Really unsure - dad's cancer has spread but he's acting like there's nothing wrong. Could his prognosis be wrong or is this the calm before the storm?

Not sure where to start but my dad has lung cancer he has refused treatment when he was first diagnosed as he is 77 now and said what will be will be he has COPD so operation could prove more difficult at the time he was diagnosed fast forward to last few weeks 

since 10th Jan my dad has had a very bad pain in back ( around kidney area ) was treated with anti-biotic from doctor 

doctor had been called out a lot of times since Jan to now and dad was put on morphine slow release tablets and liquid morphine 

he was taken into hospital on Wednesday and we managed to get a CT scan which had showed the cancer has spread to his spine and small cells in liver hospital staff were amazing and explained to him he only maybe had months left to live he was discharged from hospital on the Thursday to come home where am staying with him 

fast forward to the weekend he is acting like there is nothing wrong with him eating again talking and acting how he was before Jan is this normal ? Could the prognosis of time be wrong am really confused and wondering g if this is like the calm before the storm his medication has not been changed dose wise 

  • Hi Dogmom07, thanks for getting in touch

    I’m really sorry to hear about your dad’s situation. This must be an incredibly difficult and uncertain time for you and your family.

    It’s positive that your dad’s pain is currently well controlled and that he can eat again. Not being directly involved in his care, we can’t say why he seems better at the moment or what this might mean for his prognosis.

    Doctors can only ever give a rough estimate of prognosis based on scan results and their experience of caring for people in similar situations. Unfortunately, no one can predict with certainty how things will be for any person.

    I can appreciate how confusing it must feel to see your dad improving when you’re expecting a decline. It’s completely understandable to want clearer answers. For now, taking each day as it comes and making the most of the times when he feels well may help.

    I wondered if your dad has a specialist nurse or clinical team you could speak with. They may be able to offer more clarity into his current condition and what to expect.

    I really hope you’re able to get more answers soon. If you would like to talk things through with one of our nurses, we’re here for you. You can call our helpline on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

    Take care,

    Jemma