My father was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung cancer a few weeks ago. It is in fairly advanced stage (Stage 4). However, I am just amazed at how quickly the symptons came on and his health went south. 3 months ago, he was running 2.5 miles everyday (which he has done for over 30 years). The he got what he thought was a sinus infection. A week later it moved to his chest. A week later he developed a really bas cough and went to the doctor. He was given antibiotics anddiagnosed with Pneumonia. After 10 days of that...with condistions getting worse, I took him to the ER. Withing 2 hours, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Since then he has lost all energy, always coughing, not sleeping, struggling to eat, cannot breath very well, and the list goes on. We are at a well known cancer center now and just begun treatment last week. He is on a clinical trial (combining chemo with Avastin and one otehr drug). He seems to be continually getting worse and the family is very scared and confused. Is this normal? does it get worse before it gets better?
I understand that it is not curable at this point. Hoever I am concerned with qualit of life. He is miserable. He apparently has a great deal of fluid that is bulding up around the lung and the doctors seem a little confused about what to do. He is not in a state that we could take him for a second opinion, so that is out. The fluid was there when diagnosed but started build rapidly after first chemo treatment. Could this be a side effect of chemo? we have yet to get answers from the doctors.
Just today, he was lying on his side, his throat closed up and he passed out. My mother found him a minute later and was able to sit him up to here he could breath.
It just all came on so fast. The family has had the conversations together and with him and we are ready to fight this thing...but we feel like we cannot even get to that stage yet. It seems like 1 step forward and 3 steps back.
I want to get on the phone with the doctors and demand info and ...what I feel...better attention. However, I am concerned I migh be over-reacting. Maybe this is normal and they are not concerned. I also need these doctors on out side.
I am mainly venting here and I appreciate anyone who has taken the time to read this. We all want my father to be able to live again, even if that is for a shorter amount of time than was the original plan.
Any feedback, insight, or support would be greatly appreciated. We feel very lost in this entire process and cannot seem to find the what to fight first or how.