Hi Lauraj87 and welcome to the Cancer Chat community although I'm really sorry to hear your dad has been diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer.

Finding out someone you love has cancer can be a huge shock and bring about so many thoughts and feelings, but I'm glad you've reached out to us as we have so many members here who will know what you're going through, so you are not alone, and I'm sure it won't be long until some of them stop by to share their advice on how to cope whilst this is going on.

If you feel it may help to talk things through with one of our cancer nurses, they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They are really easy to talk to and will do all they can to support you and answer any questions you have about your dad's diagnosis at this time.

We're thinking of you Laura and will have our fingers crossed you and your dad won't have to wait too much longer for his biopsy results to come through.

Best wishes to you both,

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hiya Lauraj87.  So sorry that you and your family are going though this.  I have walked in your shoes.  I nursed my Mum when she had cancer.  You will somehow find the strength to get through this.  None of us know how we will cope in a traumatic situation until it happens to us, and very often, we find that we are a lot stronger than we believed ourselves to be.  It is perfectly natural to wonder HOW your Dad got lung cancer, but in all honesty, cancer is such an unpredictable disease that it is a question that is impossible to answer.  Sometimes people like your Dad, who have never smoked or worked amongst dangerous substances, DO get lung cancer.   For example, my Mum had cervical cancer, and I used to think that you only got cervical cancer if you had had lots of sexual partners.  In the case of my Mum, she had only been with my Dad, and I now realise that cervical cancer, just like lung cancer (or ANY cancer for that matter), can strike anyone.  You are also worried that your Dad's Treatment Plan won't work, and again, this is a perfectly natural fear.  You love your Dad and you are terrified of losing him.  However, I knew someone with advanced cancer who wasn't expected to live for more than 5 years......with treatment, he ended up living for 22 years .   I could tell you of many other cases of people that I have known who lived for many years after they were told that they did not have a long life expectancy, but I am sure you get the picture.  The fact that your Dad has such a loving and supportive family will help him tremendously, not just in the physical sense, but psychologically as well.  Just be there for him and keep telling him how much you love him.   I wish you the best of luck, xx 

We are going today for my dad’s biopsy results and hopefully a plan of treatment. I totally feel your anxiety about the waiting time from diagnosis to starting treatment, I feel the same. I Just want my dad to start treatment now but I also want it to be the right treatment so understand that getting the biopsy results beforehand is important. I hope your mum gets get results soon too and can start her treatment. 

Thx Laura, hope his Treatment goes well.  How long did you wait for results was it 2nd opinion ones ?

His biopsy results came back within a week to confirm what the scan showed. We’re waiting now for further biopsies that will guide the oncologist on treatment. I suspect we will hear from the oncologist towards the end of next week or the week after.

There’s so many different treatment options that they select it based on the biopsy results to target the cancer cells direct rather than healthy cells. 

The waiting to start treatment is making me anxious that things can be worsening each day he isn’t getting the treatment 

Hi Lauaj87 - How are you? I was just reading your post and this sounds exactly like my dad - he has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer metastatis to the spine. He is only 62! We have had his biopsy results back to confirm what the scans showed but are also waiting for them to now investigate further and advise on treatment options - we know it’s inoperable but the anxious wait is just awful! I also just want him to start treatment! But can understand why they need to investigate for the best treatment option! My partner & I are due to get married in September this year and I just keep worrying about the what ifs! Even though I want to remain positive and hopeful! I just want my dad to be well and this to not even be happening to us! Sending lots of love to you x 

I’m sorry you are going through the same, it’s a nightmare. I felt like everything happened rapidly getting the diagnosis but once the care was transferred over to oncology, it’s like nothing is urgent anymore. Even once the biopsies have come back it’s been weeks to get to see the oncologist, have pre treatment assessments and get a date for treatment. Thankfully he is starting next week. 
Hoping your dad gets his biopsy results very soon and to the oncologist for his treatment plan. 
The anxiety and stress of it all on us is awful but I can’t imagine how our dads must feel :(

We totally feel the same! I feel like this happened so fast over the space of a week and it was a whirlwind! Now it’s all slowed down and the waiting is the worst! Glad your dad finally has a date for treatment! Wishing him all the best throughout his treatment! Keeping you all in my thoughts! Xx