Hi Everyone,
I've been lurking for a bit, and it has been very comforting. You all seem like an amazing, brave, caring group. I'm writing now because I guess everything became very real to me today at my father's first visit with his oncologist. Here's my father's journey so far.
He began having headaches with some confusion in late October. Also some leg pain and knee numbness. After a couple of visits to family physician, sent for an MRI. Turns out to be lung cancer with many mets to the brain. Has surgery to remove largest tumor (size of a clementine orange) a week later. Started WBR 2 weeks later (finished on December 26). Lately he's been having extreme back pain controlled by high doses of vicodan. Today we met with the oncologist who said it is Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma poorly differentiated with mets to the brain, liver, lymph nodes, and bones (spine). He started him on oxycontin and told him no more driving. He has also lost 10 lbs in the past 30 days despite the fact that he's been eating like a horse due to decadron. His legs have wasted away to sticks. He will start chemo next week. I guess what I'd like to know is this...is this the worst possible diagnoses given all the mets and being poorly diffentiated? I know this disease moves fast. Does anyone have a similar experience? What can I expect? Is he almost out of time, depite his very positive attitude? Thank you so much reading this.
Wishing you and you loved ones a Happy, Healthy New Year.
