I have never posted anything to a message board before, so I hope I am doing this right.
My husband has recently been diagnosed with nsclc adenocarcenoma stage IV. It was just a fluke that we found it. He started out with a cough in july that they said was due to sinus drainage. They kept giving him different antibiotics to help with the sinus infection. Nothing helped. They finally did an x-ray which revealed a spot. Compared it to x-ray from three years ago. No change. They said three years ago it was scar tissue. Cough continued so they did a CT scan and then sent us to an oncologyst! My husband has never smoked but does work in a cabnet factory where they use different woods, paint thinners, cleaners, etc. Don't know if this makes any difference. Nothing I read on the web is very encouraging about lung cancer especially stage IV. They doctors are not very encouraging. He has a tumor in his right lung and a small spot on his left hip. Before they found the spot on his hip it was all about the cure. Now all they talk about is containment, I wish someone could explain the change to me. He just had his first chemo treatment (taxol/carbo) two days ago. He is doing ok but seems very depressed. He feels like he has been handed a death sentence. Is this true? I have him on all the prayer lists, but am wondering how to get his spirits up. Part of the problem is that he had a brother die of cancer (melanoma)two years ago. The prescribed treatment is chemo once every three weeks and they will do another scan in 3 to 4 months. Is this the usual treatment for stage IV.
I would appreciate any encouraging info especially about stage IV.
Thanks
Cheryl