Loraine
Dear Sir, My dad was diagnosed lung cancer last November, he actually had chest pains therefore went for some test, and the cancer was diagnosed. He had radiotherapy which help him a lot, but then he had chemo, and before this treatment he was not well but ok, and now it is worse, he his physically and mentally another person. My dad is 64, never saw a doctor before now, and frankly I whish he never did the chemo. The cancer is reduced but still a live. It is a very difficult decision, doctors will of course push you to have chemo, because they believe in science but at the end they forget it is people they are dealing , and not a science project. But I think you need to face that cancer is cancer, and that even if chemo reduce it, it will not cure it. The aim now it not to suffer, to appreciate your live, not to blame anyone for your cancer, you where a smoker, but my dad was not, and he still had lung cancer, the doctor said that he did not have another 6 months to live, I do not know how direct your doctor was with you, but even if it is 2 years, doctors do not know how your body will react to chemo, it got worse for my dad, now he can to hear from one side anymore because of the radiation, he lost 40 kilos in 2 months, (sickness, did not want to heat, ) thanks to chemo. You should share this with your wife/girl friend and whenever she is ok with your decision, talk to your kids about it, and I really hope they will respect whatever your decision will be. Enjoy live now while you still can, but do not suffer with heavy treatment, what is to point. I will not say "break a leg" because you have enough on your plate, but I wish all the best whatever decision you will take, because at the end it is your body you are dealy with, and are still in control of it. Loraine