Anyone with Pleural Mesothelioma

Hi Daughter33
My dad had
Hi Daughter33

My dad had mesothelioma. I'm here if have any questions. He did pass away on December 4th, 2011. He was 66 - too young. He was diagnosed in May 2010.

One day at time is the best advise I can give. My dad put up a good fight.

How old is your dad?

Onemore

daughter33 said:

Thanks
Sorry to hear about
Thanks
Sorry to hear about your father. I can only imagine how it will be when we reach that time too..hopefully it will be later rather than sooner
My father just turned 64 in Janurary. He is at his first chemo treatment today. It is one eight hour session every three weeks. I don't know how long he will do the chemo..it is all going to depend on how he tolerates it.
I think the worst part of this whole thing is all the uncertainity that our entire family is facing...yes we know it is terminal and yes we know this will kill him but we don't know how the quality of life will be and what my father will go thourgh. We are all just very scared about what is to come...

Dear Daughter33,
Thank
Dear Daughter33,

Thank you...take one day at a time. If you can - be there for him every step of the way...I was and I am so greatful...I understand how scared you and your family are..Some days are better than others...

How was your father exposed to the asbestoes?

I am here if you ever need to vent or talk.....

Be strong!!!

Onemore

daughter33 said:

Thank you
We are definlty taking one day at a time...or more like one appointment to another.LOL
We belive he was exposed while in the military and also his job didn't help. He is an electrition and spent 40 years crawling around in attics and basements. He handled his first round chemo pretty well..no sickness just fatigue. I think once his pain meds are under control he will be feeling much better. I have to say everyone in my family has aged 10 years since Novemember!
I'm sure I will be keeping touch since we are just starting this battle!

Daughter33

Dear Daughter33,
I am so
Dear Daughter33,

I am so happy to hear that he tolerated his 1st chemo treatment well!!

I know with my dad he felt really good in the beginning with the Prednisone and Oxycodone.

Please do keep in touch!

Do you have any siblings?

Onemore

daughter33 said:

Good Appointment today
Dear Onemore,

In response to your last question...yes I have one older brother and they are expecting their second child at the end of next month. What about you, any siblings?
The doctor told my dad today that he is doing better than my dad actully thinks. They are going to do 3 more cycles of chemo and after that the doctor really wants my dad to do a trial drug that they use for lung cancer. I don't know if he will do it or not. At the start of this whole thing my dad swore that he would not to any clinical trials or experimental treatments. I guess we will just have to wait and see.
Just out of curiosty, which may just be totally to early to ask, but HOW bad does this disease get? I have no idea what to expect with this. No one in my family has had to face cancer so I don't even know what to expect. Did you ever go with your dad to the chemo treatments? I'm thinking of going in February just to be with him for a little bit and maybe get an understanding of what goes on.
I have to admit it is nice to finally talk to someone that has been in my excat shoes with thier father.
Thankyou for responding to my post!

Elizabeth

So nice to meet you
So nice to meet you Elizabeth....

I have two brothers. Just like you, we never have had to face Cancer in our family as well. This came as a shock like I am sure to you too...we were all like Cancer does not run in our family. As we started talking to doctors and researching we realized that it was the exposer.

Along this journey this was the only thing I did not do with him was the chemo treatments. My brother took him. My dad conmpleted two rounds of chemo and then stopped becasue it was not working. He also was part of a clinical trial. I understand how your dad feels. Like my dad said he did not want to be the ginny pig. He knew what the out come would be and wanted to have a decent quality of life without feeling sick and weak.

As to your question on what to expect with this disease - my dad was not letting this disease get him. He pushed himself everyday! The Prednisone really helped to make him feel good. Is your dad on Prednisone yet? My dad was taking extra strength tylenol in the beginning and then as the pain got worse they put him on Oxycodone and a pain patch. He started out with throbbing pain in his back lung area where the tumor was. As the disease progressed he moaned alot from the pain. (I hope I am not scaring you) He had oxygen as well. Is your dad's cancer on the lining of the stomach as well? For my dad as the disease progressed it did travel to the lining of the stomach and he would fill up with fluid. They had to surgically put a tube into the sack to drain.

I think you should go with your dad. I was there for just about everything and you could tell that it really meant alot to him. When my dad was 1st diagnosed I told him that he was not going to be alone. We would all be there every step of the way. I overheard him telling his friends who called that he has a great support system.

I hope that I am not rambeling on....please, please, please e-mail me anytime....

Renee