Hi all, new to this forum, but not new to terminal cancer, so no need to be gentle with comments or suggestions. Lost mom to Pancreatic Cancer in 1997.

Dad was diagnosed w/SCC BOT in 2007. Surgery 3/2007 w/followup rad and chemo Apr-May 2007. Was clear until earlier this month. New tumor discovered in throat. Was scheduled for full laryngectomy this coming Monday, but that was cancelled today by review board due to result of Saturday PET showing mets to lung. All I know right now is 2 spots on lungs, one upper and one lower. They scheduled new CT for tomorrow, tx being done at UW-Madison treatment center. Can anyone give some info about what to expect if lung CT confirms mets? What treatments could we expect? Any help will be appreciated?
Thanks!

Hi and welcome to OCF. My cancer has not spread so I cannot answer your questions personally. I'm sure others will post soon and give you the information you need.

I just wanted you to know you have found a great site with a lot of wonderful people who can help. Good luck to you.

Suzanne

Hello and welcome to OCF. You will find lots of support here. This site has many members who pride themselves on showing compassion. Im sorry you are going thru this with your father.

Under the same heading there is a similar post titled ... who has tongue cancer spread to lung???? that may be the info you are looking for.

Thanks for the welcome Suzanne and Christine.

Before I signed up as a member to post, I completely read through the post ... who has tongue cancer spread to lung????. While I found much information from those posts, I still don't have a real clear idea of what to expect if lung mets are confirmed. I'm now looking at the recurrance thread, maybe I'll find a little more there.

My thoughts and prayers go to both of you and all that are fighting and dealing with this disease and the effects.

Want you to know that my Dad's attitiude is really very positive for facing the road ahead. My brother and I are trying to do everything we can to understand what's to come so we can both provide him with the best support possible.

This is the second time I've become intimately involved with CA treatments for one of my parents. This board and your support is a godsend and will continue to be, as we've found it very difficult to find a place to get real answers as to what to expect.

Thanks for being here to help!

Hi
lung mets as you will probably have gathered does not necessarily mean your dad has no further treatment options.they will probably want to diagnose the size and location of these tumours before reviewing his treatment plan.The most usual course will be chemotherapy to reduce the lung tumours,and his recurrence in the throat,before deciding if further surgery is appropriate.

good luck
liz

It's nice to see you and brother are there to support your father. I'm sure most people here who are patients would agree that our support people are awesome. Just being there for your dad and going to appointments with him will be a huge help. Your role is very important but it sounds like you already know that:)

Thanks liz and Suzanne...Dad had a CT yesterday to re-check the last scan results which showed those two lung spots. Carbone center in UW-M is awesome....they got back to him this morning with CT results, that's about 14 hour turnaround, much better than with his first go-round with this.

Anyway, nodules in lungs were confirmed, next step thay want to do is a biopsy, as of this post, they have not called back with schedule for that. I would get very soon since this place seems to have the knowledge and experience to work light speeds faster than our local treatment center.

I'll keep updating as we go....I read that these 'spots' in lungs could be many things, such as a fungus, etc. Not getting too worked up until the biopsies can be done and results come back. Dad maintains his great spirit!

Continued prayers to all who have the need to be reading this.

Your father is fortunate to have you for support. You sound like you are very level headed and knowledgeable. I will include you and your family in my prayers.

Patty

I agree, it's a good idea to not get worked up over the lungs. My pulminary doc told me they can be so many things. I guess b/c there is a chance for oral cancer to spread there they have to check it to be careful. And that's what we want...careful:)

I'm glad you are getting speedy responses from Carbone. That is half the battle in my opinion. Having good care by nice people is a must!!

Keep us posted with anything new:)

Suzanne

Latest update, my dad is now scheduled for biopsies on the lung spots on March 26. My dad said the docs are saying the delay is to wait until they have some kind of new super-duper bronchoscopy machine installed to do the biopsy with.

Seems like a very long way out to me in light of the fact he has a confirmed tumor recurrance in his pharynx. Not sure what to make of this, but the thought of that much delay just to do the biopsy has me concerned about what the docs might believe about his situation.

Like so many here, the waiting now will be the tough part for me, but that's not really what counts. My dad still is in very good spirits considering, and it's his level of concern that matters.

I did find out a little more about the lung spots, from last CT scan, the sizes are approximately 8mm and 5mm, location of both is in left lung, one upper part of lung and the other in the lower part.

Like most supporters, I'll be sitting with all fingers and toes crossed