| Author |
|
tocsinia
New User
Joined: 14 Sep 2008
Posts: 5
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject: so, is there any hope? |
 |
|
I sure want to believe so.
My father was diagnosed with a lung tumor is Feb, the size of a lemon, but inoperable as it was against the heart. (His first family Dr. had prescribed zyrtec for a cough. Dang if that didn't work.) I know little girls love their daddys, but this couldn't happen to a nicer man. (I hope /know most of you feel the same!) He had no risk factors. A course of radiation and chemo, and things looked well. Then he had an episode of double vision and voila, there are four brain mets, from the size of a fingernail to the size of a quarter. Wednesday he starts whole brain radiation. The Drs. feel they can "zap" what's there, but feel it's only a matter of six months to a year before something somewhere sends him home. He seems so healthy and we need him! I'm an only child and my sons need him even more than me! God has enough good men to last for awhile and I am just worn out crying. I can't stop! I'd just like to hear that odds aren't everything and that maybe there is some sort of alternative treatment.. I've been reading and this WBR seems awful. Is it always so terrible? (This is the part where I'm actually awaiting a lie...)
Thanks for listening. Love and hugs to all who are in this awful club!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
pbj11
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2007
Posts: 1386
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:38 am Post subject: Re: so, is there any hope? |
|
|
Hi tocsinia,
Welcome to our community and I hope you find the support, info, and comfort you'll need for this new journey in your life. I know how much you are hurting with this diagnosis. Does your Dad have SCLC?
Many have been through WBR and do okay. Sometimes things are bumpy for several weeks after until the swelling goes down and they can stop the steroids. I pray the side effects are minimal and go away fast. My best friend had WBR for SCLC at the same time as rads to the chest and she was back out going to breakfast with us within 3+ weeks afterward. She seemed to have more trouble from the esophageal burning than the WBR.
No lies needed! It is done all the time, so rest assured that he can get through this new wrinkle in this twisted journey.
I'm just sorry to hear that it has traveled and he has to undergo more treatment. Are his lungs still clear? Sounds like there is still some residual activity somewhere for it to turn up again in the brain. Don't be alarmed if they go to another line of chemo after the WBR. They usually need to systemically treat the cancer to do clean-up of any cells in the bloodstream, etc. that are still floating about.
As you've already found out, the big surprise about lung cancer is that up to 20% of the people who get it don't have any of the "risk factors" that you referenced. Unfortunately, the public is very unaware of this until it strikes and with over 162,000 lc losses per year, it obviously strikes a lot. As far as alternative treatment, he is already receiving the best proven treatment known. Always be very skeptical of any alternatives that promise a "miracle cure."
Sending thoughts and prayers for smooth sailing. We're here if you need to vent or need a shoulder to lean on.
Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.
Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
tocsinia
New User
Joined: 14 Sep 2008
Posts: 5
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 10:10 am Post subject: Re: so, is there any hope? |
|
|
Dad, I believe, had non small cell lung CA. At the time they found it, it was the size of a lemon and had not metatisized. He has a PET to check today. Tomorrow he starts WBR. I don't know what they are not telling me. Perhaps I've been doing too much research...Mom couldn't remember what he was supposed to be taking to decrease swelling. Is that a steroid? She showed me a prescription for dexamethasone?? It just seems to me that the treatment is worse than the disease....I hope that he can enjoy what is left of his life, be it six months or twenty years....
Thank you for taking time to respond! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
onecoyote
Experienced user
Joined: 15 Jul 2008
Posts: 67
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: so, is there any hope? |
|
|
hi tocsinia,
Sorry to hear about your dad and his initiation into cancerland. All the folks here are very compassionate and helpful, so come here often, it does help tremendously.
Dexamethasone is a good all around steroid, we used it for wild animals that came in sick to our wildlife clinic, works wonders.
I want to recommend a book to you, not to give you any false hope but to let you see what others have tried in alternative medicine. It is the Somers book called "Breakthrough". There might be a few options there to bring your Dad's quality of life up. Before you do anything from the book though, consult your Dad's doctor so there won't be any drug interactions. Even simple grapefruit juice can mess with some drugs out there so it is better to tell the docs first.
Best of luck and prayers sent,
Onecoyote
_________________
Husband Danny, age 65,
diagnosed June 6, 2008,
downstaged to 2A squamous cell NSCLC.
Pneumonectomy performed on Sept. 4, 2008.
"Women are like teabags. We don't know our true strength until we are in hot water!"
Eleanor Roosevelt |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Search 
Email Digests
Register to post
Profile 
Check private messages 
Log in
What is this ?
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here. All content and posts are copyright.
