When will the treatment commence?

[Lushmush88]

My dad had his diagnosis last week (stage 4 non small lung cancer with bone mets.) 

He’s going in to meet his oncologist on Thursday to discuss the treatment plan. How long should it take before the treatment starts? X

[Elt79]

Hi - that’s difficult to answer, has your dad had a biopsy yet. When I was diagnosed in October 2018 I had to wait several weeks for biopsy result before treatment plan. Wishing him all the best x

[Lushmush88 in reply to Elt79]

He’s already had biopsy’s and results for those, they were waiting on last pathology report to confirm treatment plan so deferred oncologist for a week until this Thursday. Xx

[Elt79 in reply to Lushmush88]

In that case hopefully treatment can start very soon!🤞🤞x

[Lushmush88 in reply to Elt79]

I really hope so babes, he’s getting a bit weak. How are you doing anyway? Youve been smashing it for 4 years right? 💪🏽X

[Elt79 in reply to Lushmush88]

Against all the odds! Stage IV NSCLC with brain and adrenal mets - surely had a very poor prognosis - however am pleased to say finished treatment nearly two years ago, apart from some regrowth to brain mets so had more radiation to brain. Staying strong and positive as possible 🤞🤞Wishing your dad all the best x

[Lushmush88 in reply to Elt79]

Amazing. You are made of strong stuff 💪🏽❤️ And thank you x

[Texas22]

My husband was diagnosed on 11th January, had first meeting with the oncologist on 31st January and started chemotherapy that same day.

[Lushmush88 in reply to Texas22]

Wouldn’t that be amazing!! How is your husband? Hope you’re both doing okay xx

[Lushmush88]

I hope that that is the case, knew of cancer 3 weeks ago but final diagnosed last week but he’s taking morphine for the pain the cancer is causing in his leg and it’s making him nauseous and constipated so his appetite has been awful last couple of weeks and lost some weight xx

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear Lushmush88,

Treatment options can vary, and timescales will depend on what is being recommended for your father. Treatment plans are discussed at a MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meeting where your dads care will be discussed and reviewed in great detail depending on the specific type of cancer, location and spread of disease (staging) and also your dads general state of of health including any underlying health problems will all be taken into consideration.

The waiting times for treatment starting vary from region to region the recommendations are any cancer treatment should start.

• no more than 2 months (62 days) wait between the date the hospital receives an urgent referral for suspected cancer and the start of treatment.

• no more than 31 days wait between the meeting at which you and your doctor agree the treatment plan and the start of treatment.

If there is anything else you would like to discuss you can email ask the nurse at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline number on 0800 358 7200 Monday to Thursday 0900-1700 and Friday 0900-1600

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support

[Lushmush88 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you that’s really helpful, just hope it’s not getting to far before he can have treatment xx

[JanetteR57]

Natural to feel anxious on his behalf but lung cancer treatments can vary dependent on so many factors as well as the general health/any other conditions the patient has and how busy departments are. The pandemic, backlog and summer holidays/pressures are impacting many hospitals so it can also vary around the country. Unfortunately learning patience was something I had to do - as the many tests/processes all take far longer than we'd like to think.... unsure if these explanations reassure you or not... but it was over 2 months before my treatment from turning up in A&E and the large mass showing up on my chest x-ray 11 years ago and treatment options all changed considerably since then. roycastle.org/about-lung-ca...

[Lushmush88 in reply to JanetteR57]

Thank you hun, I get cha. Got all my anxious fingers and toes crossed before his gets too weak xx