Confused

My Dad was diagnosed with extensive stage small cell lung cancer 12 months ago, it was later found to have metastasized to his brain. He's had chemo, and radiation to brain and chest. On reading his most recent brain scan the doctor told my parents all they could see was scar tissue from the radiation so does this mean the radiation has worked on the brain mets? His most recent chest and abdomen scan has been described as stable but what this meant wasn't explained to my parents. My Dad has previously been told by his doctor that it's just about how much time they can get for him now and he won't be able to be cured. My parents live in Ireland so I'm not able to be there for all his appointments to ask questions and they don't ask them when they are there so I'm just really confused about where he is up to now. 

  • Hello Cheets and I am so sorry that you are in this situation.  I was many miles (well 300) away when my father was ill and dying - I was driving up and back at weekends and the whole thing was very stressful.  Just an idea - would your parents mind if you sent them a list of questions which you feel need an answer and would they put them to the doctor(s).    Let us hope that they are not hiding anything from you!  You said in a previous post that your dad was sleeping a lot (this was last September).  Have you seen him recently?  I can understand how worrying it is to be far away and unsure of what the situation really is.  Annie

  • Hi there, we are in exactly the same situation as your Dad.  After chemotherapy and radiotherapy we had a final scan months later, scar tissue on lung and no further growth that could be seen, so stable disease mode.  The reality is that the cancer hasn't gone but it is not growing anymore so that is stable.  He will have regular follow-up appointments with his oncologist and scans will be taken during this time.  So he will still be under the care of the hospital but no more chemo or radiotherapy will be given.  If it starts growing again then they will look at other methods of treatment.  I hope that this helps you understand a little better.  Kind regards, Carol