In a message dated 1/8/99 8:47:24 PM Eastern Standard Time, sonya_86@yahoo.com
writes:
> Found out my dad has squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs
Sonya,
That is exactly what my father has! Fortunately it is a slow-growing form of
cancer. My Dad's surgeon said, exact quote, "If you MUST have cancer, this is
the kind to have!" They think he may have had it for 2 years; I think
somewhere between 5 and 10 because of the changes I've been noting in my
father through those years.
His is non-small cell and supposedly responds best to surgery and radiation.
He had some surgery to remove the newer small growths in the right lung, but
they are treating the larger primary (walnut sized) in the left lung with
chemo. Plus I believe he had/has some in the nodes between the lungs. It
wasn't clear whether the Dr ever removed nodes or not.
Originally after his bronchoscopy he completely lost his voice; could only
whisper. The doctor said the tumor (at the bottom of his left lung) was
resting on a nerve and caused the vocal loss. He said if there was no
nerve damage (was not optimistic here) he might get his voice back. if the
tumor shrinks. At Thanksgiving he couldn't speak loud enough to ask for a
drink. Last week he happened to answer the phone and I was in total shock as
I could finally hear my father's voice again as it was several months ago. It
is still raspy but the volume level is right up there.
The doctor believes very strongly that this form of cancer was caused by
smoking; my Dad smoked from age 10-65 and quit 10 yrs ago (2-3 pks a day).
But he also worked at Bethlhem Steel in the open hearth plant years before
OSHA standards regulated emissions. He was exposed to many carcinogens, one
of which is asbestos. In fact, there is a class-action lawsuit about that
now.
Chris R.
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