Dad just passed away with lung cancer.

He did manage to have the tumor removed and went through radio and chemo. IN august last year he went into remission, by october his cancer was back, no surgery was done and went through chemo again and almost killed him, but he recovered and went through radio, and he improved a lot. The oncologist said he needed further chemo as the radio alone would not suffice. he was scheptical, but ended up having another session of chemo. That is what killed him. the sesssions are so aggresive they kill everything, his immune system went downhill and then he got pneumonia etc, and he started declining since christmas eve, until his body could not hold it any longer, last few days was on palleative care until he passed hopefully peacefully early morning., lung cancer is very aggresive.... enjoy your time while you have him around,.

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad, thoughts are with you and your family x 

Welcome to the forum Kittie. We are so sorry for your loss. Your poor dad went through a lot. Our sincere condolences to you and your family.

Best wishes,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Thank you, is been only 3 weeks but feels like for ever. what hurts the most is that was the chemo that killed him. the treatment can be worse than the diseases. he was not his usual self... is so painful to see them struggle with such a horrible disease

Thank u sue, it wasn't too bad I guess, dad starts chemo next week and after 2-3 cycles they will check how things are and make a decision on radiotherapy then! Doctors have said that with people in the same situation as dad 2 thirds won't be around in 12 months time but we are all really trying to stay positive that dad will be in the 1 third that does see past 12 months! Still struggling to get my head around the fact that it's as bad as it is!!! X 

Hi there, sorry to hear about your dad. Did you find out what stage it is? I'm glad you have a date for chemo to start. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a good outcome. It's worth the fight. 

Hi Yvonne

I'm no expert and I don't have aall the details but from what you say about it getting into the chest wall it sounds like it would be stage 3

www.cancer.org/.../non-small-cell-lung-cancer-staging

That's kind of consistant with the 1 in 3 number 

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../lung-cancer-survival-statistics

Bear in mind that the 5 year survival figure at stage 3 is 6% - now that's not a big number I grant you but that is still a significant number of people more than 1 in 20 that manage at least 5 years!

A lot will depend on how he does under treatment - his age and fitness is relevant too - taking a cheeky guess at your age by your user name and working back I'm guessing he's still in his 60s and possibly relatively early 60's?  That will help too.

Here's a tip - are you seeing the Doctors with him? Write down all the questions you have between meetings and prompt him to ask them at the time - This used to me my job with my wife. I promise you you will forget things if you don't

Best of luck for you and him - let us know how you are getting on. There are plenty of people on here in his situation and your's and we're all stronger together 

Thank u sue xx hi graham thanks for the links I'll take a look at them, your guess work is not far off, dad will be 59 next month! The doc still didn't actually give a stage just said its locally advanced, iv look online at symptoms etc and would say the same as u , probably at stage 3! Dad is very positive tho that's he's going to fight it! The doctor also said that he has things in his favour such as age and apart from the obvious he's quite healthy , he has said that some patients at this point R in wheelchairs due to breathlessness but dad is still carrying on as normal, so there is definitely a lot to be positive about! X 

Hi Maria , yes dad is due to see the chemo nurse on Tuesday then start chemo on the 10th March , which seems so far away!! The doctor has said that the cancer is classed as locally advanced but still didn't stage it as he said he doesn't really work in stages, but he did say that 2 thirds of people at this point don't see past 12 months!! Just got to hope the chemo does good and dad is in the 1 third that do see past 12 months!!! He's got to have 3 cycles of chemo then doctor is going to look at how things are going and then decide whether to give radiotherapy as well or just the chemo! All still trying to stay as positive as possible tho! Xx