Jenny,

I am glad you are here but sorry you have to be. Encourage your dad to float around here for a while and see what others have done. We have all been scared and we have all felt maybe the future wasn't looking so bright. You just tell him, "Dad, someone told me there was a study on the news during the past year that said they looked at 50 lung cancer patients and their attitudes during treatment. The determination was that there was no significant difference on recovery because of a positive attitude but every one of them agreed it was sure a lot easier to have a great attitude."

It will get better but as mentioned, you need to get the pain and the continual sores under control. They could be mucositis or they could be thrush (a yeast infection). Both hurt and both need to be treated with mouthwash products and/or antifungal medicine like Diflucan. Also, the nausea is treatable and there are at least a dozen options. Continual vomitting will lead to severe dehydration that will make things worse, especially digestion. Get the pain and nausea under control. Go with him if you can and do not let the doctors release him until they fix those two so important problems.

The road ahead will get easier. Tell your dad we are all here for him and just make a list of the questions or problems he is having and we will adress them one at a time until he is satisfied. No topic is off limits and his recovery is of utmost concern for all of us!

God Bless!

Ed