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
My heads in a spin..... Papworth have just rang (we we're expecting their call but expecting them to tell us a time & day next week to go in for the results), they said that the biopsy results have baffled the doctors and that they're not sure what he's got! This is a complete rollercoaster - They've said that he has 2 tumours in his lungs and that the lymph nodes inbetween his lungs are the size of golf balls which is what's causing his breathlessness but that he needs to go back in on Monday to have a camera put down his throat to do some more investigations. My dad asked them if they were telling him that he didn't have cancer afterall and he said well no I'm not saying that but none of us have ever seen anything like this before & we don't have a clue what you've got! I think its positive and I admit I'm very excited about it - maybe its a miracle???? my only worry is that now that news has lifted all our spirits, if they come back and say well actually you do have lung cancer then we'll all fall a lot harder. How hard this cancer results waiting game is!
Dad had his broncoscopy at Papworth yesterday, a doctor came to see us before his procedure & explained that it could be Fybrostic, an infection or cancer, we were hopeful after this news. After his procedure his consultant came to see us - he'd done the the procedure and told us that they would have the results this Thursday and that because of the Easter holidays we would be called in next Thursday to get the results! We asked to be informed of the results over the phone this Thursday instead. We explained how this waiting game was too much as we'd already received a diagnoses 2 weeks ago and to have the news that they were now unsure what he had after last weeks biopsy was all getting too much. He agreed to tell us over the phone so we should know this week. He also said that in his medical opinion, dad does have cancer and that unfortunately this can occasionally happen where biopsy's can give an inconclusive result. At least we should know for sure this Thursday night.
Thank you for your post, yes I will let you know when we know. It does seem pretty likely that it is cancer but its been tough being told that it is, then 10 days later that it possibly isn't, then to be told that it 'more than likely is' - I know that others are going through the same thing after reading the blogs on here, and that makes it a bit easier. I read your profile and I'm sorry about the loss of your dad - I hope you're feeling a bit stronger as each day passes. I feel very lucky to have had my dad for 36 years and that I have a warning of his passing. My boys were only 4 & 7 when their dad passed over and thats no age really. We're making memories now, I just hope that my dad doesn't suffer too much.
My friend in America has the all clear on her throat cysts - they're just cysts not cancer!! horraay!!
Lets hope that Steve's (my husband's) dad get's a good result with his MRI scan on the growth in his bladder today. Its only the MRI today so we don't know when he'll get the results but hopefully the wait won't be too long away.
I'm going with my mum today to her GP for her follow up appointment after her colonoscopy last week, unfortunately she had a foreign DR and couldn't understand him too well so I'm hoping that her GP can put her mind at rest and explain exactly what she's got. I shall take her out to lunch & shopping afterwards to cheer her up.
Thanks for your words about Dad. Yes, its been a long sad journey so far, but I'm getting there. Great news about your friend - wow, miracles do happen!! I've got everything crossed for the news today and will pop back later to see. Elisa x
My father-in-law had his MRI scan today, they now have to wait for the consultant to ring with the results although they don't know when this will be and didn't ask. I wish I could have gone with them, I would have asked for them. My in laws aren't forthcoming with questions, bless them.
My mum's appointment went well and had the desired effect by putting her mind at rest. She has Diverticular Disease which is pockets that have formed on the bowel. She has been reassured that the bowel being attached to the bladder may never be a problem to her as it may never penetrate the bladder but if it does then she'll have to have an operation. She'll know if it does by passing air bubbles or faeces in her urine. Afterwards we went for lunch & on a shopping trip, we had a good giggle together as we always do when we go out. I'm lucky to have such a wonderful mum. She started to talk about how hard life will be without my dad, it broke my heart. They've been together 50 years & been married 47 of those. My sister & I will be there for her, but I know they'll be times when the grief will consume her & they'll be nothing that we can say or do to take her pain away.
Thank you to all who listen to me - lots of love & hugs to you all xx
My mom too has diverticular disease (how much have we got in common!!!) she was first diagnosed in 1980 and is still going strong! The only thing I can advise is to be careful of food that can get trapped in these diverticular pouches ie Mom was advised not to eat things with little seeds that won't digest ie raspberries, tomotoes and also foods like rice and minced beef. It is a painful disease but one that can be worked around. I know my Mom loves hot cross buns but has to pick the currants out bless her!
Anyway Tan, willl have to get off as it was my first full day back at work since losing my lovely Daddy. Nice in a way to touch a bit of normality again (been off work since 4th Jan) but i am so tired even though I sit at a desk all day!
Take care my lovely and love to all, Mum, Dad, you and your lovely family xxx
I'm so pleased that you went back to work yesterday, that will help I'm sure - it'll help keep your mind off things (and probably help you to get irritated by shallow people who believe that the fact that their mascara has dried up that morning is devastating!!!!) lol
Thanks for the info on your mum's advice, the doctor didn't say that to mum but I shall pass it on to her. They just advised a high fibre diet and prescribed Fybrogel for her to have daily to help bulk her diet (my mum loves doughnuts - she can eat 2 or 3 in one go!)
Take care hun and good luck with your 1st week back at work xx
Well we had the call yesterday & dad does have cancer. Its aggressive & has now spread to the Adrenal glands (they're the glands on top of the kidneys) - when he had his MRI scan on the 4th of March all his other organs were clear so its spreading quickly now & he has pain in-between his shoulder blades, down the side of his chest & above his pubic bone. He's got an appointment with the oncologist on Tuesday afternoon and thats when we should find out how long dad's got & if they can help him with any of his pain, although he doesn't want Radiotherapy. He still wants us all to go abroad and we were looking at the 20th of April, then we bought it forward to the 3rd of April, but now I think we should go next week as if we wait 2 weeks to go and then we'll be away for 2 weeks, a lot can happen in a month with cancer. Although I didn't expect it to be good news, it still doesn't make it any easier when you get the news. My sister was there when dad first started to say about the doctors call, but she couldn't handle it & said she didn't want to know, so she left. She does need to know, so my mum & dad are going to her house this morning to tell her with her husband. My eldest son has Cadets on a Thursday & always stays at my parents house on a Wednesday & Thursday night, my dad told him after he picked him up from Cadets. Jordan broke his heart when he phoned us, he's worried about my mum and said that from now on he'll be going to nana & pupa's a lot after school. My mum & dad will come over to us today after going to my sisters, we'll have a chat & some lunch, tomorrow we're going to the cinema, and Sunday we're all out to lunch. God bless all sufferers & their familys xx
