My Dad has been diagnosed with Lung Cancer, he is 75 and as all of you probably know you think thats it, or dad and I did until i watched the DVD that the nurse gave us from the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, it was like a breath of fresh air, after all the doom and gloom from the Doctors it was great to have something more positive. As for my Dad they wont operate, but will give him some Chemo I live with him and look after him. He has no pain does have a cough and does get breathless he has been warned from the Doctors that he will probably only live a year with Chemo but hes choosing to be more positive, surely thats the right thing to do isnt it?
Many thanks for reading my post.
lots of love
Francesxx
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frankiedarv
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Your Dads positive attitude will help him face the future.There will be ups and downs along the way ,good days and bad days .As you say you will be looking after him,that is the most important thing.Welcome to the forum and I hope your Dads chemo goes well.
Hi Frances, it's surreal and exhausting and terrible to get that diagnosis but it is possible to adapt to a new normal. And yes being positive is the best way if you can. Make sure you tap into all the support available. The lung cancer nurse specialist at the hospital should be able to let you know what's available at different stages. Get help with any side effects of yreatments...if they come. Enjoy good days, plan things you want to do on good days. Get through bad days. Get breaks too. Our local hospice offered Indian head massage and reflexology and we could both book sessions. It was a tremendous relief. If you drive, and mobility is a problem now for your Dad, get a blue badge. We didn't know about it...till rather late. All the best for the hard road ahead, but there are lots of lovely people who know what it's like. Kx
Thanks everyone for the support, it really helps. I have to say im fast developing a dislike for my dads cancer doctor since on the last visit it just seems he had pretty much wiped his hands of everything, I got the distinct impression he thought it was all a waste of time, I was half expecting him to say his other business was a funeral directors, the cancer nurses we are dealing with however are totally different friendly, very positive. We are both off today to have our flu injections along with anything else they want to hurl at us you know bubonic plague etc (sorry i need the sense of humour at the moment), normally i have to wait 3 weeks until i can see someone at our surgery fortunately i mentioned the magic word chemo and that done the trick before i became daughter from hell and dont tell me i have to wait. By the way any tips tricks for helping him with the chemo when it starts the doctors gone through the risk of infection and made it sound like it was bound to happen, ive ordered a themometer dad told me to check that it wasnt a vets one that goes up a horses bum (see he has great sense of humour too) and ive ordered some st johns ambulance anti bacterial hand stuff, can any one else think of anything that i should get. Any help/advice gratefully received as since my dad puts up with me he deserves the best
Once he is on chemo ensure he drinks plenty of water 1.5/2 litres per day. I wasn't a great water drinker but i learnt to be it helps greatly. Also listen to his body and sleep whenever he feels like it rest up when tired don't do too much when he feels fine. My fatigue could come on within minutes. The nurses you speak of have a much better attitude than most of the Doctors I have met they are like Angels from heaven
Stay positive I am on a rest from treatment at the moment seeing Doctors again end of December.
It sounds like you and your dad are a great team and this is a difficult time. Thank you for sharing the positive experience of our DVD. It is really helpful for us to hear that is working the way it was intended.
Good luck with the chemotherapy and if you need any further information or support please do call our helpline or visit the website. Freephone 0333 323 7200 option 2 or roycastle.org
Why do these Doctors write people off so quickly? My Lung specialist wrote me off and passed me over for palliative care as there was nothing to be done. The Oncologist was slightly better as he, at least, gave me 6 months. That was two years ago in January. Chemo was stopped in October 2014 due to damaged kidneys, but I'm still here - tumour is stable and just an axillary node recently showed signs of enlargement - treated with 10 radiation treatments, but won't know results until January.
The one thing I really hate is never getting to see the Oncologist I was registered with at every appointment. I always get the feeling that the replacements don't fully read up on my history and have differing ideas on how to deal with me.. e.g. no continuity.
Thank you topgun for leaving a comment. Glad to see you are still here fighting, yes i think im not keen on Oncologists but we are learning to ignore them and just do our own thing, and listen to the nurses. Now im in the process of cleaning the house since Dad starts Chemo on Friday and i want to make sure there is as little chance of infection as possible.
I hope you and your dad had a good Christmas and happy New Year to you.
I was wondering how the chemo went.
I am newly in the same position as you as my dad of 90 has a recent diagnosis of lung cancer and I have moved him to live with us. There is a review taking place at the new hospital as to whether chemo should be considered as the ward doctor thought it should be an option. The prior hospital lung consultant consultant chose palliative care and no chemo.
The main fear is that the chemo will do more harm than good but as dad has had 2 bouts of hypercalemia the prognosis is very poor anyway without it.
How has your dad coped with it and how are you both doing/
Hi Jane, lovely to hear from you thank you yes we had a good Christmas quiet (which it always is but good) Chemo went fine we spent the first few days waiting for all the horrible stuff to happen and...... it didnt no sickness, no loss of appetite just tired, however the last few days he has been having like little bumps on his legs which sometimes will weep they are looking better now we will raise it with the nurse I think its chemo side effect. Off tommorrow for a blood test and all being well the next lot of Chemo on Tuesday. Sorry to hear about your Dad, how does he feel about it all. Everyone is different with Chemo some people react really badly some not at all. My dad has been lucky his reaction is minor and up until he was told he had lung cancer the only problems he had was out of breath when walking up stairs and a persistant cough. I wish you all the best, let me know how it goes.
By the way make sure you take care of yourself as well, very easy to fret and worry about everyone else and end up making yourself ill.
Hi frances, I am so glad to hear that the chemo has gone well for your dad and I really hope that it turns things around for him. I know how much hope you will have invested in it. It sounds as though he is going to be able to tolerate it well and that gives him a really good chance of a good, longer life. That is really good positive news.
My dad told the consultant that he would like to have the chance of treatment. My dad trusts me to help him make the right decisions medically but on this one I am very torn. Like your dad, his only symptoms had been a faster breathing rate with a clear chest xray in June 2015. Pneumonia in November resulted in a CT scan and an 8 cm tumour which they now think was missed on the June xray. Since diagnosis as he has deteriorated with more breathlessness, coughing and two episodes of pneumonia.
I totally get what you say about making time, this has been all-consuming and has turned the daughter/parent relationship on its head. My dad asked me to get the "Which" guide to new electric razors tonight and it breaks my heart as I don't think he will get to be buying a new one but it shows his optimism.
I hope that things continue to go well for your dad, please keep in touch, its good to know someone in the same position.
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