Today was the first visit to the oncologist. The dr explained that Dick has stage 3 lung cancer and went over the treatment options. Since he has already had a large mass of the cancer removed a few weeks ago, treatment does look different. The chemo that would be prescribed to a stage 3 lung cancer patient is very rough on your body. It effects the kidneys and hearing and has many other troubling side effects. The doctor did not recommend chemo because studies have shown that it helps only 5% of patients in this situation. That is not a very high percentage. The recommendation is that Dick have scans every 3 months ("close surveillance"). He is scheduled for November 30th for a pet scan and then a visit to the oncologist on December 6th to review the results. If the cancer ever does metastasize, then there are other suggested treatment options. At this point, we all feel confident in no harsh chemo at this time, and opting for quality of life. Dick is not having any pain or issues related to the cancer. Dick just needs to recover from his surgery and enjoy life just like everyone else.