StephanieJane Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hi all. Your stories are inspiring and have brought me great hope in this really frightening time. I just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. My dad, Rick, is 53. He went to his family doctor last Monday because he was feeling a little tired and short of breath. Doctor ordered a chest x-ray, whuch showed a large mass on his left lung. CAT Scan showed that it appears to have spread also to his liver and adrenal glands. Tomorrow we will re-visit the lung specialist and find out the results of his biopsy. It is a stressful and nerve-wracking time. Your prayers and any advice for us would be greatly appreciated. I will be sure to update once I know more. Thanks, -Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsC1210 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hello Stephanie and welcome I am glad you found this site. Once you have the test results and find out for certain what the mass is in Dad's lung be sure and let us know. It is hard not to worry especially in a case like this but try to remain positive. We are here for you and in the event that the tests do show the mass to be cancer, you will find so much information, answers to questions, support and HOPE here. Please keep us posted and know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Welcome- I am sorry you have a need to be here. The beginning is very hard. Once you get a treatment plan and find out the type of cancer let us know. Hang in there. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexan Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Stephanie, is really hard. I can see it in my kids. Just be strong & pray. He will be fine.Please let us know love bucky DX 2003 1B only surgery Relapse sept 06 chemo & radiation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieJane Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 thanks for all the encouragement. This is such a scary disease and I have done a lot of research and reading online, and all of it scares the crap out of me. I will be sure to update as to my dad's condition as soon as we know more, and I will keep all of you in my daily prayers. -stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Welcome, Stephanie! You have plenty of company here, with info and support. Keep us posted. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Welcome Stephanie!!!! The journey is a scary one. Many are ready to accompany you and your dad on it, however. You need to gather all the info you can, research all the options, and start making some decisions. Of course, all info must be in before you can decide. I am in Lancaster too. Please PM if you want. I'm not sure any info I have would be helpful, but I'd be glad to help you out any way I can. Where are you exactly? We may be neighbors. Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Welcome Stephanie: you an your dad have my prayers as you go through this stressful time. don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Stephanie, Sp sorry for your dads pronoisis. I hope and pray it is benign. If not there is so many treatments now of days compared to the past. Know the LC is not a death sentence as many people on here have been giving months and it is now years. Keep us informed of everything you find out. We are here for you and can answer any questions you may have. We have all walked in yor shoes, be it the victim or the caregiver. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolhg Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hello Stephanie and Welcome, You have come to the right place for support. My prayers are with you and your father. Carol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mary colleen Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Stephanie, (welcome from a fellow recent newcomer.) I understand what you and your family are going through. You will find this website extremely helpful in terms of both support and information. One thing you will notice as you read old and new posts is that even in cases that receive very negative and scary diagnoses/ stagings, it is still more than possible to survive and to thrive. I will be thinking of you and your Dad. In the meantime, be strong and be positive, and know that you are not alone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaze100 Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Welcome Stephanie, This is really scary time - just no way around that. As hard as it is for you, it's gotta be hard on your Dad. Did the docs give him any medicines to relieve anxiety and to help sleep? If not, a call to his family doc should take care of that. Just remember that this site is filled with survivors of all kinds, and nothing is certain. Prayers for your Dad and family, Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Stephanie,welcome to our support family.There are many here to help along the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyW Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I know how hard this is right now. Been there. After the office visit to get results, Let it all out. Get everything yoou are feeling out of your system.Let us know what is going on. IF you get bad news, thhis is not the end. THe begining of a new normal. This sidease can be beat. IF your Doctor gives you a this is how long, Do not believe him. Many here have beat that game several times over. THINK POSITIVE RIGHT NOW!!!!! sending prayers for strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j's girl Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 I went through this a year ago with my Mom. And a friend, whose Mom also had lung cancer, told me "Hang in there, it gets better". Of course I thought, Ya right! But it does. Once you get past the shock of it and get on with treatment, you'll adjust. I'm sorry that you're going through this right now. I wish none of us had this to deal with. Best of luck and keep us posted. Shauna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernrol Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Welcome Stephanie, It is very hard at first and not knowing what is to come next. When you get the results of all the tests, you can then start planning on how your dad is going to beat this. Regardless of the test results, I am a very strong advocate of getting a second opinion from a well know cancer treatment center. In my case they agreed completely with my doctors and I returned home for treatment. Just to get the reassurance that I was doing the right thing made it well worth getting the second opinion. Keep us posted. Stay positive, Ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonjo Posted November 15, 2006 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Stephanie, So sorry to read about your dad's diagnosis. The others have given you some great advice. Just remember that cancer can be beaten, you just have to believe that you can beat it. If your dad stays positive, and is up for the challenge he can beat this disease. I will keep you both in my prayers. Hang in there and stay strong! God Bless, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieJane Posted November 16, 2006 Author Share Posted November 16, 2006 hi again all...thanks so much for the encouragement and support. The biopsy results were positive for non small cell cancer, which means that is has spread from his left lung. The doctor said that he is not a candidate for surgery, and is reccommending chemotherapy and radiation. On Friday he will have a cat scan on his head and a bone scan, then next wednesday will be our first appointment with his oncologist. My dad had said after first learning of the cancer last week that if it was stage IV, he was not going to seek treatment. I have done a lot of reading about this disease over the past week, and my understanding is that his cancer is most likely stage IV due to the fact that it has spread. I think that his apprehension about chemo is based out of fear, and I understand that...if my dad is gravely ill and there is not a chance for a cure, I don't want him to spend the time that he has left being sick from treatments. On the other end of it, I am not prepared to lose my dad and I want him to do as much as he is able to fight this...but in the end I know that it is his decision to make and that his life, like all of ours, is in God's hands. It is just frightening. Thanks again for the well wishes and prayers. Any info on what it's like to undergo chemo or radiation would be really helpful. -s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharonjo Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Stephanie, I was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma (NSCLC) in December 2005. I had 6 rounds of chemotherapy and now am in remission! Tell dad there are many people diagnosed with stage 4 and many of them are survivors! Do not give up just because of the diagnosis. If dad is in good shape to withstand the treatment there is no reason why he cannot survive this too. He needs to be positive. Maybe you can let him read some of the survivors stories on this board. I am keeping you and your dad in my prayers. Good luck and stay strong! Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted November 16, 2006 Share Posted November 16, 2006 Hi Stephanie, I was diagnosed Stage IIIB and am now as near to remission as you can get. While I was going through chemo and radiation, I had many more good days than bad days. Now its nothing but good days. Whatever your father decides, I'm praying he sees many, many good days. Take care, Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Huguley Posted November 17, 2006 Share Posted November 17, 2006 You and you dad are in my thoughts and prayers... Read the stories of the survivors here and anywhere else you can... Like everyone else has said stage IV is not a death sentence... My husband was dx with stage IV nsclc 2 months ago by 2 different oncologist and now a third at UCLA in California is saying he may not even have cancer...how's that for HOPE!!! Keep talking and researching...read some of these stories to your dad... Good luck and sending healing energy your way... Love, Tracey Huguley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.