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Original poster

My Dad is having his brain irridated for Lung Cancer

37 replies

KatyMac · 31/10/2014 22:15

I know it's prophylactic - but can you explain why?

I know the small cell lung cancer can spread to the brain; but why do you use radiotherapy rather than scanning to see if there are problems & treating then

I know it's standard practise & that's how we do things; but could someone tell me why?

OP posts:
PacificWerewolf · 31/10/2014 22:18

Sorry to hear your dad is going through this, Katy.

I know next to nothing about radiotherapy but just to say that scans only show up tumours from a certain size, so treating your father may well be to 'mop up' cancer that may still be too small to be 'visible'.

Most cancer treatment is very much protocol driven e.g. you have cancer type x, histology and staging shows y = treatment z.

I hope somebody more knowledgable will come along.

Wishing your dad all the best x.

lemisscared · 31/10/2014 22:19

I would imagine that they are zapping any cells that may have spread. These wont show on a scan but will be susceptible to ionising radiation.

CMOTDibbler · 31/10/2014 22:24

They know that small cell lung cancer moves rapidly to the brain, but by the time you can see a tumour there will be others as well - and as each of those will be millions of cells and need much more radiation to kill them than by using a much smaller dose to the whole brain early on.

Annietheacrobat · 31/10/2014 22:24

Katy - it's done because clinical studies have shown it to be effective. Essentially the smaller a tumour is - the easier it is to treat with radiotherapy.

Original poster
KatyMac · 31/10/2014 22:26

& is it maybe there or definitely there?

I know it's good news (as they wouldn't bother if the lung cancer hadn't gone/nearly gone) it just seems so unspecific

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Annietheacrobat · 31/10/2014 22:32

Maybe there. Small cell lung cancer does have a tendency to spread to the brain but this does not occur in everyone.

Annietheacrobat · 31/10/2014 22:34

And I agree that it is good news - as they probably wouldn't be giving it if he hadn't responded well to his other treatment.

Original poster
KatyMac · 31/10/2014 22:36

It's so confusing; when he was first diagnosed we didn't think he'd live this long (The consultant told my brother to come over from Sweden in July, not wait until he was booked in September)

So is this like finishing a course of anti-biotics even tho' the symptoms have gone or more like the second dose of a worming treatment

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PacificWerewolf · 31/10/2014 22:36

Yes, maybe there.
There's no way to 'prove' there's cancer cells in the brain other than sicking the whole brain under a microscope. Which is not v practical… Wink

And yes, good news.

PacificWerewolf · 31/10/2014 22:37

Same thing, really Grin

Original poster
KatyMac · 31/10/2014 22:40

I guess I'm a bit in shock (again)

I mean it was over 8cms when they found it & now they can't see it on the scan

He has 1 Chemo left - but the last Radio really took it out of him

He looks iller today than he ever has

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Honeezreturnofthelivingdead · 01/11/2014 22:37

Katy, I remember your thread when your dad was first diagnosed,
My father had throat cancer this year, he had almost 7 weeks of daily radiotherapy. He pleaded not to have the last 2 sessions as he felt so awful, his throat was red raw inside and out, couldn't eat! lost weight and felt awful.
He was persuaded to finish the course and ended up in hospital 2 weeks later with dehydration and awful thrush
They were grim times,
But now, 6 months after treatment he is amazing, (hes 70) has lots more energy, has put weight back on and has 6 weekly checks and they cannot see where the cancer was on his vocal chords Smile
I say all this to try and reassure you that it sounds good news on your dad's side, it is extremely tough going but there is light at the end of the tunnel
Thanks

Original poster
KatyMac · 01/11/2014 22:54

The 3 weeks of radio he has had were terribly hard on him & I think this will all have to happen before Christmas

6 months ago he was a very young fit boat builder; he's now an old tired dozing by the fire invalid

It's very hard

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Original poster
KatyMac · 01/11/2014 22:55

Your poor dad Sad - how wonderful for you that he is back with you

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Honeezreturnofthelivingdead · 01/11/2014 23:19

I cant believe what radiotherapy did to him Sad he couldn't walk to the end of the road, and slept for days.
but just remember its not permanent, its a means to and end.

Honeezreturnofthelivingdead · 01/11/2014 23:20

means to an end

Vintagebeads · 01/11/2014 23:58

My Dad had lung cancer too a different type he had non small cell.
I know with dad they said the radiotherapy was used to be more specific.Where with the chemo was more a total wipeout.
Hope your dad feels better soon,all that treatment wipes them out.

Original poster
KatyMac · 02/11/2014 08:49

I know

It's so hard to watch them

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Original poster
KatyMac · 19/01/2015 15:02

He's had his treatment & now is terribly sick - apparently it's radiation sickness

Any suggestions for helping him feel a bit better

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Annietheacrobat · 19/01/2015 17:45

Hi Katy is he taking on steroids? (Dexamethasone) . They can help with sickness caused by radiotherapy to the brain.

BTW When you say sick do you mean unwell or nauseous?

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/01/2015 18:06

Nausea & vomiting

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Original poster
KatyMac · 19/01/2015 18:07

He finished his radiotherapy on 4th Jan & has been very very tired but this week it's been the sickness

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Annietheacrobat · 19/01/2015 18:10

Ok Katy the first thing to do is check he is on steroids. If not starting a small dose would probably help. If he is already taking them, increasing the dose is a good idea. Do you have an out of hours radiotherapy contact number?

Annietheacrobat · 19/01/2015 20:37

Also has he had blood tests to check his calcium and blood sugar levels?

Original poster
KatyMac · 19/01/2015 21:18

Nope no steroids - they have him on antihistamines as the radiotherapy has made the sensors that pick up movement go squiffy - like motion sickness

He was signed off & is not expecting to be seen until March

But I might mention calcium & blood sugar & see if that might work (to get him to see the GP)

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