Yesterday was a decently good day. My dad met with his oncologist, Dr. DeLuca. He learned that his cancer is caused
by a genetic defect. So they are switching him to a new chemo
concoction WITH radiation, starting around the first week of March.
He's been tattooed and petscanned. His petscan came back good,
relatively speaking, as it only detected the little (2cm) piece of cancer they
had to leave in him during the last surgery, so that's good news. (They
had to leave that small piece of cancer in him because it was attached
to his arterial vein, and scraping it off would have risked puncturing a
main vein.)
No new cancer and the pain he's been having in his back since October seems to point to a slipped disk. That's encouraging! This, and along with two new aggressive forms of therapy is giving us hope that there will come a day when the treatments can be lessened and he can get on with enjoying life.
We are looking forward to quality time on "Hammertime" this summer (our boat). Last year's chemo left dad feeling yucky most of the time. We are praying that this intensive treatment will be behind us with good results by mid-May--that's when he'll have another petscan done. This regimen is supposed to be 5-6 weeks of radiation with chemo every week (he did every-other week last year). And this time, he will lose his hair... maybe it will come back curly and he'll rock a 'flo' this year.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Upon Shaky Ground Once Again
Hi Everyone,
Things are moving full-steam ahead with my Dad's treatments. On Monday, he begins radiation therapy. He will undergo five or six weeks of treatments, five days a week. He'll also begin a new round of a different kind of chemotherapy around the same time. He works hard every day to get stronger, but he is frustrated that his body isn't bouncing back like he thinks it should. I do all I can to assure him that two major surgeries is a lot to endure in a year.
Monday is my Dad's 74th birthday... working on him to get out of the house and make the most of every day.
Things are moving full-steam ahead with my Dad's treatments. On Monday, he begins radiation therapy. He will undergo five or six weeks of treatments, five days a week. He'll also begin a new round of a different kind of chemotherapy around the same time. He works hard every day to get stronger, but he is frustrated that his body isn't bouncing back like he thinks it should. I do all I can to assure him that two major surgeries is a lot to endure in a year.
Monday is my Dad's 74th birthday... working on him to get out of the house and make the most of every day.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Today Was a Very Good Day
Dad had a good day today. During this morning's visit with Dad's urology doctor we learned that the tumor found behind the kidney was BENIGN. He does, however have a very small piece of cancer that they could not remove during surgery because it was stuck to the arterial vein that supplies blood to the legs. Had they dug too deep into that arterial vein, they'd have risked puncturing the vein and having major blood loss. The doctor assured us that the area is well marked and we are hoping that the radiation will keep the bad spot under control. Dad will start a new regimen chemotherapy and radiation during the first week of March.
The doctor also re-assured Dad that everything else he's feeling is normal for the first month after surgery: lack of appetite, tiredness, all of the pains he's having.... all NORMAL. I'm convinced this surgery was a blessing. The cancer found during the reconstructive surgery wasn't detected on his recent CATSCAN, they only found because they saw it while they had him open during surgery. And, although the healing is tough, he has a fresh start with a new chemotherapy and with the added radiation, he has a good chance of managing the remaining bad cells.
I played cupid and bought my mother a beautiful flower for Valentine's Day from my Dad, and tucked a V-Day card in his jacket for him to give to my mom tomorrow. We stopped at the Rheb's chocolate store across the street from the hospital, (there were only 30 people ahead of us in line..no joke). Nonetheless, we emerged with our candy, delivered 2 lbs of chocolate to his wonderful doctor, and made our trip back home. And, I gave my dad his first "real" haircut in about a year, so he was happy to see his old self in the mirror again :) All in all, a good day. Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support. XXXOOO
The doctor also re-assured Dad that everything else he's feeling is normal for the first month after surgery: lack of appetite, tiredness, all of the pains he's having.... all NORMAL. I'm convinced this surgery was a blessing. The cancer found during the reconstructive surgery wasn't detected on his recent CATSCAN, they only found because they saw it while they had him open during surgery. And, although the healing is tough, he has a fresh start with a new chemotherapy and with the added radiation, he has a good chance of managing the remaining bad cells.
I played cupid and bought my mother a beautiful flower for Valentine's Day from my Dad, and tucked a V-Day card in his jacket for him to give to my mom tomorrow. We stopped at the Rheb's chocolate store across the street from the hospital, (there were only 30 people ahead of us in line..no joke). Nonetheless, we emerged with our candy, delivered 2 lbs of chocolate to his wonderful doctor, and made our trip back home. And, I gave my dad his first "real" haircut in about a year, so he was happy to see his old self in the mirror again :) All in all, a good day. Happy Valentine's Day! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support. XXXOOO
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Going Home Tomorrow!
Well, the staples came out this afternoon. My Dad could have came home tonight, but he wanted to stay until tomorrow... Must be the awesome hospital food.
No Plate Surgery!
Morning...quick update: no surgery needed to plates inside my dad, a different doc came in this morning to clarify that. Plates are placed outside the body before the treatment.
And another tidbit of good news: the lymph nodes around the bladder showed no signs of cancer.
He will be discharged tomorrow.
Thank you, God, for that good news today!
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
When It Rains...
Oh how I wish things were looking up.
The oncology doctor stopped by to see my dad this afternoon while my mom and I weren't there, so we were unable to ask questions. But, here's what we know: the doctor told my dad that he has the kind of cancer that will "bounce around the body." We are sick over this latest news, and Dad is deeply depressed. They are planning to do yet ANOTHER surgery to put some kind of plates over his organs to protect them throughout the radiation treatments.... don't know when they plan to do this next surgery, what's involved, when they'll start radiation/chemo, quality of life issues, etc.
But for now, it looks like they are going to send him home, possibly tomorrow or Thursday. He is eating normal foods again, swallowing pills, walking, and passing all of the other milestones needed to get his pass to go home. Both of my folks are tired and worn out. Home nursing visits are arranged when he gets home.
Short of a miracle, please pray for God's hand to cradle us through this difficult time. Much love to all....
The oncology doctor stopped by to see my dad this afternoon while my mom and I weren't there, so we were unable to ask questions. But, here's what we know: the doctor told my dad that he has the kind of cancer that will "bounce around the body." We are sick over this latest news, and Dad is deeply depressed. They are planning to do yet ANOTHER surgery to put some kind of plates over his organs to protect them throughout the radiation treatments.... don't know when they plan to do this next surgery, what's involved, when they'll start radiation/chemo, quality of life issues, etc.
But for now, it looks like they are going to send him home, possibly tomorrow or Thursday. He is eating normal foods again, swallowing pills, walking, and passing all of the other milestones needed to get his pass to go home. Both of my folks are tired and worn out. Home nursing visits are arranged when he gets home.
Short of a miracle, please pray for God's hand to cradle us through this difficult time. Much love to all....
Sunday, February 1, 2015
It's Been a Long Time
... since I've updated. Wish I had much better news to report. My Dad's most recent surgery revealed that the cancer returned, and we are sick over this recent finding. It didn't show up on the CATscan he had after chemo in October. It was very close to the place where they originally found it. What was supposed to be a 3.5 - 4 hour surgery to remove a kidney tube and reconstruct a ureter ended up being about 7 hour surgery to remove cancer, remove a kidney, fix a hernia, and to remove mesentery (a membrane/lining outside of the intestinal cavity).
Removing the kidney was the right thing to do; a small piece of cancer was found above the kidney when they removed it. Doctors tell us they removed 98% of what they could see and feel with their hands (apparently, cancer feels hard), and they say they spent a great deal of time inspecting the intestines and surrounding organs.
So what's next? Meeting with the oncologist on Feb 11, at which time a team will have met to discuss pathology reports and better understand the biology of the cancer makeup. Chemo/radiation are being discussed at this time, but no start date has been mentioned and honestly, I don't know if my dad will agree to doing more chemo. He had many side effects: sickness throughout the treatment, numbness in his hands and feet, foggy thinking, visual problems, and loose teeth.
One of the optimistic docs who spoke with us during the surgery said my dad could go on for five years managing his cancer. I love him dearly and want to see him enjoy whatever time he can. We have short conversations about this, and at this point, we've come to take it day by day. Please pray for a miracle. They tell us there is no cure. The best we can hope for is that it can be managed with treatment(s).
God bless him, he is doing everything in his power to meet every milestone the doctors have put in his path. He's walking, blowing in his spirometer, his stomach tube and epidural have been removed, he's eating ice chips, candy, and chewing gum. He's still experiencing a good deal of pain, and I'm almost certain tomorrow they will remove his PCA pump (self-administered pain med-pump), and move him to on-demand shots of pain meds every 4 hours. The anesthesia doc wanted the PCA pump removed Saturday a.m., but for some reason, he's had it all weekend and Dad has wanted it that way.... asking for help at the hospital usually results in a 1-3 hour wait.
Please continue your prayers, cards, and calls -- my mom reads each text, e-mail, and mentions every phone call to him if he isn't up for conversations.
Removing the kidney was the right thing to do; a small piece of cancer was found above the kidney when they removed it. Doctors tell us they removed 98% of what they could see and feel with their hands (apparently, cancer feels hard), and they say they spent a great deal of time inspecting the intestines and surrounding organs.
So what's next? Meeting with the oncologist on Feb 11, at which time a team will have met to discuss pathology reports and better understand the biology of the cancer makeup. Chemo/radiation are being discussed at this time, but no start date has been mentioned and honestly, I don't know if my dad will agree to doing more chemo. He had many side effects: sickness throughout the treatment, numbness in his hands and feet, foggy thinking, visual problems, and loose teeth.
One of the optimistic docs who spoke with us during the surgery said my dad could go on for five years managing his cancer. I love him dearly and want to see him enjoy whatever time he can. We have short conversations about this, and at this point, we've come to take it day by day. Please pray for a miracle. They tell us there is no cure. The best we can hope for is that it can be managed with treatment(s).
God bless him, he is doing everything in his power to meet every milestone the doctors have put in his path. He's walking, blowing in his spirometer, his stomach tube and epidural have been removed, he's eating ice chips, candy, and chewing gum. He's still experiencing a good deal of pain, and I'm almost certain tomorrow they will remove his PCA pump (self-administered pain med-pump), and move him to on-demand shots of pain meds every 4 hours. The anesthesia doc wanted the PCA pump removed Saturday a.m., but for some reason, he's had it all weekend and Dad has wanted it that way.... asking for help at the hospital usually results in a 1-3 hour wait.
Please continue your prayers, cards, and calls -- my mom reads each text, e-mail, and mentions every phone call to him if he isn't up for conversations.
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