I have been reading posts here for about 3 weeks since my father has been diagnosed with nsclc. All of your words have been a comfort to me. I now know that there is hope from this monster.
Dad was a smoker for 40 years but quit 7 years ago. About a month ago he started to cough up some blood. It started to worry him enough to visit his doctor. Xray showed a spot on his right lung, CT scan and bronchoscopy confirmed nsclc. Some lymph node involvement, staged at IIIA. He had a PET scan Tuesday and gets the results today along with his first chemo treatment. He is in good spirits and is determined to win the battle of his life.
I have a nagging question on my mind and have no place to get the answer, I thought that maybe someone here could help. Dad does not want anyone to be with him at the doctors office other than mom. His doctors seem to be very good and have treated he and mom very well. I just don't understand why they have told my parents that Dad's tumor is inoperable. What they were told is that after the first round of chemo another CT scan will be done to see if the tumor has shrunk. If it has, then they will continue on more chemo and no radiation until it can be operated on. If there is no shrinkage, radiation will be given and then there is no possibility of surgery. They were told that too much scar tissue would be created for a surgeon to operate from the radiation treatments. After reading some of the bio's here, others have had surgery to remove tumors after chemo and radiation treatment. I just don't know if the doc's are for real or if they are blowing smoke?????? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Again, thank all of you for your support and strength. Without this site, I would probably still be realing from the news my parents delivered to me 3 weeks ago.
