New to the whole blogging thing.
Here is the story, 2 years ago my Dad was found to have CLL (Chronic Leukemia) - lived a very normal life but he did decide to retire from his job of 36 years. In January of this year, his Oncologist started him on a 4 month round of oral Chemo for this Leukemia. Both my brother and I live 8 hours away so we were relying on my mom telling us what is happening. He lost a lot of weight - had no appetite while taking the chemo - which we thought was normal to a point. In May he started complaining of SEVERE neck pain and was just given pain pills by his Doctor. When he went to see his Oncologist in June he was surprised to see Dad's condition and ordered an MRI and CT Scan - with these results it was found that there were Lesions on parts of his bones and brain and liver. He went into the hospital for more tests, to relieve his neck pain he was put in a halo to stabilize his neck. We were told by his new Cancer doctor that there is metastasized cancer in the bones of his neck and hip, his brain and his liver. He was given what was termed as "life saving" Radiation on his neck, hip and brain for about 10 days. We have since found out that it is lung cancer - my mom won't phone the Doctor to find out any more so it is up to my brother and I to do it long distance. My mom is taking care of my dad at home with help from nurses 3-4 times a week. She had promised him she would bring him home, and she did, now she has promised that she won't put him in pallitive care until she absolutely has too which drives my brother and I crazy because it is so stressful and I guess it is her way of coping with this big change and the terminal diagnosis. In the last 7 weeks my dad is probably about 75 pounds - I think he was about 140 at some point earlier this year. It is heart breaking to see this change in him so quickly. We know he is glad to be at home for a time - I mean at home he gets to SMOKE - yes, he is a smoker. My brother and I aren't. At what point does the denial give way to "I know I am going to die"? Seems to us(my brother and I) that our parents want to be left alone so they can deal with his illness in their way - by not paying attention and that drives my brother and I crazy with worry because it is not healthy.
Thoughts anyone?
