My dad is 63, and smokes cigarettes for as long as I can remember. We told him to stop but he still does it secretly every now and then. Two weeks ago, he started complaining of a pain in his shoulder. He had an injury few years ago, he also has a bad sleeping posture so I'm not sure if it's just because of that. Told him to get checked, he doesn't want to cause he's scared of hospitals I guess. I might be overthinking here. He doesn't seem to have any other symptoms, like coughing or shortness of breath.

If I ever convince him to get himself checked, what tests should we get? Will a chest X-ray be enough? Thanks. Sorry, I really just have a bad health anxiety.

Edited: Forgot to mention he had a chest x-ray January this year and it came out with a negative findings. could a lung cancer develop that fast?

Hi, I'm Janine from Cancer Grace. I'd like to share info about our upcoming lung cancer OncTalk live forum. It's free, and there will be presentations from leading oncologists and panel discussions. You'll also have the opportunity to ask questions of our oncology faculty. It's live Saturday, Dec. 14. Registration, faculty info, and the agenda are on our homepage.

We just found out my father is 95% PD-L1 positive. He can start Keytruda treatments on Monday, once every 6 weeks. Is it worth it? He was sent home a couple days ago under hospice care, saying there was nothing they could do, given 1-3weeks. He had just accepted his coming death, and now we are given this hope. What can we expect if we move forward with this?

Background: 2wks ago he found out he has lung cancer. It’s stage 4, adenocarcinoma, a 10cm mass in his right lung, spread to both adrenal glands and small bowel, possibly other areas as well. Last weekend he had intense abdominal pain and edema in both feet and lower legs - they found internal bleeding caused by one of the adrenal tumors but that seemed to have stopped on its own, and they gave him 2 more units blood infusion. He can’t do chemo because he’s so anemic.

(new thread posted every Friday)

Welcome. We're glad you found us but sorry that you need to be here. Feel free to post here if you are in the process of a lung cancer diagnosis. Do not make a separate post until diagnosis is confirmed. Thank you. 🤍

My 83 yo aunt was diagnosed with lung cancer in August and yesterday we started Hospice. It all happened so fast. She lived a very healthy and clean life. Did yoga and played tennis until about two years ago. Didn’t drink or smoke.

I retired three years ago and live relatively close to her. I took on the role of taking her to her appointments and took care of everyday things. She put up a good front. I had no idea how weak she was. About three weeks ago I got a phone call from her. She fell in her living room and couldn’t get up. I immediately went to her house and got her in bed. I moved her into my house the next day. Since moving in she has decided that she no longer wants any treatments, which I get. Just going to one doctor’s appointment would wear her out for a day.

My aunt is the loveliest person on the face of the earth. She doesn’t complain and has been nothing but gracious. I am so mad that this happened to her and I am heartbroken that she has to go through this. As much as I don’t want her to go, I know that it would be the best thing for her.

I make sure I am happy and fun around her but as soon as I leave her room I go back to feeling sad and guilty. I feel guilty because I should have brought her to my house weeks before she got to the point of not being able to get up off the floor. What kind of human am I?

My dad (64 Male) was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer a year ago. He has EGFR Non small cell lung cancer mutation and was able to take tagrisso (oral chemo pill everyday). About a month ago we started to notice some different behaviour such as forgetting simple tasks, using the washroom incorrectly, not make total sense. We brought him into the ER, theyve done CT scans, MRi scans, blood work, urine sample etc and nothing has come up. I forsure thought it was perhaps brain mets as the symptoms seemed to align. The doctor initially thought encephalitis but tests came back negative. Hes been in the hospital for 3 weeks and each day seems worse, hes stopped eating and hes forgotten who we are. I dont understand what this could be and it seems doctors are running around in circles doing the same tests without any new developments. Any advice or guidance on what this could be or similar scenarios you may have experienced?

I wasn’t going to post originally and was just going to lurk, but I really have no clue what I’m doing and just need advice from people or family members of people who have been through this. My dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer - I don’t know what stage (either doctor doesn’t know yet or parents aren’t telling me in order to not worry me). Last I heard, the tumour was only 16millimetres, but his lymph node did light up on the PET scan too. So they took a biopsy. He still has to do a perfusion and a fitness test (among others) to see if surgery is a good option. However, we think some results have come in today because they called him and said he needs to come in for the perfusion test and a CT scan on his brain “as a precaution” first thing tomorrow to see if it may have spread there. What’s worrying me and my mother is that there was absolutely no mention of a brain scan, and now they want him in to do one immediately? That sounds really bad to me.

Physically my dad is really struggling. He has been coughing up blood apparently, is incredibly out of breath, and is using an inhaler they gave him tonnes. He’s so tired all the time and would stay on the sofa the whole time if he didn’t have to go to work part time. However, this could also be the COPD he was diagnosed with last year right? Maybe not the tumour?

My mother and I are immensely worried and she is thinking the absolute worst. We have had two family members pass away from different cancers very recently and we can’t help but be pessimistic.

My question is - how worried should we be? Am I overthinking and worrying for no reason right now? The oncologist seems to be confident and stresses how small the tumour is.

**update 2: nurse let it slip that his tumour has shrunk 😭❤️❤️❤️

**update: He saw a doctor last night and all looks good. Blood tests come back clear, blood pressure was good, oxygen levels were at 100 and the chest x ray didn't show anything unusual. They're not really concerned about the wheezing, said it's possibly COPD but not certain. I personally think it's side effects. He's also getting periods of blurred vision which he also mentioned but as all of his observations were good, they don't think it's anything to do with treatment. So he's off to round 4 and eye hospital today!

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing okay.

My dad is having his 4th round of treatment tomorrow, pemetrexed, carboplatin and pembrolizumab. So far he's coped okay, his first round he didn't feel too bad, struggled a bit for the first week, second round he felt much better during the second week after, third round he hasn't felt good. I've read that side effects can get worse with each round?

The whole three weeks since his last round, he's felt very fatigued and this is his most bothersome side effect. After all symptoms of the lung cancer pretty much went away (must mean good things are happening!?), he's started feeling a bit breathless again and now he's wheezing when he takes a deep breath. Has anyone else experienced this? Was it a side effect of treatment? Or should I be worried that something more sinister is going on?

His last blood test showed slight anemia which if his iron levels drop too low they might give him a transfusion. Maybe this is causing it?

Isn't this journey just so scary!?

He had a CT scan last week so just waiting on results. I'm so proud of how he's handling it and I am aware that he could be feeling a lot worse.

Thanks in advance x

My dad (75)is doing at home hospice after trying oral chemo and radiation. He had a fall due a seizure we suspect and it’s just been one thing after another.

The original fall left him unable to use one of his arms. gave him a brain bleed then we found 2 pulmonary embolisms while there. He was discharged a week and a half later on blood thinners.

After the second night home we had to call ambulance he was running a fever and shaking. He had sepsis due to a bacteria and pneumonia. He recovered a bit like the slightest but then got a gi bleed from blood thinners and low blood pallets. After that he was left weak and unable to move on his own. The he suffered another seizure were he hasn’t been as conscious as he was.

After 2 more weeks They suggested hospice and we thought that was best. He’s suffering so much and this is not living he kept asking to go home. Though I know this was probably the best thing we could do I just feel heartbroken and question if we are just giving up and letting him go. Questioning myself if this was the best option if there was anything else we could do. this is so hard.

I had read up on a bunch of mutations prior to my oncology appointment today, but I hadn’t even heard of HER2 and wasn’t really prepared for this outcome. I have mixed feelings about it. I’m glad I have a mutation with active research happening, but I had selfishly hoped for one that had more treatment options with well-documented outcomes. So I’m a little discouraged and feeling sorry for myself.

My oncologist wants to start me on just a basic Carboplatin and Pemetrexed infusion starting Tuesday. I’ll stick with that as long as it’s working but if it doesn’t work, then I might move to the newer treatment available, Enhertu, or to a clinical trial. For anyone that has this mutation, is that pretty standard or did you go right to Enhertu? I believe she said it’s only been available for a year or two.

Anyway, just processing my feelings so that I can get ready to take on my first round of chemo next week. Grateful for this community that has been so helpful these last few weeks. 🤍

Could you please explain the conclusion of my dad's first CT Chest scan after two months in Tagrisso?

CONCLUSION:1. Improved paramediastinal soft tissue mass in the left upper lobe with remaining mild soft tissue. Attention on follow-up.2. The mediastinal and hilar adenopathy has significantly improved.3. There are multifocal new sclerotic bone lesions identified. Multiple previously seen osteolytic metastasis are more sclerotic. New pathologic fracture in the 8th right rib. New superior endplate impression of T11 vertebral body with underlyinglytic lesion likely pathologic in etiology. No other significant change to prior exam.

Very worried about the new fracture on 8th rib that they saw and a lytic lesion on T11. Otherwise, main tumor and all other mets shrink by 80%. We will meet with the oncologist by next week.

did anyone get a pleural effusion after going through chemo and radiation and a few imfinzi Infusions? Hubby diagnosed Nsclc 3b adeno.. Braf mutation june 2024 and it’s been one thing after the other. He had a drain in hospital but they removed it now a week later it seems he is struggling and will prob need a new drain. Let me know if you or your loved ones experienced this. Thanks

My favorite person in the entire world (my father) was just diagnosed with Lung Cancer 2 weeks ago.. yesterday, we were given the bad news that he is stage 4 as it has spread to his lymph nodes & brain. He has 4 small tumors in his brain & 2 large tumors in his right lung. One tumor in his lung is the size of a tennis ball & the other is a ping pong ball size.. we are waiting to hear back about his biopsy for the DNA markers or whatever to figure out what chemo treatment would be best for him.. He’s 56 years old. He seems healthy other than hes had a cough for 2 months. I’m a 26 year old woman & I’m his only child. I’ve been living with my dad my entire life.. Hes my best friend. I have no siblings.. no mother.. my cousins live in different states & when hes gone, I’m going to be completely alone. I’m absolutely terrified of losing my dad & Im having a hard time being happy. I feel like all of my joy & happiness is just gone.

I could sure use some positive success stories from other people that have a similar situation to my dads. Doctors said his cancer is not curable but that they can hopefully treat him & keep him comfortable for the rest of his life… anyone have any positive stories? :(

First of all, I am grateful for this subreddit. It means a lot to connect with others who share similar experiences—relatives and patients navigating the same pain and uncertainty. Even if it’s only virtual, being able to relate to others' stories is incredibly valuable. I came here to vent a little because, unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do except wait for the inevitable. I’d like to share my father’s story.

My father was born in 1957. He was a heavy smoker for as long as I can remember, going through two packs of cigarettes a day until his diagnosis in early 2022. For the last 10 years before that, he would suffer from suffocating coughing fits while smoking. We repeatedly urged him to quit, warning him of the dangers, but it was to no avail. He avoided seeing a doctor, likely because he knew deep down that something was wrong and feared confirmation. I had assumed it was COPD, but when we finally got him to the doctor, it turned out to be much worse: a serious tumor had already spread in his lungs.

After a very challenging biopsy operation, he was diagnosed with SCLC. At the time of the biopsy, his shortness of breath was so severe that any further delay might have cost him his life. Chemotherapy began immediately, and, at first, he responded surprisingly well to the treatment. However, his naturally nervous and fearful personality made the process even harder for him. His fragile mental state began to unravel.

SCLC metastasized quickly, spreading to his brain and settling in the frontal lobe. Radiotherapy was initiated, and while the tumor initially regressed, it eventually began to grow again. Three months ago, he suffered a major turning point: one evening, while we were sitting together, he suddenly became unable to speak, mumbling and then became unconscious. They are living on an island off the mainland and we feared he had a stroke or a brain hemorrhage. That night we rushed him to the hospital under very difficult circumstances. It turned out the mass in his brain had caused an epileptic seizure.

Since then, he has been on Bevacizumab, anti-epileptic medications, and cortisone. While these treatments have helped manage his symptoms to some extent, they’ve also left him bedridden. His legs have become stiff, and he’s terrified of trying to walk. My mother is his sole caregiver, but since my dad is deeply stressed and often shouts at her out of frustration. He's even blaming her for his illness. It’s all real heartbreaking to witness.

Adding to this, me and my wife recently had a baby, and my father hasn’t been able to meet his grandson to his heart's content due to his condition. At nights, he becomes delirious, shouting and talking in his sleep. His breathing is stable for now, but he is slipping away from the person we once knew. My mother’s mental health is deteriorating as well—she’s overwhelmed by caregiving and my father’s frequent yelling. My dad has been prescribed Prozac, and I hope it provides him with some relief. Due to his behavior towards my mom and his unwillingness to stand up and try to live, I can’t help but have mixed emotions about my father. I am feeling real sad about how things are going and about everything...

There’s suspicion of new metastases in his lungs, but getting him, bedridden as he is, from the island where they live to the mainland and back is almost impossible. I know others here might be going through even worse situations, but I just wanted to share my experience and vent.

Balancing everything feels overwhelming: I have to support my wife as we raise a new baby, maintain my job, take care of myself, and try to support my parents—all at once. I feel like I’m failing in every area. It’s a very difficult time.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your good wishes. I’ll continue to share updates about my father’s journey as we navigate this uncertain road.

Hello everyone. In spring of 2023 my mom fell off a ladder trying to fix a gutter. They did a chest X-ray for a broken rib and that's how so found out she had a tumor in her lung. After a series of scans and tests it was determined that she had stage 3b with it possibly being in her bones as well but they didn't care to biopsy the bone because the treatment plan wouldn't change.

5 months after her fall she started trigresso. She was no change for 11 months with the only trigresso side effect being she needed to nap daily and insurance companies being assholes.

After 11 months we saw progression again. After more scans it was found in her brain and confirmed stage 4. she still had no symptoms from the cancer at this point and we only found it because she fell off a ladder.

She did a series of chemo and had radial knife surgery on her brain. After her scans everything but the lung tumor was gone. She had 5 days of radiation and they let her ring the bell afterwards. Still hasn't been long enough to scan to see what changed with the lung tumor but Doctor seemed confident that it wouldn't be visible after the radiation.

She'll stay on trigresso and apparently do chemo every 3 weeks still.

Not search what I want out of this post. Just super happy about the good news but have no frame of reference for how unexpected it should be or how long would this good news be expected to last.

If you have relevant stories I'd loved to hear about it and just have a bit of a shared experience connection.

Trigresso is such a weird treatment because it is great that it paused the cancer with little changes to daily life but man it just felt like purgatory for those months.

If the lung scans come back clean would she be considered NED? Why would she need chemo every 3 weeks then?

Living with TB has been isolating at times. It’s hard to share my feelings with friends who don’t understand. Have others here felt this way? Do you ever wish there were more ways to connect with people who truly get it?

After 2 years on Tag, I got word today that I've had progression. And of course it's the week that my doctor is on vacation, so I have to wait to see what the plan will be.

I'll have radiation on the spots that are causing pain...but then what?

Chemo? I've avoided it this far, but I guess it was always inevitable.

Are there other drugs to try? Clinical trials? What now?

My husband (73) had a chest X-ray before hip surgery in April and it showed a 2.5 cm spot in upper right lobe. Had CT scans, PET scan that were inconclusive. In September he had it biopsied & it was adenocarcinoma with acinar pattern, poorly differentiated. After multiple tests to see if he could withstand surgery, he had upper right lobectomy and a wedge resection for bottom right lobe in 11/8. He still has one chest tube in that we hope comes out today. Pathology shows cancer present in lymph nodes lobar (what is that?), 11 & 4. Cancer confined to pulmonary parenchyma. I want to know what to expect next. What stage is he? TNM says not applicable, pT category tumor greater than 2cm but less than 3, pN2 metastasis in ipsilateral mediastinal and/or subcarinal lymph nodes. Thank for any help navigating what is next.

Yeah, title says it all, we got the call today and will be in face2face with the doctor tomorrow. Chemo will start tomorrow as well.

She seems to be very positive that she'll beat the crap out of the cancer, but we've seen what SCLC did to MIL last year. Seems as if there are Mets in liver and there's something in the gall as well.

Nonetheless she's in good physical and mental condition (no weightloss, bronchioscopic aftermath with coughing)

I am kinda mentally effed right now, especially as wife is pregnant and we're in the last trimester right now, so I can't really take care of all of them.

Will keep this updated as we know more tomorrow, but somehow I am in the limbo between: "they found it early and she's a fighter" and "damn, it's stage 4 due to mets"

€dit:

Sooooo, done with the talk, extended stage sclc it is. Chemo starts today(being mixed as I am typing), 2 Chemos and 1 Immunetherapy at the same time for 3 days. (3 at once day one, then 1 - 1 day 2 and 3).

Doctor was kinda relaxed/positive, but also honest as he said this is palliative, but palliative is just a word which means it can't be cured for now.

We are a bit more relaxed, everything seems to work out so far and we'll see soon, if chemo works.

Bad part: Mets have been found in liver, kidneys, lymphic system, so that's why she'll get the hammer chemotherapy. MRI of brain will be done tomorrow. Doctor's not really worried about lung (seems small), but more about the Mets.

They don't know when it started to grow and say anything between 2 months and x years is possible and could have been overseen.

Has anyone experienced any coughing up blood?

My mom is diagnosed and it has spread a little recently. Over the weekend she started coughing up blood, we are pretty concerned.

Can anyone shed some light?

The last few weeks have been rough. I’m still waiting on my biomarker test results and trying to be patient. I know I have mets to my liver and spine, but they sent me for a brain MRI because of the likelihood that it had spread there.

I got the results back today and there is no evidence of spread to my brain parenchyma! I do have lesions to the top and base of my skull, but they are limited to my skeleton (maybe some slight dural involvement).

But I think I needed a little win this month so I’m taking it. I hope you all receive some good news this week, whether big or small. 😊🤍

Hello. I'm came here to ask people who have gone through similar situation. My aunt has been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer(I don't exactly know which type)and she soon is starting chemotherapy with the medicine that she ordered KeyTruda. Do you think it's better for her to start her treatments in Germany? Than here in Georgia? Do you think they'd treat her better there and that there's better chance of her surviving?

Is it safe to vape after lung cancer diagnosis. I quit smoking over a decade ago using vaping. Got lung cancer. Is it safe to vape or should I quit.

(new thread posted every Friday)

Welcome. We're glad you found us but sorry that you need to be here. Feel free to post here if you are in the process of a lung cancer diagnosis. Do not make a separate post until diagnosis is confirmed. Thank you. 🤍

Does anyone know anything about skip metastasis in NSCLC? My husband (Stage IIIA - LUL tumor) has no mets other than malignant cells in the station 7L and station 11R nodes (11L was negative).

Either there was an error in the pathology labeling of the biopsy samples, or there is possible skip metastasis. I have read there is possibly a better prognosis with this type of N2 involvement. Any information would be appreciated. TIA.

My husband started his treatment with carbo/alitma with concurrent radiation this past Monday for Stage IIIA NSCLC. The bloodwork done at the first chemo visit included a test for CEA which came back as 1.6 (normal range is <3.1).

Can anyone explain how the CEA is related to lung cancer and what it tells us? Thank you in advance.

Does anyone know where to get an MRI for a lung screen vs. a CT Scan? I don’t want anymore exposure to CT scans. I live in Wisconsin and have Network insurance. tIA

Hi guys - We're devastated. My step dad, 69, discovered his NSCLC, KGRAS G12C mutation in August - he was put on keytruda but not only it didn't work, it seemed to damage his lung. He was on adagrasib but the tumor wasn't shrinking and now seems to spread to his liver.

Now fluid keeps building up in his lung, and the infection doesn't go away, or the antibiotics isn't working. The tumors were only at his lymph nodes and lung when discovered, so I'd thought he was only at stage 3. But none of the treatments we have seem to have worked now.

Does anyone or loved ones share the same mutation and have any treatments that worked for them?

This holiday season I feel compelled to donate to help those with lung cancer as it has deeply affected my family and my dad is now fighting it. I'd like to specifically donate to organizations that will directly impact individuals with lung cancer or cancer in general. I don't have much to give, but knowing how significant of a financial burden this disease can be, especially if you choose to do any treatment outside the conventional methods, I know that anything helps.

Does anyone have any suggestions of organizations, charities or gofundmes I should look into?

Thanks! ❤️

Those who have had radiation, can you describe the level of your side effects? For once a day vs twice a day?

We are in an odd situation. My mom’s SCLC is limited—her PET showed two small liver lesions, but at least one had been there and stable for a year per a comparison with a previous CT, and a biopsy just showed that the liver lesions are likely recurrence from pancreatic cancer she had Whipple for 8.5 years ago. We’re waiting to meet with a pancreatic oncologist because the liver lesions aren’t behaving like typical pancreatic recurrence (ie, slow and stable).

All this said: We need to figure out how to treat this all. She is now eligible for radiation for the SCLC because it’s limited, but the radiation oncologist is worried that the side effects of a full course of radiation will be tough on her and will mean she won’t be able to dive right into treatment for pancreatic (which is TBD but will begin after she completes her 4 cycles of carbo/ep). He is pushing for 1 week of radiation only to shrink but not potentially eliminate the SCLC. My mom is more like “I can deal with the side effects” and wants to do the full course. But it’s her choice—and she can do the once/day or twice/day regimen if she does the full course.

Would love some insight on how radiation affected you.