Lung Cancer / Air Ambulance

n1234t · New User Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Hi,
I only yesterday found out my Father has Lung Cancer, which has also gone to his bones. I found out today that the Tumour cannot be removed due to where it is. He is currently being tested on to decide what chemo is best.
We have been told that only if the chemo works does he have 4-6 months.
This situation is currently made worse by the fact that my dad is a Uk citizen, who moved to Thailand last year. He is currently being treated in a hospital in Bangkok.
I live in the Uk (as well as my brothers) but I'm currently in America travelling. So being able to contact people and getting information has been very difficult.
My family and I very much wish for my Dad to come back home to the Uk for his treatment. Not only is his treatment in Thailand extremly costly (he currently has enough money left for 6 Chemo treatments) but also we have to find money to get out to Thailand. We all wish for him to be able to come back home, but are unsure if this is possible.
I have sent several emails to companies, and the Embassay etc, but would just like any advice from anyone, or information/support etc would be appreciated, as I really feel like I don't know anything, and I'm sure like anyone else going through this I feel useless, and this is my only way to feel like I'm doing something.
Thank you for any help!
N

Ps- If this isn't the correct place to post this topic please point me in the right direction. Thank you

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1264

N,

Hello and I'm very sorry to hear about this diagnosis for your Dad. You sound pretty frantic. Take a deep breath and take care of yourself too.

Is he in reasonable health? Can he simply catch a flight home? Unless he is in a very fragile condition, air flights are usually okay. If he needs oxygen, there will be an upcharge for their oxygen because airlines won't let you carry your own. If he has enough to cover chemo costs in Thailand, then he has more than enough to cover an airline ticket. The flight attendants will make sure he is comfortable, but only if he is ambulatory or in a wheel chair. Maybe one of you could fly down to accompany him home.

He would just have to make sure to get up and move around to prevent nasty blood clots which are a danger to lc patients.

OR

He can remain in Thailand and get some stability with the cancer and then come home. The biggest question though is what does your Dad want to do?

Good luck and keep us posted.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

n1234t · New User Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Thank you so much for replying so quickly.

I believe we have been told, that he would need to travel with a Doctor and nurse, he also has to have oxygen 24/7.

My Father's back is causing him a great deal of pain, whether this is due to the cancer in his bones, or because of on going back problems that he has suffered from for many years. I don't think he would be able to sit on a normal plane seat, due to the pain.

His Neice is out in Thailand with him at the moment, so she would be able to accompany him back.

Is it possible then that a normal airline maybe able to accomodate this? As I've mainly just been looking into Air Ambulances.

Thanks again

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1264

Hi N,

I think his niece is going to have to talk with the doctors about how he needs to be handled for an air trip. I can't make an assessment on how well he can handle the pain in this type of situation for an extended flight. Although my husband was also on oxygen 24/7, we did make one 2 1/2 hour flight without it. He was sitting calmly and was able to handle a short flight. He wasn't in pain though and on no pain meds. This does confuse the issue. How long would the flight be? The doctors are probably being ultra-cautious for his sake and to cover themselves too. In some situations, it is inadvisable to fly. They can do pressure tests with a pulmonologist to determine if he should fly.

I know there are charity groups organized to fly people for treatment, etc. in the U.S., but I don't know that a group exists that would fly from one country to another.

Does he want to come home? He really may need to stay there to receive some treatment. This may give some relief from the pain, shrink some of the cancer, and allow him to be able to fly commercially after a few treatments and further assessment.

Normal airlines can provide oxygen and he might have to buy a first class ticket for comfort, if he thinks he can make the trip in that way.

Keep us posted. This is a tricky situation and I'm very sorry.

PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

n1234t · New User Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Hi, just wanted to keep you updated.... his niece has spoken to him, and currently he doesn't want to be moved. Which was an option we had thought about, obviously we will do what he wants as that is what's most important. His niece said the she will continue to talk about it, after a few chemo's to see if he changes his mind.
He has had his first lot of chemo today, I will have to wait until tomorrow to find out how this went.
That's really all I know for the time being.

Just wanted to let you know, and to say thank you again for replying so quickly to my previous posts

x

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1264

N,

I hope you have gotten word about the first treatment from your Dad's niece and that it went well.

Have hope that he will respond and be able to come home under his own power in the near future.

Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

n1234t · New User Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 4

Hi
Unfortunately my Father passed away yesterday.
I still cannot believe it, I'm 24 and I'm never going to see my Dad again.
All I keep saying is that I can't believe it. It had been a year since I'd seen him as he had moved to Thailand (which was his dream for so many years- so we're all so pleased he did that) but its so hard, because when i last saw him he was fine, and when we last we're in contact he was making plans of what he wanted to do, or things he wanted to buy etc and now this.
I wish I could have seen him to give him a hug and say all the things I wanted to say, I know he knew but I just so wanted to see him.
I had planned to go out to Thailand (after returning from America) and for him to show me his house and what he did etc, he would have been so proud and pleased.
Anyway I'm rambling.
I don't know too much about what happened yesterday. He's chemo was taking place over 3 days for one treatment, the first one taking 8 hours, after this I had phoned his neice and she was suprised at how well he was, he'd been up and had a wash and shave, and was in good spirits. He was having 2 hours of chemo the next day, the next thing was that i was woken up with the call saying he might not make it through the night. The only information I've managed to get about this so far is that my brother thinks that he had developed a blood clot.
I had only known about this in total 4 days, and I can't believe it!
I will never forget him. My Dad was one of a kind a true character, and always did what he wanted to do. Memories will be with me forever.

Thanks so much for you're support
x

Anonymous · Guest

I'm sorry to hear about your father. Perhaps keeping the home in Thailand may be a good idea. And to visit it as a memorial for your father.
Perhaps you could turn it into a timeshare and all the profits would go towards cancer charities etc. I'm sure your dad would appreciate people using the house he built and the proceeds going towards the lives of others.

I hope you and your family will be able to get past this tough spot. Accept what has happened and move on. Your dad is at peace now.

pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 1264

Oh N --- I'm shocked.

I'm so very sorry to hear of your Dad's quick passing. Obviously this feels terrible for you and will for a long time. Take heart that he did live his dream, but I know that doesn't negate the feeling of loss. LC has a high rate for blood clots and he probably threw one into his lung. It can take a person very quickly.

May God be with you as you travel the sad days ahead.

We're here if you need to talk.

Hugs,
PBJ
_________________
Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

Post describing our battle: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=7026&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lung Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others