My father-in-law was recently diagnosed with Pancoast tumor. Biopsy results of the tumor are nonsmall cell lung cancer, enlarged undifferentiated cells. His CT scan showed invasion of the first 3 ribs, vertebra and scapula. He is having horrible shoulder pain and weakness/tingling of his left arm and hand. He has also had a CT scan of the brain that shows a lesion. They have only biopsied the tumor. And the brain CT is the only other thing they have done. What can I expect now in order for them to be able to stage this and give us our options. I have noticed him being very hoarse the last couple of days and I don't know if this is significant for anything, or just a cold coming on. He also looks very jaundiced to me, he is taking a lot of pain meds so I don't know if it because of that or if it is possible it has spread to his liver. His urine looks like dark tea to me. I am also worried about the reality of surgery. If they were to tell us that it is operable, how bad is the surgery. His lungs are in horrible shape form years of smoking and several lung infections in the last 5 years. He can not walk to his bedroom from the kitchen without being winded. I can't find anywhere that tells me what I can really expect. I have read several of the posts here and have been pleased that the prognosis may not be as grim as my previous research led me to believe. Any answers at all would be great. Thanks, Heather