I had an appointment with a thoracic surgeon yesterday and now have a pretty good idea of what the surgery would be like if I were to opt for that. I still don’t have any understanding of what radiation treatment would be like, nor a likely prognosis if I were to do nothing at all. I might hear more about that tomorrow or Friday.
At present, I’m thinking that I’d want to just be put in some kind of hospice care where I’d be kept as comfortable as is legally possible in a red state until I faded away. I’m not afraid of “being dead” since I don’t think that there will be any me to be dead. It’s probably a pretty good guess that I won’t like the process of dying; but that’s going to happen in any event; and it might be easier if it happens in a controlled way rather than unexpectedly (like a heart attack or something). Also, since there’s nobody who depends on me for anything, it’s not like I’d be selfishly leaving anyone behind.
We’ll see how it goes…
Definitely look into what your survival expectation is under each treatment.
I am so sorry you have to deal with this.
After watching both my father and my father in law die a month apart from lung cancer I dont envy your position. My father lived two short months after he was diagnosed, but he ignored symptoms for over two years. My father in law lived almost 7 months. I would take any treatment options they give you. Cancer can be overcome. Only other thing I can say is fuck cancer.
My apologies if I’m giving advice where it’s not wanted, but if you have non-small cell lung cancer, please consider getting it tested for actionable mutations. Some of the small molecule inhibitors can hold the cancer back for years and there’s a small but existent chance of long term remission with immunotherapy if you have the right type of lung cancer.
If “right type of lung cancer” isn’t a complete oxymoron. Which, of course, it is.
dianne @3: advice is always appreciated…thanks.
It’s small cell, not non-small cell. I don’t understand the difference (aside from the size of the cells, which I suspect isn’t what’s really significant); but the hospital mailed me a fairly large envelope with lots of pamphlets it it. The explanation might be in there somewhere.
What I’m not looking for is sympathy, principally because, as one of those fools who hasn’t been able to quit smoking yet, I don’t think I deserve it. 😎 I’m blogging about the cancer because I hope to help others by expressing how one guy gets through it. (And I hope that I’m not being overly self-important in thinking that I can help.)
billseymour, maybe, maybe not.
But you are trying, and that’s community service, not self-importance.
Also, I thoroughly respect your attitude towards your circumstances.
(There’s some sympathy there, too. Best wishes)
Let me also express my sympathies and my hopes that you can do the things you hope to. I know nothing about lung cancer, so that’s all I can offer.
i wish the best for you and hope that the time you have left is spent happy
I’m sorry you have to go through this. I hope everything goes well.
… as well as possible depending on your choice. Sorry.