Adrian

updated update. Our oncologist has suggested a clinical trial that would allow dad to begin full chemo+avastin one week post this wednesday's SRS. trial is called "passport"---but I have no substantive details as this is fresh off the email press.

Thank you all. Just to modify what my sister is saying---I think our updated understanding is that the chemo will have to wait 2 to 3 weeks post this Wednesday's radiation. We are very hopeful that our primary onc. will aggree with the neuro onc's assessment that Avastin is still in play despite the brain mets. Who else watched Koppel's "living with cancer" special last night? My parent's TIVO'd it---I think it will be very beneficial for them to watch and won't be "too scary" for them as my mom feared. On a another side note: This news marks the first little victory (i.e. remotely good news) we've had since our new lives began last month. It felt very good to have our first win after a long string of bad knocks. And was worthy of tempered celebration with a very nice Cabernet. Our toast "Here's to more good days to come, and to taking back precious territory."

thank you all. ned, you nailed it: just as we were coming to terms with the initial "problem" we get knocked down such that we have to look up just to see the initial problem. but im feeling ok today. we have a family that is united and full of love. a dad who is the sweetest and most morally good person ive ever known---not to mention intelligent. (growing up, my sister and I used to often talk about how lucky we were to have our parents.) We've taken some shots, and more might be down the road. As for now, my feeling is that if brain mets had to happen, I'm ok that it occurred before he started treatment. That way, we dont have to deal with that setback (for the first time) after he started treatment and have to directly face the fact that cancer is moving forward despite his treatment. as of now, we're just giving this disease a head start before we start taking back some major territory. We havent even started fighting yet.

just want to echo my sister's thanks to you all... Les, a minor correction, chemo starts on Friday--you really are ready to get this party going! luv, A anyways, here's to hoping tomorrow's PET/CT results come back boring.

again, thanks all. dad had PET/CT today. we'll get the results tomorrow. here's to hoping that only the lungs are at issue---as his first CT initially suggested. It also looks like we are going to get a second opinion (from a reputable onc. who was recommended by two independent sources). I think we have good reason to as we've gotten some mixed info. For instance, dad's ct and xray shows nodulation on both lungs, but the onc. said based on the ct (and corresponding report from ct guy who he described as phenomenal) he believes the cancer is only in the right lung (which, I suppose, is why he suggested IIIB staging). This seems second opinion worthy in and of itself. Of course, this could be moot after tomorrows PET/CT results. on a side note, I've noticed that since this started I'm hyper aware of this balancing act where I'm trying to be strong, but trying to avoid that strength from morphing into a subtle form of denial. so million dollar question: what is it to be authentically strong in the face of this?

thanks all for your replies, we'll get my dad to join soon, you guys will like him as he's an incredible person! Ned, far from being cavalier, you'll see that our approach since this began (all of two weeks ago) is to be as light about it as possible---so we certainly don't mind your lung versus lung matchup (as long as my team is winning ). Our family has always been one that loves to laugh and joke---and it would be a terrible blow if we were to lose that now. My dad has already emphasized to us that the last thing he wants his life to become is a never ending Yom Kipur service (for all you non-Jews that's a pretty somber affair). As for the standard treatment---anybody have an opinion on the value of a second one (opinion) before jumping into his first round of chemo? I know we would certainly want to wait until after the PET/CT as that will give us a clearer picture as to whether this is actually primary lung c. or not.

Thank you all for your warm welcome and encouragement. I'm Leslie's younger brother. Independently of my sister, I came across this site when we were just in the possibility stage and knew it was going to be an important place for us if the diagnosis came back as it did. tentatively the treatment plan is Taxol/Carboplaxin and Avastin---three week cycle, I think. The main tumor is at T3 and 4 to 4.5 cm with many smaller nodules. Cells are "moderately differentiated." The tentative plan is to have him start on Friday. However, he also has a brain MRI and a PET/CT coming before that (first ct came up clean at other sites but the pattern and extent of lung nodulation has suggested metastasis all along---nevertheless, doctor believes its a lung primary). This whole thing has such an air of unreality to it. I keep on wanting to believe he's been misdiagnosed and has sarcoids (his first cousin has it in her lungs + he has lots of symptoms)...doctor dismissed it saying that sarcoids has a "classic pattern." I know, I know...its time to get real and start moving forward.