Info please

Published Dec 17, 2008

594 Posts

My dad who is only 58 recently found out he has a 8cm tumor show up on his right lung. He initially went to the doctor because of losing his voice for the last 2 months and as he was being followed by his md it wasnt clearing up so they sent for chest xray then a ct when they saw that. He has a paralyzed vocal cord. I found out last nite, 2 yrs ago when he went to the er with chest pain, they did a chest xray and apparently there was a 8cm mass on that one. Noone called him to tell him about it. Now my question is since it was there 2 yrs ago, and is just now showing signs of growing is that good. How far away is the nerve that controls the vocal cords from the lung. They did blood work and his psa is good and the tumor control markers are good. He has had no resp problems what so ever. He quit smoking about 3 yrs ago. I am not an oncology nurse so i am not up to date on recent treatment and i have seen people get newly diagnosed and basically give up all together and die within a month and i have seen people beat it so in some cases i think it all has to do with attitude and how you live your life after you find out about. i don't want him to get all depressed and just give up. Of course when we found out it was on his xray 2 yrs ago he was very down in the dumps and ****** at the same time. Any advice...or words of encouragement appreciated.