jendew

I'm sorry you had to come here, too. Definitely a cough pillow. If you forget it, though, ask the nurses for one. They often give the heart patients a heart shaped pillow after heart surgery, and that's what they gave my dad. I've still got it as a matter of fact. It worked wonders for him. I hope the surgery and recovery goes well for you.

I, too, hope the best for your dad. This site will give you lots of questions to be armed with when you visit the doctor. Good luck. Jenny

I agree with the others. PET scan still may be negative. We've been through that with my dad as well. New nodules, but no cancer. I'm hoping for the best.

Congratulations on this milestone!

After the news we got yesterday, today he's in wonderful spirits. He told me today (as I sat across from him with my eyes swollen from crying myself to sleep last night) to not be sad because he's not. He said that if God called him home tomorrow, he's ready. He said that he's handed it over to the Lord, and he knows that this new round of alimta is going to cure him. He said that with God and the support of his wife and children, he's going to make it. He's already making plans for me to take him fishing in a couple of weeks. My favorite memories are of my dad and I fishing when I was just a tiny little girl. It's hard to believe I celebrated my 35th birthday this week, and I still feel like a little girl sitting on Daddy's lap. As usual, Daddy can make the whole world seem better.

I am so very sorry for your pain.

I've had those dreams lately, too. There was one orange and ugly tornado that kept circling my house. It gives you such a feeling of helplessness.

I am so very sorry, and will keep your family in my prayers.

Well, my father had his first oncology appt. today after learning that his cancer has returned. The doctor is not holding out much hope due to my dad's decreased lung function and pain management problems. In fact, he told us that given his current status he's concerned about how my father will make it the next few months. This, of course, was a big letdown for us. Daddy is not a candidate for more surgery or radiation, so chemo is our only option at this point. We have to make up our minds by Monday whether or not to try a clinical trial they're conducting at our cancer center. There are so many decisions to make. We've also got to prepare my mother for the months to come. Any and all prayers are appreciated.

I know all too well what you are feeling right now. My dad has been fighting it since October of last year. I hope and pray your dad has a wonderful outcome with treatment.

Roller Coasters have never been my favorite, either. Daddy is o.k...just in a lot of pain, but he's going to a pain management specialist for that. We're thinking it's more pain from the surgery and ribs being removed than from cancer since the pain was there long before the recurrence. He's not sleeping well due to the pain and worry, also, I'm sure. Wednesday is the day we go to the oncologist again. Thanks to this site, I'm armed with loads of questions. My sister and I will both be there to support my parents. Thank you all for your stories of inspiration and hope.

I'm so sorry. I just said a prayer for her, and will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Great news!

I can totally relate to your feelings right now. Anyone in your situation would feel that way, too. My dad finished radiation in January and is now fighting a battle with his recurrence, but also with pneumonia. He's been on oxygen therapy at home now for a week along with his breathing treatments, antibiotics and steroids. It is a common thing for pneumonia to develop after radiation, however, it never makes you feel good to know that it's "normal". I'll be praying for you.

Thank you for all of your kind replies. We just had confirmation that the squamous cell carcinoma is definitely back. It is still localized to the one lung so hopefully we can get a handle on this monster soon. I just hate that so many of us are faced with this ugly disease. We should get back in to see the oncologist within the next day or so and begin the battle again.

No plans yet because the CT guided needle biopsy was this morning. We won't have the true results back for a couple of days yet. However, the radiologist that performed the test along with his oncologist has prepared us for the worst. We also found out today that he's got an elevated white cell count with pneumonia. You're right. This is the pits. We haven't told my dad yet what the radiologist has found yet because there are already so many ups and downs with this disease. We didn't want to tell him that the radiologist is sure that it's cancer, and then it hopefully come back non-malignant. I know it's only a slim chance, but I'm grasping at any chance at this point. I'm only 34 and not ready to lose my father yet. I hate having to explain this disease to my children when I don't even understand it myself.

Hi, everyone. My name is Jenny, and my father was diagnosed with stage 3-4 squamous cell lung cancer in October of last year. He immediately had surgery (wedge resection and removal of two ribs the tumor had attched to), and he finished his treatments with paxitaxol and radiation in February. Now it seems we are having a recurrence in the same lung. He is in constant pain, and has had to be put back on oxygen therapy at home. I'm just not handling this well, and need the support. We also just lost a 37 year old family friend with non small cell lung cancer a couple of months ago. My mother is a 14 year breast cancer survivor, so I guess I assumed my father would beat the odds, too. I'm just shocked and feel lost right now.