3boys4amy

My dad is hospitalized right now for severe dehydration and congestion in his lung. (I have posted over on the family member board if you want to know the complete story, not sure how to link it). Evidently they found blood in his pajamas yesterday and ran some tests. The urine came back positive for blood. The abdominal scan hasn't came back yet (as far as I know, we live in separate states). His girlfriend told me that he had been complaining of pain during urination for a few months now (he never told me, nor did she). Does anyone make anything of this? He just had his third round of taxol/carboplatin a couple weeks ago, which we think is the cause for the sickness. Any ideas would be appreciated. Of course, our fear is that the cancer has spread.

Dad is still in the hospital on IV fluids. He still is very weak, but is able to eat a little. The doctors found blood in his pajamas today though and are concerned. It evidently came from his private parts. They are testing him now and we should know something before too long. Has anyone had experience with that? Any ideas what it could be? My fear is a met to the bladder or kidney. I will update more as I can. Thanks!

Dad had his third round of chemo recently and he isn't doing well. His girlfriend called and said that he hasn't eaten in three days, hasn't urinated even in two days. He is too weak to hold up his head. He can't even talk to me on the phone. This chemo is supposed to be only precautionary as the surgery was succesful. How can he be helped? He refuses to go to the hospital. His girlfriend said that if he isn't better by the morning, she will call an ambulance and see if they can talk him into going. To me, it sounds as if he is dehydrated. He had a stomach bug a week or so ago with vomiting and diarrhea. This round of chemo had been put off last month because his immune system "bottomed out" per his doctors. Any words of wisdom or advice? I want him to go to the hospital. How can I get through to him across the miles?

When I asked Dad to talk to his doctor about which chemo he was getting, the doctor wrote down for him Taxol and Carboplatin (sp?). What is the difference? I had mentioned just Taxol last time, but rememebered dad telling me that after I read here the word carboplatin. I was thinking that the carboplatin was the med for his nausea. Excuse my ignorance here. Since he lives so far away and the doctors don't return calls at the VA Hospital, I have to rely on him to tell me everything. He usually can't remember all the details and his girlfriend gets confused as well. I know you guys know what is going on! Thanks! He is taking something for the nausea, but he spelled it really fast, and I didn't get to take it down.

I posted an update in the NSCLC forum. I feel so good to be back here among you wonderful people. Hopefully one day, I can give back as much as has been given to me.

He was weak and not feeling well, but all so thankful to be celebrating this birthday. And so was I! Thanks be to God for helping make it this far and thanks to all you here for the support you have given me!

Dad had his surgery in October and did very well. The whole right lung was removed. He has now started on Taxol for 4 rounds. He had his first on January 6 and his second yesterday. If you remember, he is in WV and me in FL (Jacksonville, for all you NFL fans!). He lost all of his hair with the first round. Is that normal? This second dose really has him down. What can he do to help out with the nausea and weakness? What can we expect from here? Thanks so much!!

Well, there is good news and bad news. He is doing great after the surgery. He had to have the entire lung removed, as the tumor was large and in both lobes. He was already off the ventilator by the time he got to recovery and they were taking the oxygen mask off a few hours later. His color was very good and he was talking about 3 hours after the surgery. Now for the bad news. The doctor said he found places on his lymph nodes that looked just like the tumor in his lung. He took samples and had them sent off. We should know an answer for sure on Monday if it has spread. He wouldn't say positively or negatively whether it could be cancer, so I have hope that it isn't!!! God is good and He answered a thousand prayers for us. Please keep dad in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery and for good news on Monday.

I am heading out in the morning to go to WV. He has his preop on Monday and the pneumonectomy on Wednesday. What can I expect?? I am so nervous and scared. I will be staying until Friday and then coming back to Flordida to my kids. I am taking the baby and leaving the older two here with my husband.

I just posted this under the family section, but thought you would like to know too! It's NOT cancer!!! The lymph nodes are clear!!!! The doc wants to take out his right lung as soon as possible...... as early as the week after next! I am so thankful! My heart dropped when his girlfriend called me crying..... but I soon found out it was tears of joy! Thanks everyone for your encouragement!!! I will post again when I find out about the surgery!

It's NOT cancer!!! The lymph nodes are clear!!!! The doc wants to take out his right lung as soon as possible...... as early as the week after next! I am so thankful! My heart dropped when his girlfriend called me crying..... but I soon found out it was tears of joy! Thanks everyone for your encouragement!!! I will post again when I find out about the surgery!

Lisa, I sincerely appreciate this post. You have made me see that it is normal for all stages of the process. I am in the stage that I still haven't truly accepted this and haven't entered the real ANGER and GRIEVING stage yet. I am still at the point of trying to be strong for everyone else's sake. I know that it will come, and soon. Thank you so much for saying these things.

I see so many terms here that I am not familiar with and I would love to know what these things mean. Is there a good website out there that explains all these things in laymans terms? I know that my dad won't understand them, thus won't be able to communicate what the doctor says clearly, so I would like to be able to understand what he tells me and know how to say it here. Make any sense? Thanks!!

Hi Xena and welcome. Everyone is right. You will find lots of supprt here. I have found so much information and support that I can't even begin to express my gratitude. I am so sorry about your dad. I will keep him in my prayers. Please update when you can.

The doctor said that there was a spot on one of his lymph nodes that shouldn't be there. They think it might have spread. He goes in next Thursday for a biopsy to be sure. The surgeon said that if it hasn't spread that they will attempt to take his right lung completely, as the tumor is large and centrally located. I am so disouraged and scared. I don't think the reality of it all hit me until dad's girlfriend told me that they were going to do a biopsy of the lymph nodes. I had no idea that he even had a spot on them.... he just found out today. How likely is it to be something else? While I was visiting him in July, I went to a doctor visit with him and the pulmo thought she felt an inflamed lymph node then.... I wonder if it is the same one. What next? I am just so scared now and I feel so alone. My husband's grandfather died of LC many years ago, so I know he has somewhat been through this. But I almost feel I can't go to him with this. Almost like I would be showing some sort of weakness. I need to be strong for everyone. Do you know of any supprt groups that are face to face? Maybe a national group that has branches?

How do you handle it? The not knowing how they really are. I am in constant wonder how dad is really feeling, how he really looks, etc. His girlfriend says he is tired a lot and is napping more often (not on any meds for LC, just breathing treatments, antibiotics, and morphine for pain). She says he is in quite a bit of pain at times in the chest where his tumor is. He was supposed to see the surgeon yesterday about the possibility of removing the tumor, but the surgeon got called away on an emergency heart surgery. So they were supposed to go back today. That is a hard trip on my dad, as the hospital is over a 2 hour drive one way. I have been thinking back of me as a child, and watching my dad swim in the ocean and thinking of how strong he was and how far out he was. I have been thinking a lot of the piggy back rides he used to give me and my brother. I want him to be able to do that with my boys too. How do I help from so far away? I am about 800 miles from dad. I know I am rambling, but I just don't know where else to turn.

Thank you all so much for your responses. You are such a wonderful group of people and I am so glad I found you. :0) I found out that dad is only on 15 mg of morphine, which I think is a low dose. He is also taking breathing treatments 4 x's a day and is on an antibiotic and has been now for a couple months. I will update on Monday after he sees the surgeon. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers. He was supposed to have signed a HIPPA form for me to talk to the doctors, but I am not sure if he actually did it or not.

Sorry! It is NSCLC, stage IIB, I think. It is a larger tumor, but not outside of the lung. And his pain is in his chest, on the side where the tumor is. He also has difficulty breathing, and was sent home with a breathing machine for 4 breathing treatments a day.

Dad met with the oncologist on Monday. The onc thinks that dad should be OK to have surgery to remove the tumor. He meets with the surgeon next Monday the 20th to discuss it further. Also, the docs have put him on morphine..... when dad told me he was very hesitant to even mention it. It was almost like he was breaking some sort of news to me, if you can understand what I mean. Remember, that he lives in WV and me in FL. Is it normal to be put on morphine? Dad has been in quite a bit of pain for some time now. I worry about that. He is also more tired than normal and is just very fatugued. What can I expect now? I am still just so numb from this diagnosis.

Well, I think Dad was confused, which is why I would like to talk to the doctor myself. He said large small cell.... but said it is the kind that it operable (if he is a candidate) and spreads more slowly, which would be large cell, right? We are not sure if he would be a surgical candidate because of his black lung and angina. He got the tube out today from the collapse and is feeling better, but sounds horrible. He has to have PET scan and stress test before any decisions are made. Can anyone tell me what to expect now? I am still so numb. I don't really think I have given myself a chance to let this sink in.

Sorry I haven't been here in a while, but with just starting a new job and my own family, I haven't had time. Dad had his needle biopsy on Tuesday. His lung had a small collapse, but it grew larger and he had to have a tube inserted. He still has the tube as of today. It is expected to come out tomorrow. He is in a lot of pain, but is handling it OK. The results are in from the biopsy, but he didn't want to discuss it with the doctor without his girlfriend there. She had gone home to clean up and handle some things. So, they will get the results in the morning. I am so nervous about this. He is being so strong. Please continue to pray for us and we will pray for you.

Amy (love the name too....) First off, congrats and good luck on your interview. I am in the job interview process, so I know how stressful it can be. If she straight out asks you, then I would be honest, but tactful with her. Up play the family issues of your own, while not making her feel bad for adding to your stress. I have similar issues as you, well sort of. I have 3 children 5 & under. My oldest is feared to be either ADHD or bipolar. My youngest 2 are in physical and occupational therapy several times a week for developmental delays. My middle one takes speech and hearing therapy a few times a week also. My husband is in the Navy and is gone often. My mother is just plain crazy... she and my dad are divorced. THe only thing she was thinking of when I told her about his cancer was what was going to happen to her alimony when he died!@!!! I have a few choice names I would like to call her, but I won't. She faked a nervous breakdown while I was back home visiting last month (just a day after we found out about dad's cancer). She threatened suicide and I had to call 911...... all this because she was worried she would have no money if dad dies. Sorry to go off on a tangent... you can tell how mad she makes me. I wish you luck Amy. And I send you my prayers and hugs. If you ever need to talk, my ear is here.

He said he met with the doctor's assistant today, who told him that the cells they scraped from the tumor were dead cancer cells. He said it means nothing and that evidently they didn't go deep enough during the bronchoscopy. He now has to have a needle biopsy to get into the center of the tumor. Has anyone ever heard of this? Should we be encouraged, or does it really mean nothing. I am very confused!

He will find out the type of LC he has and discuss treatment options. He is going to ask for the doctor to call me during the appointment so that I can hear what she says. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, as I am sure you know it will be a stressful day. I will update tomorrow when I know more.

This is hilarious! I just sent it to my inlaws and my pastor! LOL!