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 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) 

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

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

Hi ladies,

How are you both? How is the radiotherapy going Monica? Homebird - any CT scan news?

After dad doing so well things got worse as his air leak got worse and he has surgical emphysema. He literally became so swollen and his eyes, neck, chest and even voice changed! He had a second drain put in on Monday and has been switched to gravity. Hoping they will clamp it soon and he can come home. I know he is getting fed up in hospital bless him. He has done so well being up and about and would of been home if it wasnt for this. Its been tough my mum travelling 3 hours daily to the hospital and wish I could help more but been juggling the kids and work too :(

Anyway hope all is well with you xx

Hi

Sorry to hear your Dad has been so poorly and so uncomfortable. We always hope everything will be straight forward and it hits us hard when its not.

I really, really hope he will improve soon and he can get home-I'm keeping everything crossed for you.

Radiotherapy has been fine so far, but like your Mum, the travelling gets us down although we just have a 2 hour round trip. However, we are exactly half way through-one more fortnight and 10 more treatments to go. We're counting the days and have just started to think about booking a really nice holiday next year.

Thinking of you and your family,

Monica x

Thanks Monica. Thats great news its going so well and those last treatments will fly by. A nice holiday sounds just what the doctor ordered. Where do you think you will go?

I'm really hoping he will be home over the next few days. The hard thing will be not mixing with the kids and how we juggle the childcare. Mum says she still wants to come but I worry she may catch something. Her argument is she has been sat on a train full of germs every day to visit him x

Hi LD

The childcare issue is tricky, especially as it will be difficult for her to come and not cuddle or touch them too much. I'd be inclined to ask the doc what he/she thinks and follow their advice.

We booked a Rhine river cruise for September before diagnosis so we're doing that already with no insurance complications but Dave hasn't wanted to think about next year's holiday or indeed anthing in the future. He's just now coming round to the idea that he might have a future. We're contemplating another river cruise for 2020-this time to the Douro in Portugal but insurance will be tricky this time. We may need to wait a little while.

x

Hi there, so sorry that your dad is still in hospital and hope that things improve and he will be home soon. Yes it is a bit arkward for you with them looking after the children but as Monica says have a word with the nurses and ask their opinion. The traveling must be awful for your mum and I was so glad that I stayed in a hotel right by the hospital. Still hopefully it won't be too long now. No news on the ct scan so I suppose we had better stop burying our heads in the sand and give them a call. 

Glad that all is going well for you Monica and what a lovely thought being able to go on holiday. We might do a couple of coach trips if we can. We are currently waiting on a cataract operation and a new drug for the Arthritis. 

Take care Homebird.

Thanks both. He has had the drains clamped and x rays look good so awaiting a decision from the team meeting tomorrow (nobody wanted to make a decision without the consultant even though on Friday she said see you at outpatients) Fingers crossed for good news tomorrow.

Mum has said she wants to come and look after the kids, and dad will be ok at home. She thinks I am being OTT as its no different to travelling on the train with kids and visiting and I guess I visit after being with them. There were even kids on the ward the weekend. I think as long as he doesnt mix (that was what they said) and we practise good hygiene (I am OTT anyway) then what else could we do. Youngest doesnt go to nursery so shes not out mixing with germs etc. My mum is also a carer so she would be out in the community. Its so hard to know how far to take it. I actually cant find local childcare available either.

I dont think Dave should "think" he has a future I would say he definitely does. He has done so amazing! Holidays sound lovely and hopefully you can find some specialist insurance.

I am sure the CT is clear as they wouldnt leave you this long surely. My dad had cataract op too and did really well with that.

I am hoping dad is well enough for a little UK break with the kids in summer. 

Hope your both well and had a nice weekend x