Hello, I'm new here. It's good to meet you all.
My dad has very recently been diagnosed with stage 4. We are all feeling shocked and devastated. My dad and I are very close. We don't know yet what type of cancer he has i.e. NSCLC or SCLC. He has radiotherapy soon to some areas it's spread to. He will then meets the oncologist soon after for the first time to discuss everything. He's also had a blood biopsy and we're waiting for the results. It was decided for him not to have a needle/tissue biopsy or operation as my family thought it was risky and due to his overall health so I'm not sure if we'll find out what type of cancer he has. He has had COPD for around 1 year although this is well controlled and thankfully doesn't have any breathing issues. He is becoming a bit elderly and has other health conditions. It was thought for him not to have any invasive treatment i.e. Chemo due to side effects. We'll wait to see the blood biopsy results if/what any treatment may be suggested and what may be the least invasive.
I'm feeling a range of emotions and also shocked on how my dad's diagnosis has been mishandled by the medical team. We were told several months ago that his nodule near lung was very small around 1cm and that he would have another scan in 6 months time. However the medical team DID NOT tell us that it was 'suspected cancer' several months ago! They have now said it was "too small to treat". My dad had another scan in March and it has now grown to 2cm where we were told it was cancerous. He then had a PETscan last week and it showed it has now spread. I feel so angry and upset that the medical team did not start radiotherapy 6 months ago?? I really don't understand why the size being small was an issue. I thought everyone knows that as soon as cancer is found treatment would need to start ASAP and within 31 days according to guidance /standards on NHS England that I've been reading. I wish they had told us and suggested a scan a month or two later instead of the long gap of 6 months! If cancer had been found then his radiotherapy and possible other treatment could have started last year 2024 and possibly stopped it from spreading or at least slowed it down. I feel disappointed, disgusted and appalled by this failing /neglect and I'll need to make a formal complaint about this. My dad has gone through so much already and doesn't deserve this. I know nobody does. It's caused so much anxiety.
I would be grateful to hear from anyone going through something similar or if they have any information that may be helpful please? I wish you all good luck and comfort during your difficult times 
Many thanks
Hi Katie
Many thanks for your message and suggestions/support. I was intending to reply sooner but it's been quite hectic at this end. I hope your grandads treatment is going well? Did he first have a needle biopsy to determine that his nodule was cancerous before treatment?
I made a complaint to PALS but we won't get a response for up to 60 days 
I've also looked into getting a second opinion and just waiting for some info. It's been such a stressful time. My complaint is mostly around that they knew it was suspected cancer but they did not give him another scan for 6 months to see if it wqs cancerous. They had done previous scans which were negative but they knew he had COPD. He was considered to have SABR radiotherapy direct to the lung but as the Petscan showed he had cancer AND that it has spread he can no longer have SABR! I just feel massive disappointment that the 6 month window was missed, he should have had a scan at 3 months. The oncologist agreed that if they caught it it could have been treated and cancer could have gone completely.
Now the cancer has spread to bone, he has has radiotherapy to bone and also bone strengthening drug but both have had bad side effects and he is in a lot of pain and can't walk properly. It's heartbreaking to see as his health is now worse as a result from this.
I'm trying to find a support group to meet face to face as I don't have too much support and obviously trying to put on a brave face for my dad and family x
....I should have added, we received his blood biopsy results. He was offered chemo and other targeted drugs but due to his overall health he/we feel it may not be in his best interest. So you would think they they would take that into consideration and offered a scan at 3 months knowing his options were limited and that SABR could have helped being the only real and possible cure. Every day I wake up in disbelief it's like a nightmare 
