I so appreciate the kind responses. In answer to some of the questions . . . we honestly were very surprised, because my dad has gone downhill so quickly, to find out that the disease hadn't spread outside the lung. He does have COPD (he was a heavy smoker in the 50's & 60's, but hasn't smoked in 35 years), which he has kept under control for many years with lifestyle choices -- he's a vegetarian who meditates twice a day and (until recently)religiously did both breathing and physical excercises. . . we were told that radiation would not be useful because of the extensive spread of the disease throughout the lung. . . I have mixed feelings about the onc., who comes very highly recommended, but always seems rushed and hasn't explained my dad's situation to us in a thorough way. We have a palliative care doc that we trust, from hospice, working with us on symptom management and we plan to ask him his opinion regarding treatment. It's all day to day at this point and we're just hoping to get through the holiday weekend with as much positive spirit as possible.