My mother died of lung cancer 6 years ago. This took us by surprise as she never used tobacco in her life. My father was the smoker and he quit when she took sick. For the last eighteen months he hasn't been right. He has had a lot of time off work as he says he has incredible fatigue. Although he eats well it looks like he has lost some weight. As he said he was coughing in the mornings we managed to get him a low dose CT scan with contrast. Although there was nothing worrying on the report, father is convinced he has a lung cancer. Before we look for an alternative cause we just want to make sure we haven't missed anything. Is there anything else we could do to reassure ourselves. My mother was investigated using a high resolution CT so maybe we should look at this route.
I wish I had known of this site when mother was diagnosed, there is so much information that would have helped us.
AH.
Peace of Mind - 1289830
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Reply # - January 18, 2017, 03:59 PM
Hi AH,
Hi AH,
Welcome to Grace. I'm very sorry about your mom. It's an awful disease to deal with and I hope you'll not need us in the future. A couple of things you said point to probable other causes for you dad's malaise. If someone were to lose weight because of lung cancer it's usually because there is bulk (enough of cancer to be seen on a scan) that produces the chemicals (maybe proteins?) that produce a feeling of fullness that tricks the body into not eating. You said your dad is eating as usual. A CT scan even low dose without contrast will pick up a mass large enough to cause those types of symptoms. The more detailed higher res, with contrast scans are used to clarify but a the simplest of CTs would pick up a lung tumor.
Unfortunately never smokers (more women than man) get lung cancer. The reasons are unclear. I hope your dad doesn't blame himself for her cancer. It's likely not because of his smoking. No matter what the reasons it's difficult to start a new life after losing a spouse and may even have some baring on your dad's present fatigue and other symptoms.
I hope he's feeling better soon,
Janine
Reply # - January 19, 2017, 06:57 AM
Hi Janine,
Hi Janine,
Thank you for commenting so promptly. After his scan, which although was low dose, was with contrast, we could not see any other investigation that would help him. We are confident of two things, One - he has moved on as three years ago he met a lovely lady who shares many of his interests. Two - his appetite is very good, we go to the grocery store with him and he loads up more than us, and when they visit he sure piles the food up.
We are just all a bit surprised that he seems to have lost so much of his energy and he is still in his 50s. At least we are a bit more confident in the tests the CAT scan that he had done.
AH
Reply # - January 19, 2017, 08:51 AM
Right, most pulmonologists
Right, most pulmonologists would feel confident the findings show no lung tumors.
Cancer related weight loss is due to not eating. Perhaps his metabolism is out of wack since it plays a part in both energy level and weight. I hope he finds his balance again soon. BTW, I'm in my late 50s and this has been the most difficult decade of all, not the least of which is due to aging and caring for my husband during his cancer journey.
All best,
Janine
Reply # - January 19, 2017, 01:16 PM
Sorry for the loss of your
Sorry for the loss of your mother. Have them check his thyroid, this can also cause fatigue. And you might want to check the EPA radon map for the area your mother & father lived in. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. If he's still living in the same home and the EPA map shows it as a high/med radon area, I'd get a radon test from your state health department to check his home. It should be free but to process it after might be under $10.
Take care, Judy
Reply # - January 20, 2017, 09:56 AM
Thank you both so much for
Thank you both so much for helping out. It has been very reassuring. I will also read up on radon, i was not aware of the danger from it.
Wish you well
AH
Reply # - January 21, 2017, 08:11 AM
Hi AH,
Hi AH,
Although I agree with Janine that a clean scan makes it quite unlikely that his symptoms are caused by an unseen lung cancer, if you want to check out his house (and your own!) for radon I would do it despite what the radon map says, as there can be very localized concentrations not reflected in the data used to compile such maps.
I hope that further workup will reveal an easily-corrected cause for your father's symptoms. Glad to hear that he has found love again.
JimC
Forum moderator
Reply # - January 21, 2017, 01:22 PM
Thank you too Jim. I will go
Thank you too Jim. I will go ahead and get the radon checks done and also let others know about this.
Wish you all well
AH