Hi LD

They are just gathering all the info they need to decide on best course of action. My partner had all of the tests you mention including bronchoscopy with biopsy. Personally, I would't read anything into it. Obviously the oncologist will explain it all but I believe its fairly standard practice.

I still have bad days when the fear, stress and panic take over so I do relate to your feelings, but trust me, it does get better when he gets started on treatment. Your Dad needs you to be calm and strong if you can possibly manage it.

Try not to worry.

xxx

Hi Monica,

How are things? Did you have your follow up on 28th? x

Ahh thanks so much for thinking of us (I dont get emails when you reply which is odd)

Unfortunately it didnt go ahead :( He got to theatre and they did a bronchoscopy and found he has a chest infection. They took a sample and the surgeon called my mum and said he is already risky with his COPD and it was on the lung they are not operating on so she didnt want to risk it. He has been given antibiotics and booked back in for 25th. Its frustrating as means he has now had a general, and the emotional turmoil of doing it all again but I know its for the best and its better for him to be at his best when he has it done.

Definitely makes me worry with them saying how risky he is though :(

How are you guys? xx

Hi there, I was thinking of you on 12th and wondering how it went.  So sorry that it did not go ahead as you try and prepare yourself as best you can and as you say you now have to do it all again.  Still once the infection has cleared up he will be stronger.  My husband had a CT scan last week and we are waiting on the results. 

Keep your chin up and take care of yourself.

Sorry to hear that he was unable to have the op on the planned date.

As a fellow stresshead, I can only begin to imagine how you are feeling.  Of course, you're right,  it is for the best, but you can take a little comfort from the fact that they are obviously taking really good care of him and are focused on making sure that when the op takes place, it will go really well and his recovery will be quicker.

I would try not to dwell on the idea that he's 'risky.' Its an emotive word-but its my understanding that even an anaesthetic has an element of risk, as do lots of cancer procedures. Medical staff will almost never guarantee total success for obvious reasons, but your Dad is surrounded by love and is getting the best possible all round care.

Stay strong.

Much love xxx

Thank you both for your replies.

Homebird - I hope the CT results are positive. Is this a scheduled one for a follow up?

I think its the fact his letter says he is 5 x more risk so although it sounds low it is quite high. I know there is always a risk I think its how much they have stressed it. I saw on his letter he was a grade 3 initially but downgraded to a 2 0,0. Its attached to some strange sausage shape which they arent sure what that is.

He is feeling tired from the general and was back at mine 7am with my mum to look after the girls! Bless him I think he is doing too much. Back at home resting again today.

Hopefully the results from the sputum means he is on the right antibiotics and everything will go smoothly on the 25th 

How are you now Monica xx

I also hope all will be well for him on the 25th when I will be thinking of you. Its great that he helps out with the children. I suspect he likes to do it and it keeps him feeling 'normal,' as opposed to someone who is defined by their illness.

For a while when Dave was towards the end of his chemo treatment, I felt like that happened to him-ie he became an invalid. However, the side effects have now gone and he's much more like his old self-he's been to golf, walked the dog on his own, done a bit of cooking etc so at the moment life is good.

Radiotherapy starts on the 25th.

xxx

Hi there, yes this is the first follow up CT scan. I'm thinking 'no news is good news' at the moment.  Our biggest problem is the fact that he has rheumatoid Arthritis and his medication was stopped when the chemo started and because he had sepsis they will not let him go back on the medication. He has had steroid injections when the pain has been really bad and joints swollen but they cannot keep giving them. They want him to try an infusion but we are waiting for blood results before we can give that a go. We had a nice day today in the sunshine and it's nice to do 'normal' things.

I will be thinking of you on 25th. Take care

Ahh wow thats amazing he is getting back to his old self Monica. The end is in sight for you both. Hope radiotherapy goes well on 25th.

Any news on the CT yet homebird? No news is defo good news so praying for a positive result for you. Do keep us posted. Is there any alternative therapies he could try for his arthirits? 

Thanks both for your thoughts. One week today and hopefully he will be doing well and on the road to recovery xx 

Hi LD and Monica, just popped by to hope all goes well for tomorrow.

Still no news for us but we are jogging along nicely. We live on the South Coast and have been enjoying some short walks along the seafront in this nice February weather.

take care of yourselves.

Thanks homebird. Sounds to me like no news is good news. How long ago was the scan now? We are south too. Weather has been glorious :) 

dad is in surgery now (well first thing this morning and not yet heard anything so assuming no infection and all gone ahead) praying it’s gone well for him and he has a good recovery.

has radiotherapy started today Monica?

Hi there, so glad that they are able to do surgery and will pray that all is good.  Do you know if it's keyhole robotic surgery? That is what my husband had and you can hardly see the scars now.

The CT scan was 29th January so we are assuming alls okay otherwise I think that we would have had a phonecall.  When he's had any procedure it takes a while to get any correspondence unless its urgent. 

Another lovely day today, we are in Seaford (East Sussex) 

Hi there, so glad that they are able to do surgery and will pray that all is good.  Do you know if it's keyhole robotic surgery? That is what my husband had and you can hardly see the scars now.

The CT scan was 29th January so we are assuming alls okay otherwise I think that we would have had a phonecall.  When he's had any procedure it takes a while to get any correspondence unless its urgent. 

Another lovely day today, we are in Seaford (East Sussex) 

They are hoping to do keyhole (although not sure robotic) still no news yet but I think it’s his copd that’s the worry with him as it made him a higher risk. No news yet- assume he’s out but mum hasn’t called as yet. Hate waiting around to find out. 

That definitely sounds positive - it obviously means you are so low priority that it’s taking so long so must be all clear. Ah lovely - we are Hampshire x

Hi LD and Homebird-hope by now you've both had some good news.

 We had a beautifu wedding last week and Dave has indeed started radiotherapy today. All seemed to go smoothly but we've been warned he may feel fatigue next week.

But so far so good-what more can any of us ask for?

Fingers crossed for us all xxxx

We are in beautiful Northumberland-also sunny. It does help a bit!

Congratulations Monica so glad you had a lovely day. Dave sailed through chemo so I bet this will be a walk in the park for him.

dad is out of surgery and all went well. They managed keyhole and he has been sat up (not seen him yet) and has one drain in. He even asked them if he could walk (no doubt wants to get home ha ha) only issue is he doesn’t do well with meds and the morphine has made him sick. Here’s to hoping he has a smooth easy recovery  xx

Fantastic news! So pleased that its now all over and he can just concentrate on recovery.

Hopefully, they should be able to give him something for the sickness and he'll gradually start to fell better and better.

Enjoy the sunshine

xxxx

Hi LD, so pleased to hear your news. I'm sure they will get him up walking today and then onwards and upwards. He just needs to listen to his body and not try to overdo things. I think they call it 'baby steps'. Once my husband came home he did a short walk each day and then gradually increasing it. Bet you cannot wait to see him.

Good news to start my day.

Thanks so much Monica and Homebird. I went to see him yesterday and he looked so well. He walked round the ward 5 times and has to do 6 today. They have said he needs to get breathless for his lung capacity to grow and the lung that had the lobe removed to fill the space. The surgeon said he was a star so long may it continue. Still has the drain in and she said he has a lot of air and needs to go careful when home mixing as said hes more prone to infection (which is so tough with the kids as he will be desperate to see them)

Hope you are both keeping well. Any CT news homebird? How is Dave feeling Monica? xx

Hi, that's great news, he sounds a good patient.  Think that my husband had the drain taken out on day 4 then stitches put in and when we'd been home for a week or so the stitches were removed by a nurse at our surgery.  Yes, he will have to be careful about getting infections and we are still very wary of that now.  

No news on the CT scan yet. But all is good. This afternoon we are going to have a walk along the seafront before the weather changes.

take care.

This is brilliant. Keep up the good work. I am so pleased for him and for you.

Dave has started radiotherapy and feels ok. 2 down 18 to go!

xx

I probably shouldn’t of googled about prolonged air leaks as that’s worried me and seems copd is a risk factor. Aside from that he’s doing so well. I think I will worry more  about infections and it’s hard when they look after the kids when im at work. I know for a fact he wouldn’t want to stop doing that as he loves it but they are germ breeders.

how often Is the radiotherapy? Every day? Hope all continues to go well.

enjoy the walk and sunny days both of you x

Yes-every weekday. Google can be our worst enemy-when Dave was having chemo I obsessed about sepsis. I had a bad cough at the time and a sore throat [you'd have thought I was the one with lung cancer] but he was fine.

No kissing though and I slept in the spare room just in case!

x