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Mouse5

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  1. My dad lost his battle with NSCLC on March 19, 2011 My dad not only battled stage IV LC, but bronchitis, pneumonia, and gout in the 5 months since his diagnosis. He was misdiagnosed and by the time he was correctly diagnosed, he was stage IV. We found out that it had spread to his bones in January after he completed his 1st round of treatment. He kept his loving, positive spirit from start to finish. He never complained or was angry. I'm in awe of him. He's my hero. I am so blessed and proud to have had him as my dad. I am so grateful for this site. I walked into each doctor visit well educated thanks to all the advice and info I received here. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Praying for you all. Lisa
  2. Shelby, You are not alone. My dad passed almost a month ago. I still can't believe he's gone. I just wanted to let you know that I will be praying for you. Lisa
  3. From the bottom of my heart, I thank each one of you for replying to my post. I appreciated it so much. I am sorry it took me so long to thank you. I am sad to say that my dad passed away on March 19, 2011 The advice and support I received on this site was amazing and I am so grateful to have found it. I will be keeping you all in my prayers. Lisa (Mouse is the nickname my dad gave me as a child.)
  4. Hi!! My dad finished his 1st round of radiation/chemo @ Thanksgiving, and just had his PET scan on Friday, January 21st. The scan showed that his LC was pretty much wiped out, but that it has spread to his left hip socket and two spots on his spine. He was sent to an orthopedic surgeon and told that surgery isn't an option for him. (He had another CT, x-rays and spent the night in the hospital.) The plan is to do radiation on his hip and a stronger chemo. His radiation oncologist said that it's now pallitive care. I know he cant' tell me how much time my dad has, but I did ask him to give me a round about time given that he has treated my dad from the beginning. He said about a year. From what I've read, it seems that 8 months is average. My dad has just started to have a little bit of pain off and on while walking. His back also has had a little bit of pain off and on, but nothing bad. What can we expect with bone cancer? I have heard that it can get pretty painful. My dad will not want to live if he is knocked out with pain medications or unable to walk. I have read about medications to diminish the progress of this and medications to help with bone mass loss. The first round of radiation/chemo sent him to the hospital twice w/dehydration and then pneumonia. It was just brutal on him. I just would appreciate any advice or info!! Thank you!! Lisa
  5. So sorry to hear that Susan. I know how hard it is to live away from your parents. I will be praying for your Mom, you and your family. Much love, Lisa
  6. Katie, Hi! Dad's scan showed that he has cancer in his hilum lymph nodes. Dad's one lung node has a score of 3 and the other 3.6 on how much gulcose the cancer used during the scan. Can't remember the name of the "scale" or what it's called. His scan was from his lower neck to his abdomen. I assumed that it was going to be a whole body scan. This journey is so frustrating, but I'm rolling with the punches. :/ What you created with this website is a God send! Thank you! Lisa
  7. Hi. I just found out last week that the PET scan they did on my Dad to see if the cancer spread anywhere other than his lungs, was only done from his lower neck to abdomen. I just assumed the scan would be done on his entire body, but his pulmonologist said that his type of cancer, squamous, doesn't usually spread outside the lungs. His oncologists said that if any cancer cells got outside the lungs, that Chemo would take care of it. Should I push for them to do another PET scan from head to toe? I am a little worried not knowing 100% if it spread elsewhere. Do I need to ask his doctors what his TNM score is? I know the size of his tumors, that they are in his hilum lymph nodes and it's metastasized to his other lung, but not sure what his score is, if it's important that I know this and why. I have to admit that even with all the research I have done over the last month, I still dont' understand it all. Thanks to you great people I found GRACE and have been using that website also. Thank you. Lisa
  8. Thanks for the info!! My Dad is starting Carboplatin and Paclitaxel next week. Thanks to your post, I will mention my concerns to his oncologist!! Lisa
  9. Thank you all for replying to my post. It's nice to know that there are caring people in the world who are willing to help a total stranger get through a difficult time. God Bless you! Dad had his PET scan yesterday and the doc said we should get the results on Monday. I'll keep you posted. With much appreciation, Lisa
  10. Hi. I am looking for questions to ask on my Dad's first Oncology appointment next week. We got the results from my Dad's bronchoscopy today. He has NSCLC, Squamous, stage 4, bilateral. His PET scan was scheduled for last Friday, but the hospital screwed up and is rescheduled for September 24th, so we don't know if it has spread outside the lungs. He is sending Dad to a Cardiacthorasic surgeon, but said the chances of surgery are "slim to none, don't hold out hope for this option." He just wants to be 100% sure. I'm ok with that. Because Dad has cancer in both lungs, I guess radiation isn't likely either. So that leaves Chemo. I have been reading about his type of LC and Chemo, but I am not sure what questions I need to ask the Oncologist. I would really appreciate any questions you think are important to ask on his first visit, tips or any advice you could give me. I learned a lot from this site already and am greatful it's here. Thank you and keeping you all in prayer. Lisa
  11. THANK YOU , THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all of you who replied to my post. It gave me so much comfort and a little relief to know I am not alone in this. It's overwheming to say the least. I feel better now going into Dad's appointment on Tuesday. I am blessed that my Dad is very posititve and not letting this consume him. My mom is anxious, but staying positive as well. They thanked me so many times for coming along to his appointment and for all the research, questions I had for the doctor, and helping them navigate through this. It's not easy for me since I live in another state and have a family of my own, but I only have 1 Dad and wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you again for making me feel so welcome here! I am very grateful. Much love, Lisa
  12. Hi. My Dad just had a Bronchoscopy today. The doctor who did it said it is cancer, but we won't know what type of lung cancer or what stage until the biopsy is complete. He is having a PET scan on Friday. We met with a pulmonologist last week who ordered the scope and scan. Dad went to the ER in January because he was having trouble breathing. After a CAT scan, they said he had a blood clot in each lung. Never found a cause for the clots. After 1 week in the hospital on Coumadin, they sent him home. All was great until this summer. Dad coughed up a little muscus with a tiny bit of blood in it. It happened twice in a week. He had a little trouble breathing and went to the ER. The doctor said his coughing up blood was from his Coumadin and that it was normal. After his breathing was fine, they sent him home. I told my parents that coughing up blood isn't normal under any circumstances, and told them to get him checked out. They are older and trusted the doctors even though I asked them to get a third opinion. A few weeks later, he began to cough up blood again, more and more often. His family doctor sent him for a CAT scan on August 27th and said "It could be cancer." I got a copy of the scan and had a friend, who is a radiologist, read it. He said it's cancer. He has a mass in his lower lung on one side that is under one inch and a mass in the other lung in the upper lobe. This mass is just over one inch and is squeezing the blood vessel right at his airway. This is the cause of the blood in the mucus. On September 9th we met the pulmonologist and went over his CAT scan from January and the newest one. He said it was cancer, but we wouldn't know what type or stage until he has his scope and PET scan. Dad has enlarged lymph nodes which could be from an illness he had years ago that left calcium in the nodes, or something like that. We'll meet with the pulmonologist on Sept. 21st to go over the biopsy and PET scan results. I did a lot of research before we met with Dad's pulmonologist and knew what tests, etc. he would probably order. I understood most of the what was talked about at this appointment. I had a ton of questions and the doctor answered them all. The doctor and I didn most of the talking while my parents sat and listened. I have been trying to prepare for questions to ask when we find out what type of LC and the stage and where we go from there, but I am overwhelmed and have no idea where to begin. Mostly because it depends on if it's SCLC or NSLC or ift's in the lymph nodes, where it's at,etc. I would be so grateful for any questions you think we need to ask when we find out what we are dealing with. From his stay in the hospital in January, we know he has a strong, good heart and the doc today said other than the two masses, his lungs look great. He is active and is just a positive person. I pray that all of these help with the fight he has ahead of him. Thank you so much for any advice! Lisa
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