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.