Two Strokes and now Potentially Lung Cancer

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

Right now my whole family and I are on an emotional roller coaster that just seems to have no end in sight. Let me give a few details here so everyone can know where the story begins......

My father is 66 years old and has finally reached a place in life where he had started enjoying the finner things that life with my Mother (they have been married over 40 years) has to offer after working an entire lifetime. He was a career Navy Man (30 years served) who retired 15 years ago and went to work for a small company and helped the company grow into the large Business that it is today. Basically, he can write his own ticket when it comes to when he works and when he doesn't.......

The sad part starts now. This past Jan. 08 he suffered two back to back strokes that landed him in the Hospital. However, there were no real serious damage to nerves or other vital functions. After this brush with Death I think he finally had awoke and realized that some of the poor habits he had (smoking (50 years worth), a poor diet, etc.) needed to be stopped. He started eating well and quit smoking. I was even making the comment that I hadn't seen him look this good in years. The constant smokers hack he had I didn't notice anymore and it appeared that maybe the strokes were a blessing since they made him wake up and we would all have him around a lot longer.

Now fast forward to the last few weeks. He has lost 17 pounds since Jan. and all of his food tastes bitter (he is 6 foot 3 and before the stroke weighed 215 pounds and is now down below 200). He is also having a hard time using the rest room which we all just assumed were side affects of the Stroke and the fact that his diet and smoking habits had changed, dramatically. Then he coughed up a little blood from what I understand so he went and had some tests run that revealed there is a spot on one of his lungs. This was last Friday (Aug. 1st). The radiologist wants him to have this tested since he thinks it is Lung Cancer. He is scheduled to meet with a Lung Specialist this Thursday.

We are all praying that they have caught this early because this spot was not on any x rays this past Jan. and the Hospital ran every test known to man because of the strokes........

Right now all we know is he is having a lot of tests...... Hoping and praying that it is early and that first, it isn't cancer, but if it is, that it is early enough for good, solid treatment options.

I love and respect my Father more than words can express and I am not ready to loose him so I pray that with modern medical technology we can have him here at least a little while longer.....

thanks for reading....it has been very helpful for me emotionally to be able to write my thoughts down.......

Tera · Senior User Joined: 31 Dec 2007 Posts: 198

jmikec, I wish for the best for your dad. I know how you must feel right now, I felt that same shock at my mom;s diagnosis.

Keep in touch and let us know how dad is. This is a great support forum.

maryaz

jmikec; With a little variation that could be the family of so many of us.

Don't get thinking too far ahead right now. Maybe it will all be fine. Can go either way. Enjoy what moments are there today. Stressing is not a good thing. Easier said than done tho.

I sort of wonder what made them think it was cancer. Keep us posted and if you have questions or need support, this is a good place to be.

I will be thinking of you and praying for your family.
_________________
Mary

Husband is 67 year old Male
NSCLC - Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Chemo and Radiation Treatments together
Allergic reactions to Taxol and Taxotere.
The Story: http://www.cancerforums.net/about9079.html

brainman

jmikec, I am very sorry about your father's health problems. Until they do a biopsy, there really is no way to know with 100% certainty if it is cancer and, if it is, what type of cancer. I can imagine the roller coaster ride this is putting your family through.

You and your father are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

dano

Hi jmikec;
Sorry for the news of your father, hope he gets well soon.
If he has cancer, that could be the cause of the strokes. Being that the cancer can cause blood clots which can cause strokes, if this is the case then it is a good thing to find out. I'm wondering if the doc could get him started on blood thinners to help prevent possible additional strokes the could do more damage. I had a DVT (blood clot) in my leg that lead them to find I had them in my lungs. After taking blood thinners my lungs got better and I stopped coughing, I still take the medicine because I am prone to clots, and they will return so long as I have cancer.
I hope you get answers soon, God Bless and take care.
Dan
_________________
54 year old male in Hawaii
Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV
with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08
Currently on chemo treatments every 3 weeks
with Alimta
and taking Lovenox for blood clots
Now back to work full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

Thanks everyone for taking the time to read this and reply. I really appreciate that.

Concerning the Strokes, those were caused because his blood pressure was 210 over 180. It is now at 120 over 80 which is pretty good (they just did blood work yesterday). He is on Blood pressure medicine now and has changed his diet so dramatically that he has cut is sodium intake to almost nothing.

As for answering one of the other questions about why do they think it is cancer is because of what the Radiologist saw on the X Ray. Now, he can't confirm that just by looking at the X Ray which is why he wants my Pops to go to Georgetown Medical Cancer Treatment center and have a Biopsy done. He was told that they are on the leading edge of Cancer Research and do some sort of Biopsy that is less invasive than others....

Anyways, thanks again for just taking the time to read my post....Again it is just helpful for me to put my thoughts in writing.

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

Just wanted to give everyone an update. My father met with the Lung Specialist yesterday and it appears that when he had his Strokes this past Jan. that the Doctors had noticed a "Strange" Spot but didn't tell him or his primary care Physician. So because no one said anything whatever it is it has been growing for nearly seven months. The doctor yesterday said look, after he pulled up the records from Jan. tat they even made a note about it. So, the point is, this doctor yesterday didn't want to waste anymore time, he personally made the phone call to an Oncologist to get a Biopsy performed today. He has now sent my Father to a John Hopkins Oncologist to have the Biopsy performed.

Cross your fingers, pray for the best. Whatever it is once completely diagnosed treatment options can be discussed.......

Again, thank you all for taking the time to read this post.

I will be out of town for the next two weeks (pre-planned trip, wouldn't be going if it wasn't. But my whole family lives within 25 miles of my father so he will have plenty of support:)) so if I don't provide an update immediately to everyone I will upon my return.

dano

Hello jmikec;
Hope things are going better for you and your father. I take it he will have a bronchioscopy, I did and it worked better than the a needle Biopsy.
God Bless
Dan
_________________
54 year old male in Hawaii
Diagnosed Nov. 9,2007 with NSCLC IV
with Mets to the lymphs and brain
Had full brain radiation treatment in Jan 08
Currently on chemo treatments every 3 weeks
with Alimta
and taking Lovenox for blood clots
Now back to work full time
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=9993

koikkeril · Super Moderator Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Posts: 334

Hi Jimikec
I am sorry to hear about your father and hoping along side you with all the others that it is something other than cancer...
I can imagine the terrible strain that is put on you all as you wait for the results....You are in my thoughts and prayers...God Bless..Koik
_________________
Husband diagnosed with stage 1V NSCLC Febuary 2007.....Lost his battle August 27th 2008 but lives on in my heart.

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

Well, it seems when it rains it pours........

Just when we were all hopeful that the cancer was contained to the Lungs alone it appears now that they have found a Tumor now in my pops Pancreas. The doctor did say they that they don't have a connection with the Lungs, whatever that means.......

He is going this afternoon to meet with the Oncologist so I guess we will find out more information from him.

I just don't know how much more bad news my father or my family can take. I am heading home tomorrow from vacation and will post more when I find out more....

LizNDale

jmikec...

I am so sorry about your pops! What a blow..

I'm not sure, but from what you wrote it sounds like they do not believe that the pancreatic tumor is a metastasis of the lung cancer.

You'll know more later, please let us know.

Praying as hard as I can for you, your family and your pops.

Liz
_________________
My Mother - Stage IV NSCLC - Adenocarcinoma
Mets to Adrenal Glands and Brain
Diagnosed Thursday June 12th 2008
Died Sunday September 7th 2008

Her Story:
http://cancerforums.net/about9639.html
Her Statement of Faith Memorial:
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=10528

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

More news.

I returned from vacation and immediately headed over to my parents house to see my dad. All I could think about was doom and gloom since I hadn't spoken directly with him (received my information second hand through my mother). Its bad, but not as bad as I had thought.

Here is the update:

He goes in today to meet with the Nurse Practitioner to discuss his Chemo treatments and what to expect. The Oncologist is putting on heavy Chemo (3 days a week to start out with) and told him that there is a better than 50% chance that the Cancer (small cell) will respond well to this treatment (which I am taking as good news). He also doesn't believe that the Lung Cancer has spread to the Lymph Nodes yet (crossing our fingers that this true). If that is true then hopefully the treatment can help contain the cancer and start shrinking the tumor. He is more concerned about hitting the Lung Cancer first since that is the most important one since it is aggressive. The Tumor in the Pancreas if it is cancer (which they will know this week sometime) hopefully will respond to the treatment as well (if it is the same kind of cancer). The Oncologist also stated that there are new treatments that help a patient go through Chemo which reduces its side effects (so hopefully that will help him out). Its amazing to think of the advances just the last 10 years has provided in treating cancer patients.

We are all crossing our fingers and praying that the treatments work and that it is time for some good news to start coming in.......

Thanks.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1405

Jmikec,

What a whirlwind of medical activity for your Dad. I'm sorry that he did get the SCLC diagnosis. Am I reading you correctly that it is confined to one spot in one lung? This would be great news, as that means it's limited SCLC, which is potentially curable. I hope they've also done CT scans, brain MRI and bone scans or firmly believe it hasn't metastasized. SCLC likes to run. There are many wonderful medications out there for dealing with the side effects of chemo. Is he on a three day in a row doublet every three weeks?

Good luck with the pancreas and let's hope it's not anything to write home about.

Unfortunately, his age is just about the time when many people are struck with lung cancer ---- often much younger as we all know well here. Let's just keep everything crossed that there are going to be great times ahead for your Mom and Dad and they'll be enjoying retirement soon. He sure deserves it after years of service to our country. God bless them.

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

jmikec · Regular Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 11

PBJ,

I believe that if I heard my dad correctly it appears to the Oncologist that it is only in one lung and hasn't spread to the Lymph Nodes yet. If this is true god knows that would be wonderful news. They also can't make a connection between the Pancreas and the Lung yet so I don't know whether that is good news or bad news.....

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1405

Jmikec,

Truthfully, I've never heard of LC going to the pancreas, but I guess anything is possible. I wonder if some of the same chemo agents work on both. Many of them overlap for different cancers, but let's think that the pancreas is just an irritation or something for the time being. Best not to overload. Typically SCLC likes to run to the bones, brain, and liver.

I pray he'll do great with this chemo and zap that bugger fast! He's pretty lucky to catch it at limited stage, so we're all hoping that his luck holds for the other issue.

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

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