Contained after treatment?? What does that mean?

Hi NanceHope being a parent myself I can understand why your parents are trying to protect you. There is a lot of different terminology that is used when discussing cancer, but I would think that contained means it has not spread anywhere else and was/is only in the lung. Whether there is cancer there or not would have been discussed at the appointment. It may be that your dad is coping by knowing that the cancer is contained, and so does not wish to discuss it further. We all have coping mechanisms and this may well be your dads way of using this terminology to cope, and protect you at the same time. 

It’s a difficult one, but I would accept that your parents are seeing this as a positive result, they are celebrating this as a good news, and we all need good news on our journey. 

Thanks for the response.   I am also a parent  of three myself and understand the protection....but I am more concerned that they haven't understood as when I asked what was meant specifically  my mum doesn't know, in fact my mum said he didn't ask any questions at all and she assumed it meant the treatment worked.  Dad says he thinks the treatment didn't work....this is my worry!

I know that contained means that it has not spread but given the goal was to destroy then the goal hasn't been met.  That said, it could be worse and I understand that but the plan forward is not clear. 

Thankfully, we have convinced him to list the questions he has so that he can contact his consultant armed with the things he didn't ask.