My dad has Emphysema & lung cancer which has spread to both lungs and lymph nodes
FormerMember
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Hi, My name is Tanya, I'm 36 and have just gone through receiving the diagnosis of my daddy's illness. 10 years ago he was diagnosed with Emphysema and was advised to quit smoking. He didn't. Last November he was having breathing problems & went to his GP who sent him to the hospital to have a chest x-ray, they found a shadow on the right lung that they diagnosed as pleurisy and prescribed antibiotics. This frightened him enough to quit smoking and he stopped New Years Day, he kept saying to me that he was more breathless since stopping smoking & that he was very tired. He also has trouble with his back & neck and was sent for a scan on his back on the 26th February, as the scan started it blew air into his face which took his breath away and he suffered a panic attack (he's never had one of those before), they sent him to A&E to regulate his breathing, they said that they weren't happy with his breathing so told him to visit his GP, he did and was given medication to help clear his airways and they took a blood test. On Friday 29th Feb the GP rang to say his blood tests had come back high possibly indicating a blood clot and he was advised to go to A&E asap, he went that evening, on the Saturday they had ruled out a blood clot and had booked a scan for Monday. On Tuesday we received the news that the shadow in November must have been the start of the lung cancer, and that now it had spread to both lungs and the Lymph Nodes. I am gutted...so many what if's running through my brain - thank god for organisations like this as he was sent home on Wednesday with no information whatsoever, no pamphlets, no booklets, just a 'this is what you've got, goodbye'. Ive managed to get so much information from the internet because I'm lucky enough to have access to it. My dad's going into Papworth for a biopsy on Tuesday, but we won't get the results until 19th March. He's already decided that he doesn't want Chemo or radiotherapy, and I respect his decision - he wants quality rather than quantity. I feel that since he's got his diagnoses he's given up, he's not doing anything now, yet before he got the call to go into hospital from his GP he was playing golf that very morning. He's now saying that he'll never play golf again. I know from talking to the wonderful cancer nurses on here that without treatment we only have a few months and I'm trying to look at that as a positive - at least we have warning so that we can build memories. I lost my 1st husband suddenly 6 years ago and there's a difference. It's my dad's birthday tomorrow...he'll be 66 and I know this is the last birthday that we'll all probably share with him. My poor mum & sister are equally as devasted as I am, as are our husbands now and our children. We've decided today that we're going to hire a minibus and take my mum & dad, my family & my sisters family (14 of us in total) to all their old 'Haunts' in London - a real trip down memory lane. Every day matters now and although life keeps throwing blow after blow (My 2nd husband's dad has been urinating blood and they've found a growth in his bladder, his nan is ill & frail, my mum is bleeding from her bottom and is having a colonoscopy on Monday& my niece is suicidal and has already had an attempt at her life even though she's only 16) - life still goes on and although I have major moments of weakness, you really have to draw strength from the beautiful things that life gives you too, like my 10 year old scoring a cracking goal for his football team this morning and everyone cheering, and my 13 year old telling me how much he loves me - priceless
I'm feeling anxious this morning. I had a better nights sleep last night in fact its the first night I've slept right through since my dad's diagnoses, but I've woken this morning with a knot in my tummy. My friend from the states rang me last night, she moved over there in January of 2007 - she has just found out that she has cysts in her throat and has to undergo the big 'C' tests this week at hospital. I can't believe it - I think someone 'up there' must think I'm standing in the middle of the road shouting 'Bring it on'. It's my mum's Colonoscopy this afternoon and I'm so worried. My tears are falling at a rapid rate this morning. At least we should get the diagnoses of my mum today as they can see straight away if there's anything sinister. My niece was sent home from hospital last night, they said she's not 'mad enough' to get any help from the mental health team, so she has to visit her GP today - she saw her GP last week & the GP just said that she'd send the Health visitor round as she feels the depression because of her little boy and that she should mix with other teenage mum's! its not that at all - so frustrating.
GOOD NEWS....My mum doesn't have cancer! - her bowel is attatched to her bladder so thats what's been causing the bleeding from her bottom and the many water infections. She has to keep on a high fibre diet and watch out for air bubbles in her urine (not quite sure how that works?) - if she finds any then she has to have an operation to seperate them, but otherwise no treatment needed, just another colonoscopy in 5 years time. I'm so elated.......Yippee! xx
FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! I have been thinking about you today and I am so pleased about your lovely Mom's news. Well blooming done eh?! Such a good feeling to have some good news
Hi Wend, Thank you darling xx I've been thinking of you too - how did your counselling go? I'm so pleased about my mum, I was feeling 'cancered out' today and was so worried, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw it was my dad calling my mobile to tell me the results and I 'whooped' when he said 'good news Tan!' Monday 10th March is good news day!!
It was fabulous, if you can call lots of crying fabulous but it was another hurdle for me. It may sound daft but I have a 40 minute drive into work and every morning I'd call Dad on my way into Wolves to see if he and Mom were OK and just have a natter. Because Counselling was via my employers it was consequently in Wolves and today was the first day I'd done that trip since losing Dad and the first time I wasn't able to call him. It was painful (please dont think I'm nuts!!!) but another one of them "firsts" over and done with. Dad would have been proud of me and would have said "good on ya my mate!" Counselling was very enlightening and wasnt just about losing Dad - another thread coming on!
Down side to my day is that my lovely daughter, who has given me 3 gorgeous grand children, has been a bit under par of late. She was desperately upset when her Grandad was diagnosed and had a few problems which are hopefully out of the way, but she's had an abnormal smear what ever that means? We've all thought cancer but papered over it like you do. Please God dont let anything be up with my Steph - she's my only child and a precious one too.
Sorry to dim the mood but that's me today - up one minute, in a panic the next - A gemini thing but I''m still smiling! xx
Well done you!! the 'firsts' of everything are so hard, but you achieved it today - I don't think you're nuts at all, and I'm so pleased that you could talk & cry to your counsellor. I'm sorry to hear about Steph, I had 6 years of 'abnormal' smears, its something to do with the kesasis? levels - its not always bad so please do try not to worry (says the queen of worriers earlier today!) now they've found it they'll keep an eye on her.
Glad your still smiling, we can smile together this evening! xx
Phew! I'm just going to phone her and tell her that. That will cheer her up. She's such a chip off the old block, the first sign of any worry and out comes the marigolds and jif bless her!!! If nothing else she'll have a spotless house come dawn!
Catch you later, just going to have an hour with my old man
My dad had his biopsy at Papworth yesterday. We have to go back next week for the results but they did say that they wouldn't be able to cure him. My cancer journey has started and I'm so glad that I have this website and my friends to help me through. Thank you to all xx
