My father's fight

[coltrane914]

Hi everyone,

My dad was diagnosed with NSCLC on June 23rd. He had a spinal compression to remove mestasis to the spine and has had a difficult time walking ever since....not to mention being so weak from chemo. He has been hospitalized with pnemonia and now dehydration and he just seems so weak and sick to me. He seems like he is just wasting away.

Are there any people out there who have gone through this and came out back on their feet? I'm sure there are. I need to hear some stories of hitting rock bottom and slowly gaining back strength and spirit. I would just like to read some of these stories to him.

Any words of wisdom would help.

Thanks.

[Ry]

Yes, there are many stories of people hitting bottom and coming back to feel well again. Make sure he is eating and getting plenty of fluids. Pneumonia takes a lot out of you all by itself, then with cancer-- it just takes time.

[coltrane914]

Ry,

Thanks for the reply.

It's just so hard to hear him so sick, see him so thin and pale.

I just hope to hear some survivor stories out there of people who truly beat the odds.

[Don Wood]

My wife, who had Stage IV NSCLC, had a rough first year, including bouts of staph infection and bilateral pneumonia. After that, she lived a reasonably good life for 3 more years. There were things she could not do, but many things she could. She could bathe and dress herself, go out to dinner, attend events. It was well worth it. And she helped so many people on the way. Don

[KatieB]

Don's right. It is worth it and there have been many come out NED (no evidence of disease) after treatment and many here who are survivors!

Keep in mind that treatment itself is so toxic and hard on the body. Add in possible infections, dehydration, lowered blood counts, potassium, iron, calcium levels, and any pain from the cancer or metastatic areas- compiled with medications that the body isn't used to, narcotic/pain medications, anti-nausea medications, medicenes to treat low blood counts, anti-anxiety, appetite enhancement meds., etc....it's alot on the body. Not only does the patient have to battle cancer, he/she is battling the side effects of treatment too.

Keep informed on the symptoms and keep trying meds- don't stop trying them- until you find some that really work. Good nutrition and plenty of fluids help alot too- when you are nurished your body is stronger to tolerate the treatments and it will also help some with fatigue.

Remember that it can be done. I am sure there will be survivors here to answer your post and offer some hope. I just wanted to offer some encouragment and prayers for you and your dad.

[coltrane914]

Thanks for all these replies!

Was hospice mentioned to people who made it?

[KatieB]

Just my 2 cents from our experience, hospice is mentioned ALOT with a later stage or extensive stage disease almost from the moment of diagnosis. For us, it seemed as though they were catagorizing my dad with the survival statistics and made the assumption that my dad wasn't going to make it and that hospice was just inevitable.

Being here had taught me that those with an extensive diagnosis DO survive and DO beat this cancer.

My dad didn't survive his cancer, but hospice was never called and never needed.

You just don't know.

If a patient or their family decides hospice is needed, then it can be a wonderful and helpful thing during this part of the cancer journey,

If a patient doesn't need hospice, he/she shouldn't be discouraged into thinking that it is inevitable.

Also, I've read stories of survivors who had hospice in and made a 360 turn around and went back on regular treatment, however I don't know anyone personally who did this.

Hang in there.