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Lung Cancer Stage 4. What now?

Misswright32
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Hi everyone. This is my first post although I've been reading numerous questions & replies over the last few weeks. 
 

My dad who's only 57 was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer on Friday. It's in both lungs and has spread to his skull bone. We are still waiting on the biopsy and further information regarding palliative chemotherapy. Having read other discussions I'm really struggling with understanding how my dads ended up at stage 4. He has NO symptoms of lung cancer, no chest infections, breathlessness, fatigue & seems the exact same as he's been for years. It all came about as his  voice suddenly changed one day. Appointment with the ENT showed his left vocal chord wasn't working & a CT scan was ordered which showed the cancers. 
 

I suppose my question is what do I expect? I'll be with him every step of the way as he's my world & it's always just been me & him. The consultant has said most people don't survive 12 months with this diagnosis. Is he suddenly going to worsen? Because right now you'd never know he was even unwell. 
 

Also surely because he's unsymtomatic they should be actively treating him? 

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    My father was 58, prostate cancer, nonaggressive, but it was cancer and turned on him.  I was working in a hospital and their advice was do what you love.  He went to the Colorado River with friends, boating, loved his camper, etc.  my brother 2 years younger than I, prostate cancer in 2014, I breast cancer in 2014.  Brother died in 2018, I am cancer free and getting ready for reconstruction 1/2020.  I also love that palliative care is available.  My thoughts are with all of you

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    Can I ask what kind of timescale it took to get the diagnosis. Also has you dad had a pep scan or biopsy done because I don't know how it can all be staged without these

  • Offline in reply to Meinit77

    13 weeks ago his voice suddenly vanished. No pain or discomfort. We visited the GP who said it will return in a week it's a viral infection. Visiting again as still no change & his appetite was poor. Referred to the ENT who done a scope and said you have left vocal cord paralysis. No mention of cancers at all. All my dads bloods had been fine. He's awaiting the appointment for the biopsy and the only scan he's had was a CT of his head, neck & chest. I'm struggling with that as well how can they even say he's got less than 12 months when they haven't even properly investigated? 

  • Offline in reply to Misswright32

    That's exactly what I was thinking . I would go back to your gp and tell him y no sorry demand a second opinion something don't seem right. For him to say it's stage 4 lung cancer in both lungs I would definitely have expected your dad to be showing some symptoms other than a sore throat . Have you spoken to any oncologist yet? Who was it that diagnosed ur dad?

  • Offline in reply to Meinit77

    My dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, with secondary liver and brain mets. He had no symptoms at all apart from headaches from mets. He passed away 4 weeks later.

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