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update on my dad

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 1/3/2019 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
My dad had prostate cancer somewhere around 15 years ago. They did brachy and some other radiation ( seems like about 9 weeks worth). They got rid of the cancer.

Last August he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, according the Washington U in St. Louis it was caused from the radiation. It was a special kind of cancer that chemo would have no effect on and he couldn't do any more radiation. The Dr's. didn't expect him to be around after Christmas 2017. He has been a stubborn old guy and is still here. He got really bad in November 17 and stayed that way until about March and started feeling better. He lost a lot of weight which helped his heart issue and diabetes is now gone. He was probably as healthy as he had been in many years other than the cancer and a tube coming out of his back that goes into one kidney that appears to have been blown by the two chemo treatments he did in the hope of maybe slowing down the cancer.

He has been having quite a bit of pain lately and went to have a scan yesterday and got the results today. The cancer has now spread to the rectum area. That is the cause for the worsening pain. He said he is going to talk to the pain management people next.

He has a nurse that has been coming by 3 to 4 times a week for over a year to take vitals and check the status of the tube. He gets the tube changed about every three to four weeks.

about a month ago he started giving up. The pain and the mental wear and tear finally got to him.

There are a lot of times I wonder why God hasn't had him come home yet, but he is ready and I am praying it comes sooner than later to end his suffering.

He has been a great example for me about how to go thru the issue I have without letting it kill your spirit. I only hope I can be a good of an example for others once they find out about it.

I have not told my parents about it because they don't need the extra worry with all they have going on.

Thank you guys for all the support you give and the great encouraging messages that were put up the last few days. It really helps give me hope that I will be cured and not have to deal with things my dad has.

Larry
Posted 1/3/2019 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear that Larry.
Posted 1/3/2019 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Thoughts and prayers for you and your Dad.
Samster
Posted 1/4/2019 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
Larry, praying for you and your dad, and sorry to hear about this. Have you decided to have any treatment for your G6? Probably not something you really need to be worrying about right now, you have time. But, God bless your Dad and those that love him.
Posted 1/4/2019 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
Larry, I feel your pain, as you help your father take this difficult journey. I did a similar stint as my mother's guide through her final journey with kidney cancer and bladder cancer. It isn't easy, but our being there makes it more bearable for them. You are both in my prayers.
Posted 1/4/2019 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
These secondary cancers caused by radiation treatment for another form of cancer are awful. They solve one problem and cause another at the same time. My sister had RT for Hodgkins disease more than thirty years ago. Since then she has had breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and heart problems that resulted in her recently having a couple of heart valves replaced. These are all predictable results of her radiation therapy. I am told that since 1986 they have refined the RT for Hodgkins and the incidence of other cancers down the road has diminished. RT for PCa is highly focused these days. I wonder if the incidence of other cancers as a result of PCa treatment has diminished?
Posted 1/4/2019 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thoughts and prayers for you and your Dad.
Samster
Posted 1/4/2019 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

I am heading to Missouri to see him tomorrow. When the whole ordeal started (2017) I was going every other weekend. As he got better we moved it to every third weekend. Looks like I am going back to at least every other weekend again. It is about a 3.5 hour drive each way, so not too bad.
We usually leave about 7:30 Saturday morning and get back home about 10:30 that night.

My wife's dad passed away unexpectedly in the Summer of 2017 and she and her brother had to go and unplug him. In a weird way this is helping her cope with that since she really likes my dad and she gets to help him thru this too.

Fiddle, this is why when/if the time comes to stop AS and do something about this I am leaning heavily to RALP. In fact, the more I watch what is happening to him the time for action may be sooner than what I had initially thought.
Posted 1/4/2019 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
So sorry to hear this. And very glad you're getting to spend time with him.
Posted 1/4/2019 9:41 PM (GMT 0)

bbqdude said...
................................................

Fiddle, this is why when/if the time comes to stop AS and do something about this I am leaning heavily to RALP. In fact, the more I watch what is happening to him the time for action may be sooner than what I had initially thought.

I just quoted part of your OP over in a thread Prato has going on RT vs RP.
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