Am incorrect in assuming, since the prescribed treatment is chemo, that the tumor is inoperable? Any med-heads out there?
I'm not a cancer specialist, but I'm an MD... I just heard about this a few minutes ago, so I don't have any details. Lung cancer has several sub-types, only a few of while are operable. The types caused by smoking tend to be less operable and more receptive to chemo. It all depends on the extent of the spread and how advanced it is in the lung... In short, there are too many variables for me to speculate without more information... sorry.
"that the tumor is inoperable?
That would be my guess based on experience with 3 lung cancers in my family. Either in a bad location or spread too far already.
Not a med-head, but speaking from experience @ M D Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, they will usually try to reduce the tumor(s)with chemo before surgery.
His voice is affected. Not good, means mediastinal invasion. You're right, inoperable disease. This will kill him.