My grandpa just died of lung cancer?

Question

This is the story. My grandpa has smoked for nearly 50 years. He was a heavy smoker, but he stopped smoking 6 months ago. He began with some weird chest and back pains in August/September. He said food tasted different. Doctors made him some studies but really didn't find out anything. But he began with some lung problems so he finally went with a pneumologist in November. He ordered some chest X-ray, and he said "they were bacterias". He had some antibiotics. He felt Ok for 2 weeks but after that he got worse. He wasn't eating and had several problems with breathing. So the doctor made him CT scan and a biopsy. Biopsy failed to show cancer. He went with another doctor, more studies were done, but failed to show what he had.

Well to make this story short, the last 4 weeks were unbearable. He couldn't sleep, or even talk. Grandma was also getting sick because she wasn't sleeping. He went to the hospital twice because a lot of grey liquid was forming in his lungs in the last weeks. But doctors never gave him any treatment. Last Tuesday (when they gave us the final study of several biopsies) the original doctor told us he had lung cancer and he only had.. 1 week of life! That was shocking. I always had hoped it was some strange disease doctors could cure. But he just died after osnly 2 freaking days. How could doctors missed the cancer!!? They did TONS of studies. He died very fast. I'm really disappointed with all the doctors who couldn't tell soon enough, that he had a very agressive cancer. They had 4-5 months. Why did he die so fast? I'm really upset because I was going to visit him Saturday to the hospital, I really wanted to see him one last time, but he lives far away from here.

So my question is: Doctors were incompetent or
cancer, specially lung cancer, sometimes it's really hard to diagnose? I often read that doctors give 6 months, 1 year, etc. to live when patients have lung cancer. Why only a 1 week prognosis for my grandpa? (which was really 1 and a half day)

Answer 1

From books and working in a medical library for years and seeing the literature, cancer introduces itself in many ways. Doctors often don't want to admit it but they don't always have answers and cancer is often found in late stage when they finally do exploratory surgeries. My great uncle was given 6 months and he died in 5. Cancer is often know as a silent killer and is only detected in last stages.
My suggestion to you is: watching a loved one die like he did where he just wasted away is painful. You are naturally feeling angry that something more wasn't done. At the time he discovered problems, it sounds like it was already end stage. I encourage you to learn from it, get yourself checked out as it often opens up fears within yourself and move on and treasure the memories. If you feel emotions to much, seek out a cancer survivors support group or counseling as being angry wastes energy and time in your own life. I wish you well

Answer 2

What you read is not a general guideline to follow. Some forms of Lung cancer can be slowly revolving while others can invade like ants on sugar. Lung cancer is almost incurable and those who even detect it earlier are only offered a bit more time with medication, chemo and other treatment. The bottom line is simple....lung cancer will eventually kill.

The fact remains, your grandfather smoked for 50 years, what did you expect? He was slowly killing himself and raising the risk level of contracting lung cancer. You can be mad at the doctors all you want but it resolves nothing. Some cancers are just not that easy to detect until it's in it's advance stages. It's difficult to lose a loved one, but consider it a learning experience. You need to treat your body with care and respect or it will eventually fail on you.

BTW, my father died of lung cancer and it also took him in TWO WEEKS once it was detected. He was first diagnosed with pneumonia which was later detected as cancer. He started smoking at the age of 13 and died at 53. It was difficult to lose him so soon, but it's too be expected since he smoked most of his life.

Answer 3

it's not so hard to suspect a cancer but it takes time and some experiences needed. In some cases it'll be suspect at first test but sometimes it can not. I got same thing with my father-in-law last Dec. I sad, angried but at last i really that god not blesssing me n my wife

Answer 4

Sorry to hear about you grandfather.
Unfortunately, medicine isn't an exact science and each case is different. I'd hate to think that his doctors were incompetent, but you never know.