New member - my Dad’s just been diagnosed

Hi Dan,

I'm not saying anything like what i've said about my dad below will or won't happen to your dad, but i thought i would share my story with you.

my dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer over two years ago, but he lost his short but brave battle with it in march 2019 aged just 63.

I'm not sure what type he had now. all I can remember my mum telling me is that my dad had a rare type of small cell lung cancer.

I was heartbroken when my mum told me that my nanna (my dad's late mum) had come for my dad (that's how I like to remember my dad passing away as it helps me to cope without both my nanna and daddy not being here anymore) the night before.

thankfully my fiance was with me when my mum told me as I know that wouldn't have coped on my own when my mum told me.

I'm a nanna's and daddy's girl and I always will be even though I'm in my late 30s now.

my dad was given palliative chemo to help with his pain and to keep him comfortable as well.

my youngest sister, with my help and our middle sister and borther's help arranged a wonderful send off for our dad as we did everything that we knew that our dad wanted.

we had a song bythe rock group Queen playing when we went into the creamatourium and Dreadlock Holiday by 10cc playing when everyone was going up to place a red silk rose on my dad's coffin.

Hi Dan,

Just wanted to come along and say hi. I have a tumour in my left lung with spread to my left adrenal gland stage 4 non small cell, diagnosed in 2018.

Sounds as though dad has got through the endless tests and waiting for results and soon he will have his treatment plan. Sounds a strange thing to say but once your dad has his treatment plan things will calm down and you will all feel more in control and will get some kind of order to your life.  As you say, yourself, mum & brothers have been hit for six and so has dad but he is probably in a different place at the moment to the rest of you. He has heard and taken on board exactly what has been said to him and at the moment he will be busy organising things in his head, he’s got things to work through, after all he’s the head of the family and he needs to make sure everything is in place & sorted for you all, then he can sort himself out, probably got a bit of anger to work through as well, things will come together when he starts his treatment.

I didn’t have chemotherapy but there are plenty in the group who have or who are having it and some helping family members through treatment who I’m sure will be ready to help with your questions when you have them. Non small cell or small cell cancer we are all fighting the same battle, come here whenever you need to, for a chat or a moan, there’s always someone around.

Hi, im very new to this but this seems very similar to my dad (60) 

He also is not one to show pain or emotion so when he was having chest pains and felt he needed to go to a&e it was safe to say i was worried. He underwent all sorts of scans and then a biopsy which confirmed aggressive small cell lung cancer. We are told that surgery to remove the tumor is far too high risk for reasons i don’t understand as of yet. So they have decided chemotherapy and radiotherapy simultaneously is the best way forward for now. 

I am extremely nervous to see him ill. I’ve seen him as the strongest person in my life and i am scared to see him poorly and vulnerable. i am scared how this will effect him mentally. i am scared of it all.

I would greatly appreciate if anyone could tell me what to expect in the near future as doctors would like to get this moving rather quickly. 

thank you to anyone who read this

My Mum is 77 and was still working up until June when we got this news.  She is looking really well considering and is full of hope and that's what counts.  I have read everything there is to read on this - I needed to be prepared so I could help her.  She was totally shocked by this as she looks really well and healthy on the outside.  She had a stroke and this is what brought the Cancer to light.  She is starting to swell round the abdomen (liver has 3 tumours) and has back pain, it's in her spine.  The lung is the primary (2 masses) and has spread to lymph at breast bone, liver, a lymph gland in her right shoulder and now her spine.  She has small cell -  It has taken over her body so fast and she is so small.

Now for us its fight the battle ahead and head on. She looks as though she has been ok with the Chemo, intravenous on Wednesday and Orally Thursday and Friday.

I am coping well enough, some would say I act a bit un-emotional but inside I could scream.  She can't see this, she needs to know I am strong.  I do feel so helpless at not being able to do anything.  I did get her what we now call the Chemo Repair Kit - I put together things like a thermometer, Moisturiser for dry skin, Bonjela for sore lips, gums and tongue, soft PJ's, socks and a cuddle blanket, just so she feels cared for and loved. 

My parents have has a rough ride these last few months. My Dad also got Terminal Lung Cancer, his is slow growing, we don't know what kind as they said he wouldn't cope with a biopsy as he only has 39% percent lung capacity.  My Mum then had her stroke and that was battle.  Due to the symptoms she was having ( low sodium) they checked her liver and that's when they noticed the cancer.  My Dad decided to have a Massive heart attack and got 3 stents in. 

Mum Just had her scan after 2 rounds of Chemo and tomorrow we find out if it has been successful in slow the fast spread, so everything crossed.

My moto for now is one day at a time, and spend as much time as I can with them both.  They are breaking my heart xxx

Please feel free to ask any questions - I will try and give an honest answer xx

Hi Dan,

So sorry to hear of your Dad’s diagnosis. My Dad was diagnosed with SCLC with spread to liver and spine at the end of June. It’s like a sledge hammer to the chest when you hear the news.

My Dad had his second cycle of chemotherapy and immunotherapy 13 days ago. He has his third cycle next Tuesday. His current treatment plan is 4 cycles of chemo and immunotherapy every 3 weeks, then to stay on immunotherapy for up to two years, providing the cancer stays stable. 

My Dad went to the doctor because he has coughed up some blood and his usual cough (he has mild COPD) had become more frequent. Here we are 2 months later.

I have heard numerous times, even from my Dad’s Oncologist that SCLC has a good response to chemotherapy and there is also a member on here now that was diagnosed with SCLC 10 years ago. The treatment has knocked my Dad for six but he seems to perk up the week before his next cycle, only to go through it again, it’s not nice to see but everyone is different with the treatment. 

You really have to all try and stay positive, I have good and bad days, you just have to take it one day at a time. 

Wishing you all the very best.

Lucie x 

Early July Diagnosis - My Mum, 77, has SCLC Mets on lymph, liver and spine and was given 6 weeks to live without Chemo - 6plus Months with Chemo - today after scan last week and two rounds of Chemo done, it has reduced the cancer by a 3rd - She is such a superstar. - Now on to 3rd Round of Chemo tomorrow

There is a hope xx

My father was diagnosed 2 years ago and have to say the form of chemo he is on has prolonged his life he has seen my mums 70 th last year he gave me away in august last year at my wedding and he saw his great grandson born and this year he celebrated his 80th birthday so he has had a lot to focus on 

the news must of got him hard and he is one not to show emotions but believe me they do have days where they will be quiet want to be alone and can be a bit short but that is understandable as they are living with the news of this horrible condition and digesting the news can take time and play on their minds 

My dad and mum are part of the Macmillan hospice group and before Covid they went and chatted with others on their own and during covid it’s been a virtual group meeting and have to say they couldn’t of got through a lot without this group and they have Macmillan nurse that see the regular so my advice would be encouraged parents to join local groups and talk also don’t hide the conversation away from your dad talk to be open as going behind their backs may make them feel even more dreadful chemo especially now days are fantastic to help make memories with loved ones like my dad has and continues to also please talk yourself as you be no good holding it inside