does anyone have any ideas what the prognosis is for bone cancer?

Question

My dad has lung cancer which has spread to his bones but he is not really telling us what the doctors have told him about his prognosis other than that all they all can do is try to keep him comfortable. I need to know so I can then make plans to be near him as we live hundreds of miles apart.

Answer 1

Hi, sorry to hear about your dad.
My father passed away several years ago with something similar.
All I can give you as advice is make your plans to go and see him sooner rather than later.
All the best

Answer 2

Go visit him now. You may not know how bad it is unless you spend some time with him. Hopefully it won't be real bad. Then plan on another trip later when you can.

These days cancer metastisis can be kept under control for many years in some cases. But in other cases it cannot. So hope for the best, plan for the worst, and say what you need to say to him right away. My father-in-law was told he had up to 3 months but died 3 days later. Don't put it off. He definitely needs you asap.

Metastisis to the bones is stage four. This is very serious. Look it up on the internet.

Answer 3

Visit now, don't postpone. It must be very hard for your Dad to get a poor prognosis from his Doctor, but he shouldn't give up hope and should fight. There are different kinds of lung cancers some grow faster than others. Has your Dad tried to enroll in a clinical trial? There are so many new medications out there, which could give him more years to come. But it is all up to your Dad, if he wants to go through with it or not. My mom died of lung cancer and she didn't get any treatments and after her diagnosis she lived for two more years, but a friend of mine died 6 months after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Go now and see your Dad, he needs you more than ever.

Answer 4

I am really sorry to hear about your dad. My advice is to visit him as soon and as often as possible. Your dad is quite right that all the doctors can do now is keep him as pain free as possible. Unfortunately lung cancer is a very serious and quickly spreading disease and once it has spread to the bones (called bone metastases) it is at a very late stage. However at the same time nobody can predict how long your dad will be able to survive as it depends very much on your dad's general health and inner strength. Show him all the support he needs and if you wish to know more look at: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/ or http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/.

Answer 5

I am sorry to hear your dads news. When I read your question, my heart kinda sank cos it sounded so like my dads condition. I felt frightened but was kept in the picture every step of the way and for that I am grateful. If your dad is not telling you much, maybe he is trying to protect you in his own way or maybe he is trying to digest information himself. Perhaps, and please please don't take this literally as without information from your dad or his docs no one can foresee what your dads prognosis is, but perhaps the 'trying to keep you comfortable' is all they can do. Primary cancer on its own is hard enough to deal with but when there are secondaries involved....well, who knows. There are treatments available but without details of his prognosis or what the docs plan to do for your dad, its difficult to give clear answers and cancer is often down to speculation. Perhaps you could ask your dad if he would object to you speaking with his oncologist? In the meantime, try www.cancerbacup.org which is manned by a team of specialist nurses who are very supportive and give out excellent advice and help...I don;t know where I would have been without them during some of the dark days. I wish you well, I wish your dad and family well and I hope that you find the answers you desperately need. Take care xxx

Answer 6

I'm sorry to hear your dad is ill, my grandfather suffered from prostate cancer and only opted for treatment when he realised my wife was pregnant and wanted to see his great grandson born (which he managed bless him).

Unfortunately he never let on that he had cancer so by the time I took him for a "check up" I was told in a round-about way that it had spread to his bones and that all they could do was make him comfortable. A few weeks later I had the dreaded visit by his son to tell me the bad news of his passing.

Please by no means accept this as a diagnosis for your dad, but cherish every moment you two have together as life is so short anyway.

Answer 7

Be grateful they don't seem to be doing chemo--this is hell in the international and could probable kill her--my sister went by using that with breast maximum cancers. Do regardless of you are able to to cajole her to quit artwork--no remember if she has a million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days, 5 years or 10 years left, she would to boot commence residing each and on a daily basis as her final--i don't say that to be merciless: that's the way we would desire to continuously all stay time-honored yet usually do not evaluate.. that is puzzling to estimate how long she would have by using fact that is totally a lot based on her physique of strategies, how some distance the main cancers has progressed, and her well being in any different case. My Dad became into clinically determined with malignant cancer 15 years in the past and given 6 months to stay. on account that then he's had 4 melanomas bumped off, and for the period of the years that is metastasized to his prostate and his bones. He has refused all remedies which includes radiation, chemo and so on. by using fact he believes the therapy is worse than the ailment. that is demanding to argue with somebody nevertheless alive years after he's meant to have croaked--he jokes that the only reason human beings come to pass to him is to work out if he remains around. He has often stable days (is going for walks and assembly him you will by no skill comprehend) and low undesirable days (rests in mattress) yet usual he's outstanding--he's eighty one. I point out this to assist you comprehend your mom could be in the 50% who beats the percentages and is right here with us into her 80s. wish and faith are remarkable tonics. I want you and your mom wish and faith, and pray for the two one in all you. stable success!

Answer 8

Definately go see him - he needs your support. My mother died last year of a brain tumor and that's all she wanted was her family by her in the end.

THAT SAID...it doesn't necessarily mean the "end" for your dad. Medicine is really a miracle these days. My uncle had bone cancer in his arm and had to have the ENTIRE bone removed between his shoulder and elbow and they replaced it with a titanium rod and it's been a rough road recovering and surgeries and everything, but he has full use of his arm and can even write and work with tools again! :) Good luck to your dad.

ALSO....it doesn't hurt for your entire family to "plan for the worst" for everyone...not just your father.

Answer 9

my dad had lung cancer which spread to the bones, specialist told me the bone cancer was not life threatening but he was at risk of getting broken bones if he fell
that was 10 years ago treatments are improving all the time

Answer 10

the best thing to do is make arrangements to visit him and make an appointment with his oncologist, usually they do offer appointments to close family members.
i do know that lung cancer is an aggressive cancer that spreads quickly, secondries to that are not usually a great sign, i would if i were you visit sooner rather than later.....sorry if that does not sound very positive to you but you would regret it if you didnt get to see your dad.
i wish you the best of luck and thoughts to you and your dad x