Been a while...

SilentRenegade · May 2016

So the last time I updated, things were okay. He was depressed. About a week later I was visiting and he had a stroke (or a seizure, I'm not sure). Lost the left side of his face/upper body. We call 911, they come, take him to the hospital. We get to the hospital, and it was like nothing had happened.

Then they did an CT scan - resident came in, didn't say anything except "well, looks like you have cancer to the brain." I mean, shock, the man has more cancer than Deadpool now - colon, rectum, liver, lungs, thyroid, brain. His response - why am I not surprised. I ask how bad it is, they say "Bad." I go look, looks horrible - 2 large tumors, like mirror images of each other.

He requests to go to University of Penn where he's being treated, they transport him up. Penn does an MRI, says it's not as bad as the other hospital said, they are on the surface. He gets nasty - doesn't want surgery because he wants to go home. A whole team came in - oncologist, radiologist, you name it - about 7 people came in. He finally agrees to radiation since he's had good luck with it in the past (we did find out while there that his colon, rectum, and thyroid tumors are still not doing anything - in fact the colon and rectum don't even look like they have cancer in them).

So, finally, he's released, on steroids (standard), we start WBR 2 days later. He responds ridiculously well (MRI Pending). Started having weakness in his legs - steroids - gets off of them asap. Doing well again, eating, drinking, etc. Then, today, he's a mess. I ask him what's wrong, he said yesterday he lost hope. Now, either something happened, or he's just depressed. NJ has had some miserable weather for at least a week.

MRI is 5/13 to check the status, and then every 3 months after that.

New oncologist is 5/19 - he came to visit him in the hospital and said he should look in to systematic therapies.

Only one person said he should look at hospice (a resident). Hospice was coming twice a week, but they released him because he's fully functional on his own. He doesn't qualify.

JanJan63 · May 2016

Oh boy. What a ride you're

Oh boy. What a ride you're having. I'm sorry he's going through this. I can't imagine how you're both coping. Hang in there, I hope for the best for him.

Jan

SilentRenegade · May 2016

JanJan63 said:
Oh boy. What a ride you're
Oh boy. What a ride you're having. I'm sorry he's going through this. I can't imagine how you're both coping. Hang in there, I hope for the best for him.

Jan

Thank you. Today was better -

Thank you. Today was better - he ate 2 meals and also was drinking fluids again and walking better. I think the neurologist telling him he could have a repeat of symptoms weeks after the radiation was over (which we're almost 2 months out) scared him. He's done this before where they tell them something COULD happen and I think he psychs himself out. He also has an MRI on Friday, so I'm not sure if he's nervous about that or not. He also said he's nervous that something will happen to him when I'm about to go in to labor (I'm due at the end of July). I don't think anything bad will happen, I think he's just nervous.

Trubrit · May 2016

Your poor Dad

It must be so stressful for him, so many ups and downs. The brain tumour and treatment. How thrilled he must be, looking forward to his grandbabies arrival, and then probably fearing he won't make it to July. So many things go through our minds, especially when there is something to look forward to.

I hope you are doing well yourself, and not letting the stress get to you. How is your mum doing through all of this?

Take care of yourself. I hope you have others to help you with your dad.

Sue

vtspa6 · May 2016

Having cancer is such a

Having cancer is such a mental roller coaster. Emotions thru the roof! My husband swears he is going to stop chemo & he is done. Then he comments on wants to live. He does say he is scared (can't blame him). You guys have a lot going on right now. Hoping that the baby will bring some peace and maybe he can forget about what he is going thru right now.

beaumontdave · May 2016

That's how it went with my

That's how it went with my pop. He has a TIA that clears by the time he's at the hospital, but 2 weeks later he's paralyzed on one side with a stroke, we thought. After scans their still not certain what's happening. Turns out, his prostate cancer had massed in his brain. Two weeks later he was gone. The difference is he quit any more treatments four months earlier, at 88 he'd just had enough, and was just too fragile to enjoy or have any quality of life. It might help a bit if they treated you dads anxiety and bouts of depression, so he doesn't give up like my dad did. Hang in there............................Dave

SilentRenegade · May 2016

vtspa6 said:
Having cancer is such a
Having cancer is such a mental roller coaster. Emotions thru the roof! My husband swears he is going to stop chemo & he is done. Then he comments on wants to live. He does say he is scared (can't blame him). You guys have a lot going on right now. Hoping that the baby will bring some peace and maybe he can forget about what he is going thru right now.

Well, I think I figured out

Well, I think I figured out the appetite issue... He started having diarrhea on Friday, and now I have it, started last night and have no appetite at all. I'm now thinking he probably has a stomach bug... And he shared.

SilentRenegade · May 2016

beaumontdave said:
That's how it went with my
That's how it went with my pop. He has a TIA that clears by the time he's at the hospital, but 2 weeks later he's paralyzed on one side with a stroke, we thought. After scans their still not certain what's happening. Turns out, his prostate cancer had massed in his brain. Two weeks later he was gone. The difference is he quit any more treatments four months earlier, at 88 he'd just had enough, and was just too fragile to enjoy or have any quality of life. It might help a bit if they treated you dads anxiety and bouts of depression, so he doesn't give up like my dad did. Hang in there............................Dave

Wow!! I am more amazed that

Wow!! I am more amazed that your dad was fighting at 88! My dad is only 67, almost 68 (diagnosed at 65). At this point he isn't giving up. He hasn't had any chemo for almost a year and things are stable... They unfortunately never checked his head. They also don't know if it's the thyroid or colon cancer, because he won't let them cut him - I do not blame him! The only treatment he's had is radiation - 2.5 weeks on his thyroid back in January and 10 days on his brain in March. I dunno why, but the radiation works ridiculously well on him.

SilentRenegade · May 2016

Trubrit said:
Your poor Dad
It must be so stressful for him, so many ups and downs. The brain tumour and treatment. How thrilled he must be, looking forward to his grandbabies arrival, and then probably fearing he won't make it to July. So many things go through our minds, especially when there is something to look forward to.

I hope you are doing well yourself, and not letting the stress get to you. How is your mum doing through all of this?

Take care of yourself. I hope you have others to help you with your dad.

Sue

My mom is on antidepressants

My mom is on antidepressants and they really help. They both see the same PCP, so that's also helpful since she knows what's going on. My sister is also on some. I haven't needed it yet - and being pregnant its hard to get medications that are considered "safe". I think what helps is I go to all the appointments with him and the doctors are never negative because of how well he always responds to treatments, when he is actually on them. He hasn't been on chemo in a year and based on CT scans from March, the couple of mets he has have only grown about 1mm each. They are all very small. He has no side effects from his liver or lungs at all. The thyroid was a huge issue that is mostly resolved now, but could come back, the brain obviously caused quite a bit of problems, but that's also doing okay now since the radiation. He continuously gets thrush, which sucks. I think that's messing with his eating more than anything.

Trubrit · May 2016

SilentRenegade said:
My mom is on antidepressants
My mom is on antidepressants and they really help. They both see the same PCP, so that's also helpful since she knows what's going on. My sister is also on some. I haven't needed it yet - and being pregnant its hard to get medications that are considered "safe". I think what helps is I go to all the appointments with him and the doctors are never negative because of how well he always responds to treatments, when he is actually on them. He hasn't been on chemo in a year and based on CT scans from March, the couple of mets he has have only grown about 1mm each. They are all very small. He has no side effects from his liver or lungs at all. The thyroid was a huge issue that is mostly resolved now, but could come back, the brain obviously caused quite a bit of problems, but that's also doing okay now since the radiation. He continuously gets thrush, which sucks. I think that's messing with his eating more than anything.

Good!

I am glad that he is doing well in most areas. I'm sure the brain mets scared/scare the hair off your head.

I had Thrush while on chemo, and sadly it damaged my tongue permanently. I now have a yukkie white crust all over it, but it does not seem to inhibit my taste buds. Well, as long as I can enjoy chocolate, I'm ok. I hope your dad's Thrush clears up at some point though, as it does indeed mess with the ability to taste, and it can also make the tongue feel big in the mouth. A very odd sensation.

I hope that his feeling down, is short lived and that soon he is back up and fighting fit.

SilentRenegade · May 2016

Trubrit said:
Good!
I am glad that he is doing well in most areas. I'm sure the brain mets scared/scare the hair off your head.

I had Thrush while on chemo, and sadly it damaged my tongue permanently. I now have a yukkie white crust all over it, but it does not seem to inhibit my taste buds. Well, as long as I can enjoy chocolate, I'm ok. I hope your dad's Thrush clears up at some point though, as it does indeed mess with the ability to taste, and it can also make the tongue feel big in the mouth. A very odd sensation.

I hope that his feeling down, is short lived and that soon he is back up and fighting fit.

Thanks, Trubrit, you're

Thanks, Trubrit, you're always so motivational on these forums. His doctor gave him a mouthwash because the last time it was very very mild, but he was stubborn and didn't use it, so he has to tell her tomorrow that he didn't. I'm sure she will give him a lecture (I hope she does!).

The brain mets are scary because it's your brain. However, I have read up on these forums that some folks say they are more treatable than other tumors at times, especially if in a good location.

Been a while...

Comments

Discussion Boards