My dad's mouth sores are even worse today. My mom said they are now the size of peas. He is so miserable that he cannot even sleep at night. He has tried everything from medicated mouth washes, rinsing peroxide, making pastes out of baking soda, and nothing seems to alleviate the pain or sores.
I feel horrible for him. He has already lost 30 pounds - and now he is pretty much on a liquid diet because it hurts to much for him to eat. Last night I called and he said he couldn't talk to me because it hurt his mouth too bad.
He was going to call the doctor today. I hope there is something more they can do for him. You think in this day and age - they could find something to help mouth sores! We don't think that they will be giving him Chemo this week because of the sores. Hopefully the will help them go away.
It's so frustrating. I wish there was more I could do for him. I feel very helpless most of the times.
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cancer. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Update on my dad
My dad had his third chemo treatment yesterday. So far things are going well. The only bad side effect he has had so far, is his mouth is full of sores. He is pretty much on a liquid diet right now because his mouth hurts too bad to eat. The doctor prescribed him a medicated mouth wash yesterday - so hopefully that will help. My dad's platelet levels were also on the low side. Last week they were 115 and this week they were 93. So the past 2 treatments they cut down on the dosage. Next week if his platelet level is still too low, they will skip a round of chemo. My dad told the onocologist that he thinks the chemo is working, as he has way less pain. I pray and hope that is true.
We also found several articles on the healing properties of asparagus and cancer. So he is also doing that. We figure what does he have to lose? He purees the asparagus and takes 4 tablespoons twice a day.
My dad's attitude remains positive and upbeat - which is the best thing for him, and for all of us. I know if anyone can beat this dreadful disease, it is my dad. Just based on his attitude alone. Let's all keep praying for a miracle - and above all for a cure for cancer.
We also found several articles on the healing properties of asparagus and cancer. So he is also doing that. We figure what does he have to lose? He purees the asparagus and takes 4 tablespoons twice a day.
My dad's attitude remains positive and upbeat - which is the best thing for him, and for all of us. I know if anyone can beat this dreadful disease, it is my dad. Just based on his attitude alone. Let's all keep praying for a miracle - and above all for a cure for cancer.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
My Dad's Appointment
It has been confirmed that my dad's cancer is back. I guess it is safe to say, it never really went away. They just temporarily derailed it. The main tumor is in his abdomen, where his kidney once was. A month ago on the catscan it was 3 mm, now it is 20 mm. It is a very fast, agressive cancer. He also has another spot by his spleen which has grow, and one in his lung. I guess it is very common for kidney cancer to mestestatize to the lung.
There are 2 different types of chemo he can go on. The first one (which has the best results, so now I am praying that he can be on this one) is an oral chemo that he will take in pill form. With this chemo, all of his levels need to be perfect, his calcium, iron, and other levels. If those levels are all good, he would start it next week. He would be on the chemo for 4 weeks, then off for 2, then they would do another catscan, and repeat the process. Also with this drug, they have to monitor all his levels very closely, so he would have 3 -4 doctor appointments a week.
The second kind of drug (less successful) is the IV chemo drugs. The thing that really sucks about kidney cancer is that chemotherapy is really not an effective treatment. So there are only a few drugs they can try. Radiation usually does not help either. So we are helpless, and dependant on these 2 drugs right now, and just PRAY that one of them works.
I feel a little bit better knowing the cancer is not into his liver, but scared at the rapid growth, and the chance of it speading to other places very fast. It is going to be a long, long, few months ahead of us, please pray for strength for our family.
My dad is still in so much pain that he cannot function. The tumor that is causing him the most pain is the one where his kidney was. They said there is nothing they can do surgically. He has to wait for the tumor to hopefully shrink before he will have some relief from pain. They put him on morphine yesterday. It is safe to say that my dad is done working. He will be going on full disability, and applying for social security. Which is best - both for his health and mentally. I know if I was told I had cancer, the last thing I would want to do every day is go to a job.
Amazingly, I am doing okay. I think I am a little at peace now, knowing what we face. I think the diagnosis is the hardest part. Once we get past that, we can tackle the thing head on. My dad has the most amazing attitude ever. He is constantly laughing, and yesterday was making jokes and laughing yet. Laughter is the best medicine, and I am hoping that his positive attitude makes him a miracle.
There are 2 different types of chemo he can go on. The first one (which has the best results, so now I am praying that he can be on this one) is an oral chemo that he will take in pill form. With this chemo, all of his levels need to be perfect, his calcium, iron, and other levels. If those levels are all good, he would start it next week. He would be on the chemo for 4 weeks, then off for 2, then they would do another catscan, and repeat the process. Also with this drug, they have to monitor all his levels very closely, so he would have 3 -4 doctor appointments a week.
The second kind of drug (less successful) is the IV chemo drugs. The thing that really sucks about kidney cancer is that chemotherapy is really not an effective treatment. So there are only a few drugs they can try. Radiation usually does not help either. So we are helpless, and dependant on these 2 drugs right now, and just PRAY that one of them works.
I feel a little bit better knowing the cancer is not into his liver, but scared at the rapid growth, and the chance of it speading to other places very fast. It is going to be a long, long, few months ahead of us, please pray for strength for our family.
My dad is still in so much pain that he cannot function. The tumor that is causing him the most pain is the one where his kidney was. They said there is nothing they can do surgically. He has to wait for the tumor to hopefully shrink before he will have some relief from pain. They put him on morphine yesterday. It is safe to say that my dad is done working. He will be going on full disability, and applying for social security. Which is best - both for his health and mentally. I know if I was told I had cancer, the last thing I would want to do every day is go to a job.
Amazingly, I am doing okay. I think I am a little at peace now, knowing what we face. I think the diagnosis is the hardest part. Once we get past that, we can tackle the thing head on. My dad has the most amazing attitude ever. He is constantly laughing, and yesterday was making jokes and laughing yet. Laughter is the best medicine, and I am hoping that his positive attitude makes him a miracle.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
News
We did not get the best news about my dad last night. We were told that the spots on his liver, spleen, and lung, has grown significantly larger since the last scan. We can now assume that it is cancer. Nothing else would grow that fast. Unfortunately we won't know more until he meets with the onocologist on Friday.
It's amazing how your life can change in a matter of seconds. How your outlook on situations can change in a heartbeat. I have been preparing myself mentally for the worst. We all have. We all have known in the back of our minds that is was most likely the case. I held it together in front of McKenna and Jason last night, but then this morning had a mental breakdown. I am not ready to lose my dad yet. I want him around for my kids! I want my kids to get to know the most wonderful man ever. The man that I have had the privilege to call my dad.
It makes me sad to think of the unthinkable. I know there will be a time that my parents won't be there anymore. I can't fathom it. We have been such a close knit family. When I think about it, my chest gets tight, and I can hardly breathe. I've always been daddy's little girl, and my mom has always been my best friends. I wish everyone could be as lucky as me - growing up with the 2 greatest parents ever.
I am just scared. Scared to hear the prognosis. Scared for the months ahead. Scared to see my dad weak and vulnerable. Just scared. I have been trying to pray to god this morning for the strength to handle what comes our way. It is so hard to have faith in god at times like this! This is when I call upon the lord the most, but sometimes it is really, really, hard. I know sometimes what we want, is not what he has planned for us. I know that he does not give anyone more then they can handle, but it is so hard.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
My Dad
My dad went in for his catscan yesterday and his creatinine levels were too high, so they could not do the scan for the sake that it could damage his one good kidney left. I guess the dye they inject you with is pretty harsh on your kidneys. He was in so much pain on his drive home that he had to pull over. My mom left work and debated about bringing him to the emergency room. They got the catscan rescheduled for today. He will have to go in and have IV fluids for 2 hours before the scan - and 2 hours after the scan. We won't know anything until Friday when he meets with his doctor.
I am really trying to stay positive. It is very hard though. Of course my mind keeps jumping to the worse thing possible - inoperable, aggressive, terminal cancer. But then I try to remember that the pain he is having is where they removed his kidney. So there is no kidney there. And the liver is on the other side of your body. So what could be causing this pain? And infection in the wound? A sponge left in after surgery? The spot they did see on the catscan last time was in the shape of a wedge. Wouldn't that be a relief if it was a sponge? All we can do at this point is pray and hope for the best. My new saying over the past week, with all the things going on with the baby and my dad is - I am prepared for the worst - hoping for the best.
I am really trying to stay positive. It is very hard though. Of course my mind keeps jumping to the worse thing possible - inoperable, aggressive, terminal cancer. But then I try to remember that the pain he is having is where they removed his kidney. So there is no kidney there. And the liver is on the other side of your body. So what could be causing this pain? And infection in the wound? A sponge left in after surgery? The spot they did see on the catscan last time was in the shape of a wedge. Wouldn't that be a relief if it was a sponge? All we can do at this point is pray and hope for the best. My new saying over the past week, with all the things going on with the baby and my dad is - I am prepared for the worst - hoping for the best.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Praying for my dad
Today my dad has a follow up catscan. Last scan they found 3 spots that they are watching. One on his liver, one on his spleen, and one in his lung. I am worried sick. I just pray that they have shrunk, and there is nothing there. We were over there yesterday for Father's Day, and he is in so much pain. It seems like he is in more pain now then right after he got his kidney removed. He had to take an Oxycontin when we were there. I am just so worried. I know my mom and dad are too.
He has the scan today, and then meets with the doctor on Friday. So it is going to be a long week. If the news is not good - it is not going to be a good weekend. I know this is out of our hands, and all we can do is pray. I just feel so exhausted from praying so much lately. Does that sound bad? Sometimes I don't know what to say to god. If this is his plan for my dad - then is praying really going to change anything? All I can do is pray for strength to accept whatever diagnosis there is. It's all in god's hands.
He has the scan today, and then meets with the doctor on Friday. So it is going to be a long week. If the news is not good - it is not going to be a good weekend. I know this is out of our hands, and all we can do is pray. I just feel so exhausted from praying so much lately. Does that sound bad? Sometimes I don't know what to say to god. If this is his plan for my dad - then is praying really going to change anything? All I can do is pray for strength to accept whatever diagnosis there is. It's all in god's hands.
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