My dad has terminal cancer and I don’t know how to cope

Hi, 

We found out today that my lovely dad has cancer. Incurable lung cancer at the top of his lung, which has spread to part of his liver, bone and a couple lymph nodes. The doctors have said that they can treat it but it isn't curable, they have expressed that chemo is an option and he has said he will have the chemo. 
I'm struggling to cope with the prospect of losing him, he is 57 and I am 24 and my sister is 26. He is our whole world. 
I'm seeking some comfort in knowing it hasn't spread to his other lung, but knowing it has spread elsewhere is devastating me. 
We don't know how much time he has, has anybody experienced similar diagnosis and know roughly how long they survived. 
He is very fit and healthy, he hasn't had any typical symptoms of cancer. No weight loss, appetite is fine, no weakness or cough or persistent infections/illnesses. 
His X-Ray was clear however his CT scan showed otherwise. 
I'm struggling to cope with this diagnosis and don't know if I can actually carry on if and when something happens to him. 
Sorry this post is all over the place, my heads a mess.

Parents
  • Hi there

    Sorry to hear this.  
    My dad also has lung cancer (Mesothelioma) which is a rare cancer caused my exposure to asbestos.  I'm only 33 so feel like I had many years of seeing my dad around my children, but today they said roughly there's a 1-1.5yr life expectancy.  Not sure how to deal with this information either.  He will start immunotherapy in the next few weeks.  Sorry no advice or help just to say your not alone in this journey and it's good to just get out and be able to speak to people in similar situations 

     

    x

  • Hi lovely,

    I'm sorry for not replying sooner. The last 24 hours have been up and down in my mood. 
    I'm sorry to hear about your dads diagnosis, I spoke to the lung specialist today and I expressed my concerns in regards to life expectancy due to reading on the internet people saying weeks/months. She reassured me that while it is incurable it is treatable and that the less than 6 months prognosis applies mostly to people who aren't receiving treatment. She also said that the prognosis' they give to us are not set in stone, so please don't worry too much to your 1-1.5year expectancy as she insisted people beat these all the time especially with the new technology and treatments available. 
     

    Please feel free to drop me a message any time, it's comforting (while still devastating for myself and yourself) that our family are not alone in this terrible time with similar diagnoses. 
     

    Take care, Hannah x

Reply
  • Hi lovely,

    I'm sorry for not replying sooner. The last 24 hours have been up and down in my mood. 
    I'm sorry to hear about your dads diagnosis, I spoke to the lung specialist today and I expressed my concerns in regards to life expectancy due to reading on the internet people saying weeks/months. She reassured me that while it is incurable it is treatable and that the less than 6 months prognosis applies mostly to people who aren't receiving treatment. She also said that the prognosis' they give to us are not set in stone, so please don't worry too much to your 1-1.5year expectancy as she insisted people beat these all the time especially with the new technology and treatments available. 
     

    Please feel free to drop me a message any time, it's comforting (while still devastating for myself and yourself) that our family are not alone in this terrible time with similar diagnoses. 
     

    Take care, Hannah x

Children
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