Hi all,

I have posted few times since the middle of January regarding my Father being referred for a chest xray and ct scan following on from a hoarse voice and new cough.

He had esophageal cancer 10 years ago which he wasnt expected to survive but miraculously did, and then cancer of the voice box 5 years ago. His consultant at the recent check up of his throat assured him that the hoarse voice was due to xerostomia as a result of radiotherapy and he would be signing him off in 6 months. He was wrong. I find it unbelievable that Google could tell me the sudden hoarse voice 5 years after radiotherapy was rare and more likely to be lung cancer yet his specialist didn't think to refer him for a ct months ago to look elsewhere. But there we go, too late now.....

Yesterday, following on from a ct scan from the chest to the groin (which was carried out after the findings of an abnormal chest xray - hence why I think they already knew it was cancer, I believe they did the wider ct scan to look for spread), he was yesterday told they have found a 3.5cm tumor in the lower part of his left lung.

Thankfully, he has been told that there is no sign of spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

This sounds strange, but I feel a mixture of fear and relief! It has has taken 6 weeks to get an answer. During this time his cough and hoarse voice have worsened and the weight has dropped off of him. Due to our experience during his previous cancers we knew it was cancer again. However, after doing the worst thing in the world, which we all do, I Googled and I learnt that lung cancer often shows no symptoms until stage 4 advanced lung cancer. So of course, by the power of Google, I had as a 34 year old accounts assistant, decided that I was suddenly a cancer specialist overnight and I absolutely convinced myself that he had lung cancer which had spread everywhere. I was genuinely waiting to be told my Dad had widespread cancer. I still feel that I cant believe its not. Why has he shown symptoms at this stage when the majority don't? Anyway, I must remember I am not a doctor!

The doctor said its early stages, no spread and he has a telephone consultation (sign of the times) with a respiratory specialist on Tuesday.

What I am asking is does anyone have any experience of what happens after this point? Do they need to do a biopsy even thought they know its cancer from the ct? I'm assuming so to diagnosis it officially and to determine the type of cancer?

Will he need any more scans if the ct has already shown no signs of spread?

Will they operate? Surgery is obviously the best option but do they operate on older patients? He is 71. 

Also, is it genuinely a good outcome that the cancer is isolated to the one lung? Or is it misleading to think this? I feel weird for feeling relieved at this point!

The main concern is will it spread between now and when he has treatment/surgery. I know, again from the power of Google that if it grows much more he will become stage 2 and not stage 1. We are desperate for treatment to begin before this happens.

As I said, it has been 6 weeks since the GP first referred him for a chest xray. I am familiar with the 62-day single pathway for cancer (we live in Wales) and so I am wondering if the clock starts on those 62 days from the day he was referred for the xray for the cough? Or from when the abnormality was found on the xray? 

We have waited such a long time to get to this stage. 6 weeks is a lifetime when waiting to see if someone has cancer. Im praying we won't have to wait much longer.

So so sorry for the looooong post! I didn't realise how much I needed to get out of my head!

Thank you so much anyone who has read this xx