**** CancerFollow

So after taking my father to the ER yesterday there has been nonstop bad news all across the board. He had massive weight gain within the last week or so. The cancer in his lungs has spread to his liver and spine. Turns out he has been retaining an ungodly amount of liquid, which is why he had the sudden weight gain.

All told they drained 9 liters of liquid from his stomach and legs. His oncologist stopped in to speak with him. The tumor in his lungs has almost doubled in size and is now completely blocking the flow of air from his right lung. He was taken off the regular chemotherapy a few months back and he began taking part in a clinical trial using a different form of chemo. His inclusion in the trial is based on the fact that the original tumor does not grow in size.

It is now twice as large as it was before. So that's pretty much it. I knew I should have called off today.

He was probably one of the lucky ones to get the placebo in the clinical trial.


Bastards


Hope he gets better!

Cancer is a *****....

My dad died of a brain tumor so i know where you are coming from.

Best of luck to you and yours and a hope for remission.

If this sounds odd or weird, just pass over and ignore it.

Enjoy the time you have, and assuming the physicians can keep on top of the pain management, you may find working with him to plan for the end can be one of the most rewarding times you'll spend with him.

Treasure each moment, help him and your family find ways of making days special. Old movies he hasn't seen since he was a kid, old songs, new experiences (within any limitations that may apply).

Don't waste this time grieving. . .there'll be time for that. Right now, you and your Dad have shed-loads of things to do.

Start planning!

That sucks, Buffy, sorry to hear it.

Throw TMC on the hospital room TV and share some morphine, it's a grand time!

What Nobby said is the best advice you'll probably get. If there was anything you ever wanted to say to your dad, say it now.

Cancer sucks huge, putrid donkey balls (with crabs). All you can do is grit your teeth and endure this experience.

So sorry Buffy. Just spend as much time with him as possible. Talk to your job about time off to spend with pops. They might be able to set up something like a whole month off for just a small cut in pay.

Best of luck and just have fun.

Go home. There isn't a supervisor or manager on Earth that would retain you today. Ask for some of their time, explain the situation and that you're having issues focusing and need some coping time. Hell, ask about FMLA leave so you can spend time with your father.

I understand you're reeling, but do what you can while you can to make sure you look back with no regrets.

Like everyone else said, savor the memories you already have with your dad, create new ones during the time you have left so you have those to carry you afterwards.

Rate-up to you for the e-Hug too.

Ok well here's the situation summed up as quickly as possible. Where the tumor is in his lungs is smack in the middle of where the lungs split off. They can't operate on it because of it's positioning. I've spent a ton of time with him over the past few months, but he's to the point now where he can't really get around anymore. And because of the temperature(it's high 90's here) he can't really go outside for more than a few seconds at a time.

They still have not released from the hospital as of yet. They were going to have him undergo an MRI for some reason. But because of the tumors along his spine, he can't lay down on the metal bed and stay still because of the pain. They won't release him until he gets that test done, but they don't know how they are going to get him to be able to make it through the test. They gave him a sedative and that didn't work.

Leaving work isn't an issue because I'm management, it was just not a wise choice to come into work at that time. Thanks for all the well wishes, I just had to vent it somewhere and didn't want to do it to the family. And just so I don't upset the delicate balance in the Asylum, here is my obligatory GFY.

This is something that we have been preparing for since he was diagnosed, but now that it is actually happening and we know there isn't alot of time left, it almost doesn't seem real.

I honestly don't know you, but I did read your post Buffy.

Best wishes to your and your father from a complete stranger. Seriously.

my heart goes out to you and yours.