The dreaded "C" word has gotten too close to home. Dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer March 6th.
This was a shock and a blow to us as Dad has been very healthy and doing quite well for his "young" 84 years. Walking 3 miles a day and still very active, doing ministry at church, visiting people in the hospital and driving to Texas at Christmas to see us kids.
On February 28th he began his usual 3 mile walk when after completing one mile he was extremely winded. He called his doctor who instructed him to go to the ER. Fluid was discovered on his lung and he was admitted. What he thought would be an overnight stay turned into an 8 day stay. He was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma (lung cancer). It is not operable as the tumor is creating the fluid.
Dad was released from the hospital March 8th after he had a biopsy taken of the tumor and an MRI of his brain. He had a PET scan on Friday March 10th.
He met with an oncologist on March 14th where he received the results of the MRI and PET scan which revealed no other cancer! However the tumor he has creates fluid. He had to have it drained off again March 17th
March 21st Dad had an appointment with Lung doctor. I was very grateful that Dad's youngest brother, (my uncle) Alan went with him as Dad does have hearing aids and sometimes doesn't hear everything or hear clearly. The doctor scheduled for a "drain" to be put in the next day so that the fluid could be drained when needed at home. They tried to do it under a local anesthesia and were not successful as it became too painful for Dad. During that procedure he had an air bubble so they kept him overnight to watch to make sure it dissolved.
March 24th Dad had fluid drained again.
Vanessa and I started making plans to go see Dad once he got the diagnosis but were unable to go until the last week in March. We left for Missouri Monday March 27th and drove straight through. We took Mother so she could see family. We met my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Bob at a Truck stop in Wichita where they live and left Mom with them. Mom's baby sister, Sandy, who lives in Missouri drove to Wichita to join them. Vanessa and I continued on to Dad's. We arrived about 5:30pm.
It worked out as Dad had 2 appointments on Tuesday March 28th. One with His oncologist learning more about Dad's diagnosis and plan of treatment. The other one was for a consult to explain the procedure for installing the drain and the port (for chemo treatment). It was a full day and my head hurt from all the information to process.
Wednesday March 29th Dad had the drain and port put in.
Thursday March 30th Dad had his first chemo treatment. Vanessa had to be home by Friday so we took Dad to the cancer center on our way home. We stayed with him through all the explanation about the medicines they would give him and what he possibly would experience. We didn't leave until he completed his first bag of medicine. Karen, (my sister - Barbara's daughter) came not long after we left bringing her mom to be with him and take him home.
The Oncologist says that he was still waiting for genetic markers from his tumor to come back. He told us it can take weeks. He had gotten one of the markers back. What he is looking for is if there are any mutations which as I understand it makes it easier to determine what kind of cancer and what to treat it with. As it stands Dad's tumor has shown no mutations so they are hitting it with the hardest meds. Hopefully the other markers will be in soon and have mutations.
Dad is getting 2 chemos and 1 immunotherapy. The immunotherapy is what it sounds like, it is to help his immune system. He will also get a shot after each treatment to help boost his white blood cell count. Even with that, he will have to be careful.
Honestly, it was really hard to leave him that day. I did fight back tears. Dad has been so active, strong and healthy it grieves me to see this happening to him at his age. I know he has an end. We all do but I do not want it to be like this. However, I am still hopeful and am praying for the miraculous.
These pics were taken on our way to take Dad to the cancer center.
