My dad continued after his surgery and consultation with the doctor really well for a few months. He had healed exceptionally well from his major abdominal surgery, was slim again from having those masses removed, and claimed he never felt better. He said he would look in the mirror and couldn't believe he saw an "old man" looking back at him because he felt like he was 35. My dad had always exercised and continued to do so as soon as he was allowed after surgery.
Unfortunately, that didn't last long. He began to get tired and had occassional bouts of nausea. When we returned to the oncologist, we decided to start chemotherapy. He was to get DTIC, or dacarbazine. He was warned this may make him tired, nauseous, and was told he'd probably lose his hair. He decided to go get his hair buzzed off to prepare....which I thought was very brave of him! However, DTIC is only effective in about 15% of cases with internal melanoma. Internal melanoma is very deadly and there isn't much hope of survival, the average survival from diagnosis is only 7 months. He decided that he felt too good, however, to not give it a try. So, he did chemo and proceeded with absolutely no side effects. The bad news, is that he was not in the 15% that responded to DTIC. On his scan, the tumors spread, and were now in more organs including the lungs and omentum.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
The Hospital Continued...
To continue back to July of 2009, after my father found out he had cancer, he had a very rough day the next day in the hospital. He was sore from surgery and I feel he was just mentally exhausted. His catheter was bothering him, but he would only talk to me about his problems. My mom and sister and I were all there, but he for some reason felt better telling me things when they weren't there. So, I spent some time alone with him and just watched the news or took care of what he needed.
Dr. Cline was optimistic that we could fight this cancer. He introduced us to Dr. Jalil, the oncologist. Dr. Jalil met with us and said we would wait until the biopsy returned to determine the next course of treatment.
Since my dad had major abdominal surgery, and now his entire internal abdomen needed to reshift due to the removal of those 2 cantaloupe sized tumors, he was going to be in the hospital longer than we had anticipated. We would wait for the results and see what we needed to do next.
Considering the surgery my dad went through and also the mental battle of knowing he had cancer, he did so amazing recovering from the surgery. He was home and back on his feet before anyone could believe it. We had received the devistating news that his cancer was melanoma. The oncologist/surgeon could not find an initial point where it had started on his body.
We had our meeting with the oncologist who decided that my dad was healing so well from the surgery, and was still functional and feeling well, that we would not undergo any chemo until he started showing symptoms. Since this was a terminal diagnosis, Dr. Jalil decided we shouldn't put him through the trials of chemotherapy when chemo wasn't guaranteed to work plus he may have side effects. We all agreed and we wanted to enjoy the good time we had left, and he only had 2 small spots in his adrenal gland and 1 small spot in his liver at this point.
Dr. Cline was optimistic that we could fight this cancer. He introduced us to Dr. Jalil, the oncologist. Dr. Jalil met with us and said we would wait until the biopsy returned to determine the next course of treatment.
Since my dad had major abdominal surgery, and now his entire internal abdomen needed to reshift due to the removal of those 2 cantaloupe sized tumors, he was going to be in the hospital longer than we had anticipated. We would wait for the results and see what we needed to do next.
Considering the surgery my dad went through and also the mental battle of knowing he had cancer, he did so amazing recovering from the surgery. He was home and back on his feet before anyone could believe it. We had received the devistating news that his cancer was melanoma. The oncologist/surgeon could not find an initial point where it had started on his body.
We had our meeting with the oncologist who decided that my dad was healing so well from the surgery, and was still functional and feeling well, that we would not undergo any chemo until he started showing symptoms. Since this was a terminal diagnosis, Dr. Jalil decided we shouldn't put him through the trials of chemotherapy when chemo wasn't guaranteed to work plus he may have side effects. We all agreed and we wanted to enjoy the good time we had left, and he only had 2 small spots in his adrenal gland and 1 small spot in his liver at this point.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Radiation starts
I need to continue the story of my dad's beginning, but I wanted to type about today. After spending most of last week in the hospital and discovering the cancer has spread to his brain, my dad started radiation treatment on his brain today. The hope is to shrink some of the tumors in his brain. We know we cannot get rid of them, and the oncologist says this is short term, but this is where we are. Unfortunately, the dexamethasone he is on (it is a steroid) is causing him to have uncomfortable hiccups, so after his radiation treatment I stopped by his oncologist's office. There might not be anything they can do to save my dad, but at least he needs to be comfortable, and as harmless as hiccups are, they are really bothering him. So, they gave him baclofen, and I think just knowing there was "something" he could do make him perk up a bit.
After the treatment, my parents went home and I stopped at Rite Aid to get his rx filled. I went back to their house and we ate a late lunch. My dad ate really well and even wanted some dessert, so that was great.
After we ate, he discussed what items he wanted to give to which grandchildren. He made me and my mom promise the right grandkids would get the right things. I had to leave them then since I am on vacation this week and I needed to pick the kids up from school. As I was ready to leave, he asked me to help him prepare his Living Will. I am going to go back over this week to do that with him.
Please, wear sunscreen.....no tanning beds.....wear your natural glow!
After the treatment, my parents went home and I stopped at Rite Aid to get his rx filled. I went back to their house and we ate a late lunch. My dad ate really well and even wanted some dessert, so that was great.
After we ate, he discussed what items he wanted to give to which grandchildren. He made me and my mom promise the right grandkids would get the right things. I had to leave them then since I am on vacation this week and I needed to pick the kids up from school. As I was ready to leave, he asked me to help him prepare his Living Will. I am going to go back over this week to do that with him.
Please, wear sunscreen.....no tanning beds.....wear your natural glow!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Cyst on Spleen
About 1 year ago was when my father first started having symptoms. He was noticing this "ache" in his abdominal area. He at first contributed it to getting old. He was 76 at the time, and didn't think too much of it. The ache remained, until finally one weekend it was so painful, he went to the doctor on Monday. His primary care physician sent him for a scan, which returned with results of a very large cyst on his spleen. In July of 2009, he met with a physician for removal of this cyst. Furture scans revealed issues with his gallbladder as well, so the decision was made to have two laproscopic incisions, one on both sides, to remove his spleen and his gall bladder. The surgeon, Dr. Cline, would drain the cyst first in order to remove it laproscopically. Due to the fact that he would be losing his spleen, he had to then go for a series of vaccinations to protect him since his immunity would now be lowered.
My mom, sister Patty, and I went to Jefferson Hospital with him the morning of his surgery. At this point, we figured it would be pretty routine. I was concerned for him because of his age, and the fact that he had never been in the hospital before for anything extensive in his life. That is great for a 76 year old, but it didn't stop me from worrying.
We were told the surgery would be about 2 hours or so, and we could watch his progress through his moves from surgery to recovery. When I first saw his name on the screen, I got very worried. I felt that something was going to go wrong, that the surgery wouldn't be routine. About 2 hours into the surgery, Dr. Cline called to the desk to let us know that they were "taking their time." I knew the news we would receive would be different than what we expected.
Eventually, my mother, sister and I were asked to enter the consultation room. I tried to remain calm but I knew this meant bad news. My mom sat down on the couch and when Dr. Cline entered, he had blood all over his scrubs. At this point I suspected my dad had complications and I just hoped he had made it through. Dr. Cline then told us that he began with the gallbladder and it came out laproscopically just fine. However, after he removed the cyst, (which was the size of a cantaloupe), he noticed a tumor also the size of a cantaloupe. Dr. Cline then had to cut open my dad in order to remove the tumor.
My mom and sister were crying, and I was trying to stay strong for them, but the tears came out for me too. We all couldn't believe that my dad, about 5 foot tall and 145 pounds, was carrying around 2 cantaloupe sized masses in his abdomen. No wonder he was having "aches!" Dr. Cline stated the body works in mysterious ways, and the cyst was his body's way of "alerting" him that there was a problem.
After my dad went through recovery, we had to figure out how to notify him of this news. The first hurdle would be getting him healed through this. He had major abdominal surgery and his insides had to now shift all around to fill up the vacant area left from the removal of the tumor and the cyst. (Also to note, at this point, we didn't know what type of tumor this was.) We needed him to stay upbeat so he would heal, then we could focus on the cancer.
While he was in recovery, I had to call my sister, uncle, and various other relatives that were waiting to hear how he did. I made all of the phone calls because my mom and sister were too upset. I have to admit, it was a difficult experience for me, but I felt I needed to be strong as I could for them. My mom gave me her phone and I made the calls. Telling my Uncle Larry was the hardest, because he got emotional and I did, too. But then the calls were made, and we needed to figure out how to tell my dad they found cancer. I thought it would be best coming from me, because my dad feels I know so much because of my degree. He introduces me to everyone as "Dr. Lauren" and he has me signed off on all of his medical forms to make all of his decisions. I didn't want him to hear the news from a nurse or a doctor.
When my dad was preparing for surgery, he kept asking me if the cyst was cancer. I kept telling him that it was not....that he didn't have cancer. Maybe it was him just knowing his body, but he seemed to feel that he did. I chalked it up to him not understanding that the body can produce masses that aren't necessarily cancer, but it turns out he knew better than the rest of us.
My dad was now in his room, and he asked how it went. My mom and my sister both said hi to him and then walked away. I went over and held his hand, and I told him that his gallbladder came out fine. I told him that when Dr. Cline went to remove the cyst and his spleen, they found a "mass" in his abdomen and had to remove that too. His eyes widened and he asked if that meant he had cancer. I told him yes that it did, and that we would figure it out, and the most important thing is that he healed from the surgery. While he was too tired to argue, I could tell he was struggling with it. He was doing amazingly well on that first evening from surgery, so all I could hope was that he continue to heal and keep his mind clear so this process went well.
I'll continue more later....
My mom, sister Patty, and I went to Jefferson Hospital with him the morning of his surgery. At this point, we figured it would be pretty routine. I was concerned for him because of his age, and the fact that he had never been in the hospital before for anything extensive in his life. That is great for a 76 year old, but it didn't stop me from worrying.
We were told the surgery would be about 2 hours or so, and we could watch his progress through his moves from surgery to recovery. When I first saw his name on the screen, I got very worried. I felt that something was going to go wrong, that the surgery wouldn't be routine. About 2 hours into the surgery, Dr. Cline called to the desk to let us know that they were "taking their time." I knew the news we would receive would be different than what we expected.
Eventually, my mother, sister and I were asked to enter the consultation room. I tried to remain calm but I knew this meant bad news. My mom sat down on the couch and when Dr. Cline entered, he had blood all over his scrubs. At this point I suspected my dad had complications and I just hoped he had made it through. Dr. Cline then told us that he began with the gallbladder and it came out laproscopically just fine. However, after he removed the cyst, (which was the size of a cantaloupe), he noticed a tumor also the size of a cantaloupe. Dr. Cline then had to cut open my dad in order to remove the tumor.
My mom and sister were crying, and I was trying to stay strong for them, but the tears came out for me too. We all couldn't believe that my dad, about 5 foot tall and 145 pounds, was carrying around 2 cantaloupe sized masses in his abdomen. No wonder he was having "aches!" Dr. Cline stated the body works in mysterious ways, and the cyst was his body's way of "alerting" him that there was a problem.
After my dad went through recovery, we had to figure out how to notify him of this news. The first hurdle would be getting him healed through this. He had major abdominal surgery and his insides had to now shift all around to fill up the vacant area left from the removal of the tumor and the cyst. (Also to note, at this point, we didn't know what type of tumor this was.) We needed him to stay upbeat so he would heal, then we could focus on the cancer.
While he was in recovery, I had to call my sister, uncle, and various other relatives that were waiting to hear how he did. I made all of the phone calls because my mom and sister were too upset. I have to admit, it was a difficult experience for me, but I felt I needed to be strong as I could for them. My mom gave me her phone and I made the calls. Telling my Uncle Larry was the hardest, because he got emotional and I did, too. But then the calls were made, and we needed to figure out how to tell my dad they found cancer. I thought it would be best coming from me, because my dad feels I know so much because of my degree. He introduces me to everyone as "Dr. Lauren" and he has me signed off on all of his medical forms to make all of his decisions. I didn't want him to hear the news from a nurse or a doctor.
When my dad was preparing for surgery, he kept asking me if the cyst was cancer. I kept telling him that it was not....that he didn't have cancer. Maybe it was him just knowing his body, but he seemed to feel that he did. I chalked it up to him not understanding that the body can produce masses that aren't necessarily cancer, but it turns out he knew better than the rest of us.
My dad was now in his room, and he asked how it went. My mom and my sister both said hi to him and then walked away. I went over and held his hand, and I told him that his gallbladder came out fine. I told him that when Dr. Cline went to remove the cyst and his spleen, they found a "mass" in his abdomen and had to remove that too. His eyes widened and he asked if that meant he had cancer. I told him yes that it did, and that we would figure it out, and the most important thing is that he healed from the surgery. While he was too tired to argue, I could tell he was struggling with it. He was doing amazingly well on that first evening from surgery, so all I could hope was that he continue to heal and keep his mind clear so this process went well.
I'll continue more later....
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Finally - time to start this blog!
My father was diagnosed with internal melanoma in July, 2009. I have considered starting a blog for quite some time, but it seemed that all I had to report was bad news. We realized from the beginning that the fight would be tough....but all we wanted was one piece of something to keep our hopes up. Today, we received a call from Hillman Cancer Center that really lifted my parent's spirits and helped us get through another day. I decided this would be the day to start the blog, and recognize the journey and battle my father is going through.
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