Dad under investigation for lung cancer after having incurable prostate cancer for 6 years

How worried you must be about your Dad, and a new diagnosis of lung cancer.  I had surgery for cancer in my top right lobe, and then chemo.  Scans 18 months later showed that two lymph nodes in the centre of my chest (mediastinal nodes) were now affected, and were inoperable.  I was lucky though that more chemo and radio-therapy apparently "melted" the new tumours.  I was discharged from further surveillance last year since there was no evidence of recurrence in 5 years.  Waiting for a treatment plan is the scariest time, and I send good wishes to your Dad. 

Hi PamelaAnne

Thank you for responding and sorry we're together on this forum although glad to hear your positive outcome - long may it continue.  

I feel numb at the moment whilst I'm with him and mum - almost in automatic mode but when I get home I'm crumbling  

At first I was optimistic as the cancer was picked up following the scan for another nodule and was small but now with this chest node, my optimism has completely gone by the way side.  Then of cour there is additional tests that were worrying about and dad's age of course

Hope everything continues to go well for you ️

Star68, I can't begin to imagine your worry.  I sometimes think it's worse for the family of the person who has cancer.  But it sounds as if you're managing wonderfully to be strong for your mum and dad, which must be such a comfort to them both.  Sending more strongs and good wishes for the next tests.  This is such a random disease. <3 

Hi Star68,

I'm so sorry you're going through this it's a horrible time, my granddad was initially told -8th December they'd seen something on his CT, incidental finding CT was for something else. He started radiotherapy and completed it 01.05. He's 78. I don't know what your dad's COPD is like, my granddad's is only mild he didn't even know he had it until he had all the pre-surgical tests, opted for radiotherapy anyway. He's been absolutely fine, a few days he was breathless and he's been tired but in terms of COPD I don't think he would have been different without it. Don't worry, they don't just write off treatment because of COPD or age, they do an absolute mountain of tests to see where someone's physical health is regardless of age or current diagnoses. Don't give up hope, please keep us updated with how your dad gets on <3

Hi Kate

Thank you for responding.  Can I ask what tests your grandad had please?  This is an incidental from being but on pet Scan lymph nodes in his chest look to be enlarged and so even more tests are need.  We'll be 2 months in at the weekend and I'm scared it's all taking so long

Hi, 

Of course! Start to finish off the top of my head he's had PET scan x2, bronchoscopy (to check lymph nodes), MRI brain, countless CT scans, lung function, ECG, echocardiogram (heart scan), 6 minute walk test, sit to stand test, exercise test, and the biopsy they ended up doing was done by a robot as it was in quite a difficult place, they didn't feel CT guided biopsy would get to it. I know it feels like an absolute lifetime and I was constantly worried with the time that was going by feeling like no one was doing anything, but after chatting with his consultant there was so much going on behind the scenes we just didn't see. From initial scan in December to starting treatment in May they believe (I say as he had "rubbish" covering the actual tumour, so they are estimating I guess) there was no growth, measured at 1.3 x 1 cm when they could accurately measure.

Hang in there, and if you're worried about progress get in touch with the consultant secretary, or if you're unsure of who it is - get in touch with PALS - they're not just for complaints they can help get some updates x

Thank you so much for all this - it gives me some perspective.  I've sent you a friend request if that's ok as I don't want to keep writing pages in here !  

Of course :) x