Stage 3A None Small Cell Cancer>>.....How long does my father have to live??

My father 70 is diagnosed with Stage 3A Non small cell Cancer. Doctors will not operate to remove the tumor and it is in his lymph nodes in his lungs also... as he has chronic lung disease. Silicousis etc. (They are affraid he will die on the table if they open him up). He was a under ground miner as you can Imagine how his lungs are.Nov.6,2006 he starts Chemo(Only Every Monday for 6 weeks and Radiation(5 days a week)for same time. He is finished both Radiation and Chemo Dec 16 2006. Then he get a 3 week rest and in January he gets full doses(Three weeks in one day of Chemo once every three weeks. Not sure for how long it goes on for. How long do you think my dad has to be with us......I cry everyday for him. He is just starting to lose his hair. I asked the doctors but they say they don't know how long he has on this earth. So l was hoping someone out there had the same experience in there family or who knows something about this ugly cancer.Thank you so much for hearing my story

Due to his old age (Being 70) and probably considering his health condition the doctors have decided not to carry out surgery. It is perfectly alright. Even if surgery is done Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy as told by you are to be given. The treatment is going on in the right direction. All his hair will fall off and he will also have some more painful side effects. What to do it is CANCER. Further he is in Stage IIIA and all these happen in life. Have courage to face the time as it comes. You can consult an Psyco Oncologist and he will give proper counseling to you and to your family members and to the patient if needed. My wife is a IIIB stage patient in some other area and she is also suffering a lot which can not be explained. What to do ?We have to fight till the last as "CANCER IS STILL AN ENIGMA"

Best of Luck and wishes to you all-

I'm very sorry!

Everybodies reactions to chemo and cancer are different and a lot can depend upon their's and others attitutdes. I know its hard o do especially with christmas looming but what your dad needs is love and support. Chemo will make him very tired and feel quite ill at times. Make the most of the time you have left together. I know no age is too soon when its someone you love but he's had a good life span. Grieve in private and with your dad but also remember to laugh. Even if he doesn't survive at least he'll see you smiling not crying. Remember the body may die but the love never does.

My heart goes out to you - reading your post brings back memories of my dear brother - he had something slightly different - Non Hodgkins but that also spread through the lymph system. The doctors aren't lying when thay say they dont know - it depends on so many things - obviously your dads age, his present health etc. also his positivity - that goes a long way in helping. You say he is having chemo (by the way - only every Monday is a heavy dose to take - most have one session every 3 weeks) and you say he's starting to lose his hair. What you have to be meticulous about now is keeping him away from infections as it could be infection that gets him in the end (my brother eventually died from something other than the cancer) - if you even think someone might sneeze - tell them to stay away at the moment. Try to keep your dad positive and make your time left as lovely as possible. Its hard - god knows I know that - and I hope you have a while longer with him. For now - paint that smile on every day and dont forget to tell him that you love him every day. My very best wishes to you and to your dad xxxxx

I'm sorry to hear that, but each of us can fight it with different success, so he could be gone before Christmas, or he may respond well to treatment and live for some time. My somber fact is that if we managed to find a cure for all forms of cancer, we would only be looking at adding, on average, six months to life expectancy. Cancer in someone your dad's age is usually a symptom of a body shutting down and giving out naturally.

I'm so sorry to hear your news and I cannot really help you. Alls I will say is enjoy every day you get with him and please don't let him see you getting upset.

My dad has prostrate cancer (he's 71), and we all (the family) just try and take each day as it comes, visit him and mum as much as possible and he does have a very positive outlook on life and tries to make sure we all do.

Any crying I do in private and I count every day as a blessing.

Good luck to you, your father and all of your family.

Mojo
xx

You are going to have to be strong and for that I send you my strength to get through these tough times.

I'm so sorry. No one knows how long someone has to live, including doctors.

I was wondering though about his quality of life? Was chemotherapy and radiation his choice? Is this treatment curative or palliative? There are some issues that you all need to deal with immediately, and that is how he wishes to spend his time.

We were faced with some of these issues just a few years ago when my 17 year old son was diagnosed with multiple abdominal masses with stage IV metatastis. The only way I could cope at the time was to create a mental box and live inside that box every day. I never looked beyond the end of the day and concentrated on how well he was doing in the moment. I enjoyed his company, laughed, talked, and encouraged him. There were plenty of difficult and heart breaking, very miserable days, but there were also days of enlightenment and joy. You will live now on the edge . . never really knowing what will happen next. But, you can do it. I never knew that people could live with such fear on a daily basis. But, you can. You might not be able to stop his cancer, focus instead on what you can do, and that is to help him travel this path. Be there for him, every step of the way. Ease his journey. You will never regret it.

My son is still fighting his disease. But he is doing well. He responded to chemotherapy and did have two successful surgeries. He still needs treatment, but in the meantime he enjoys excellent quality of life, he graduated from high school, and is now taking college classes.

Stay strong, stay hopeful, and enjoy every moment with your father that you can.

I can only tell you about my situation. My husband had no symptoms but he thought he hurt his back. He was diagnosed March 20th He went thru radiation, chemo, gamma knife procedure and took the drug tarceva. He passed June 6th. But, by the time he was diagnosed it was everywhere. I am so sorry for you and your father. It is terrible. Be there for him let him go where he wants to go do the things he wants eat what he wants. Let him visit with friends and family throw a party take lots of pictures Tell him how much he means to you. I am grieving badly but I am glad we have kids because that is the only reason I am still here. Good luck and Bless you all. PS Make sure he eats or at least takes BOOST to keep his strnghth up.

I have heard that a Nobel Peace Prize winner said that any sickness desease or ailment can be traced to a mineral deffiency