JennaG

Ah! I wondered what the "tattoo" was that people were talking about. Yes, I think that's what they're referring to... they said it's a practice run to see where to point the radiation. Is that usually done same day as the first treatment?

I have no insight but just wanted to say hooray for your mom! Give her an extra hug from us.

That was my FIL's first symptom (laryngitis), and he, too, was told that one side of his vocal cord is paralyzed. There is possible surgery for it, but he also just got a microphone! (Like the kind singers use in concerts-- that wrap around your head, not hand-held.) Maybe that would help people who are frustrated about being heard?

Sorry for all the questions at once, but I'm so thrilled to find a place where people are so responsive and supportive. My other question is about the port and simulation. He's getting the port put in tomorrow, then scheduling the simulation (again, no one explained any of this to him and they had scheduled him to start chemo today!). Anyway, I also wanted to know if this is going to push things back again. Can he start chemo and radiation right after the simulation, or is that usually different days?

Thank you so much! They said they wouldn't start chemo today because they want both chemo and radiation to start on the same day... but I think that was just another excuse to put him off. Everything I'm reading seems to say it doesn't have to start on exactly the same day! Just within the same time frame. I believe he is stage 3a at this point (T2 N2 M0), and I don't know the type of chemo yet. He has three tumors (two on his lung and one on his trachea (?) -- paralyzing his voice box). I haven't spoken to his doctors directly, so everything I know is second and third-hand. He is a fighter with a great attitude, but today's latest fiasco just really upset him. He was ready to start treatment and is so frustrated that it's up in the air again for when he'll start and where he'll be treated. I have another question, if you ladies don't mind answering... If you're going to feel sick from chemo and/or radiation, how quickly does that happen and how long does it take to subside, usually? I'm asking mostly because I'm pregnant with his first grandchild and due in 3 weeks... if he starts chemo next week, I'm so afraid that he's going to feel lousy when she's born. I'm hoping this can be a bright spot for him and that he'll feel up to seeing her.

Donna and Judy, thank you very much. This is such a great forum.

Thank you so much, Heather, and a big hug to you. Wishing you lots of strength and healing. When you did radiation, was it 5 days in a row each week?

Hi all, My father-in-law was recently diagnosed with NSCLC. He first sought treatment in early December because he had lost his voice, but the doctors stalled and stalled on testing and have dragged this out until just last week to finally tell him that he does have lung cancer. Now the problem is that they're stalling treatment, too. He had an appointment today to start chemotherapy, and when he showed up, the doctor claimed there had been a mistake and that he'd have to go elsewhere for treatment. (He is a veteran and the VA hospital here is ridiculous.) We got two different stories and I'm trying to figure out which one is true. First, the doctor told my in-laws that he couldn't start chemo yet because they have to do chemo and radiation on the same day-- and that they need to do radiation for 5 days in a row, so it always has to start on a Monday because no one is there to do treatments on the weekend. Then my husband went to see the doctor and he changed his story entirely, saying that he could start radiation on any day and it would be OK to not have treatments for 2 days over the weekend and just go back on Monday to finish. Because of the way they've just stalled and pushed my FIL aside for months now, I have no idea what to believe. Is it true that chemo and radiation need to happen on the same day to be effective? Is it true that he should have treatments 5 days in a row, or does it matter if he does, say, 3 days, then off for 2 days, then 2 more days? We don't know whether to push them to start him tomorrow, or to wait for Monday. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.