Nancy, I am new to this site also just read your posts and have been struggling the battle with my father also. He started out 15 months ago with left lung mass. Had a Bronchoscope, Needle biopsy. and so on. Couldnt never get a diagnosis. Months went by 6 I think and finally we made them send it to the Moffit center in Tampa , small cell lung cancer. Now he did the radiation, chemo . Radiation every day for 6 weeks chemo once a week. Radiation was worse on him then the chemo, burning his esophagus, had terrible pain just to swallow saliva. That session was over and he did okay , survived and felt great after wards and made it to his 50th wedding anniversary to my mom in Sept. Then in October he went for more chemo to clean up the remaining (if any). He had one big dose dont know what kind once a month, knocked him to his knees. Course every patient is different and every side effect doesnt affect all . Read up on the treatments on the internet. Find out what side affects there are. But remember not every one has the same reactions. Anyway cancer was in remission. Short lived remission. By march 3 it had metastised still cant get the oncologist to tell us where. Just that he has progressive cancer and he is very sick , last alternative more chemo and new trial drug Iressa, dad has chosen not to go for any more. He wants to leave his fate in Gods hands and because his cancer is in the left lung it will affect his heart. He also survived a pulmonary embolism 6 weeks ago I believe. He has had fluid drained from the lung 3 times and the 4th time they had to insert a chest tube and they left it there for several days and treated him and then removed the tube. We pray the fluid doesnt build back up. His heart rate is about 100-130 up and down. He is on oxygen now continuous. Please be assertive and ask all the questions you can to his oncologist. Also write the questions down, then when you get in there ask them. Dont let them beat around the bush. Of course they dont have a crystal ball and wont tell you there is no hope believe me try all he wants to try and then accept when he decides to stop. It is hard my father is 72 and I am 38 I feel 38 years is not enough I hope and pray things go easily for you and your family and may God bless you and give your family strength and guide you where you need to go.