multiple cancers

Male, age 64.  I was diagnosed with lung cancer in January of this year.  I had a lobectomy of the upper lobe - right lung in March.  Staging was 1B.   Followed with four chemo treatments and so far so good.  As a result, I decided to retire this year, effective Monday 12-31-12.  It's close!  Two weeks ago my urologist called to tell me I have prostate cancer.  He thinks a prostatectomy is the way to go, "if the lung cancer doesn't come back." I don't have lots of details on the prostate cancer other than a Gleason score of 7 (3+4).  He calls the cancer aggressive.  I have been trying for a week to get in to my oncologist, finally getting an appointment with him for January 4th, for his opinion.  I like him and value his opinion.

 I went through the lobectomy surgery with head held high and a top of the world attitude.  It was a breeze.  This time I am struggling to get and maintain that attitude.  I believe prayer (mine and others) and a positive attitude helped me the first time.  But that is harder to do this time.  I am thinking I need to be positive and think the lung cancer won't recur and go ahead with the prostate surgery.  Again, easy to say but hard to do.

Has anyone had anything like this happen to them?  Are there any questions you can think of that I should ask the oncologist (or urologist) when I meet with him?  Thank you.

gray knight, Welcome to HealingWell. I am sorry it is under these circumstances but we do stick pretty close together and everyone on here is so supportive and kind so please stick with us and we will help you in any way we can.   Let me see if my sharing with you will at least let you know you are not alone and I do understand how tough it is to make life altering decisions.   In 2007 I was dx with skin cancer and thankfully with surgical removal of 5 skin cancers I have not had a repeat but I do get checked frequently.  I nearly fell off my chair when I received the news that my biopsies were cancerous.    On August 10th of this year at my yearly physically I was dx with a " giangantic cancerous colon tumor with a nasty attitude" according to my surgeon whom I know very well.  His comment was made after surgery as he was letting me know that onward to the oncologist I would be going for chemo. I had an  undifferentiated adenocarcinoma with lymph node involvement.  My colon cancer is a Stage IIIC and my chemo is very tough on me physically but I am in the middle of this battle and even though my anxiety sky rockets at times I know I have to keep on with treatment.   My hubby had prostatectomy in 2007 for cancer, early stage but we felt a total prostatectomy was the safest way to go and he has been fine ever since with his PSA remaining very low.   I think you are wise to see your oncologist first as you have the time.  I know you have been dealt a double whammy but keep on believing that you can and will beat both cancers.  It is the unknown and the making decisions that is so difficult.  Once I have made my decisions I may doubt myself for a moment or two but in the end I accept that I made an informed decision and I will live with it.   Do post in the Prostate Cancer forum as it is a very busy forum and you will find the members well versed in this topic.  Here is the link to the forum: https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35   Please keep on talking with us as we are here to support and share with you.   My Caring Bridge if you want to read about my experience with cancer: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/marytobias