a spot on his liver and adrenal gland. Dad has decided that he is palliative and said he will never take chemo since the docs say there is no option for recovery and that he will only feel terrible in the meantime if he takes it. Dad was terribly tired and weak yesterday but seems firm in his decision today and almost cross with me. I don''t think he means to be but he doesn't seem like himself. I am still looking for options for him should he ever have a change of heart so that everything is set up for him. I guess I don't really have a question here but maybe if anyone has experience these feelings before or has taken care of someone who has they could let me know. thanks so much Lee-Anne

Hello, My father has been very weak lately and he was to go for his first chemo treatment yesterday. The doctor said there was no way he could have chemo since he is so weak and informed him that he has a spot on his liver and adrenal gland. Dad has decided that he is palliative and said he will never take chemo since the docs say there is no option for recovery and that he will only feel terrible in the meantime if he takes it. Dad was terribly tired and weak yesterday but seems firm in his decision today and almost cross with me. I don''t think he means to be but he doesn't seem like himself. I am still looking for options for him should he ever have a change of heart so that everything is set up for him. I guess I don't really have a question here but maybe if anyone has experience these feelings before or has taken care of someone who has they could let me know. thanks so much Lee-Anne

Hello, I wonder, has anyone used MGN3 or 714X as an immune system booster? My father is very weak and he shivers uncontrollably after a slight change in room temp or a cool - cold drink. Has anyone experienced this before. He has had radiation - last treatment 6 weeks ago and is starting chemo on Wed. Thanks for the help Lee-Anne

Hello to everyone, I have had the pleasure of meeting Marlon already through a different support group and I have read many of the post here too. My father was diagnosed in January with Stage IIIB - primary in right lung causing lung to collapse and effusion to build. His primary physician misdiagnosed him for 3 months - he px'd an inhaler and misread his chest Xray. He had a chest tube for 7 weeks that drained his malignant effusion, however, he was not followed by the correct doctor and he developed an infection from the tube and also his lung became trapped. Needless to say, he, and I are very discouraged by the care he has received and it has made everything harder to deal with. The tube is now out and he is home but he is VERY tired and weak and his outlook is not positive. I hope to find help and hope here and plan to provide the dame to whomever I can. I will say that Marlon has been an inspiration to me and I am going to do everything I can to allow my father to be an inspiration to someone else. God bless all of you, for your courage and optimism Lee-Anne