the journey

2 minute read time.

my amazing dad has been battling cancer for nearly 2 years now(wish i had found this site then)i thought i would write a diary /blog of how his treatment is going. it all began back in april 2009 when a urine infection showed up a tumour on his right kidney.he was whisked in to hospital to have the kidney removed within a week and the op was a success.he felt great after the op and back to normal within days so it came as a great shock to us all at his 3 month check up that the cancer had returned.they found small nodules on his lungs and tumours in the bone(hip and bottom of back) by the start of october dad had been given the cancer drug sutent.the side effects he felt made him lose weight all his hair went snowy white,had no taste for food and nausea. the nausea was controlled with different drugs.one of the good things about this treatment was you got a 2 week break in each cycle so on his 2 weeks off his appetite returned and he started to feel better. the sutent meds kept him ticking away for 14 months.we got the news end of nov begining of dec 2010 that a tumour in the spine had grown from 7cm to 18cm so the sutent was not keeping the cancer at bay so he was removed from it. this came as a huge blow to mum,dad myself and brother as who knew what the next step would be. he suffered with pains in his legs and a scan showed a non malignant tumour compressing the spine making the legs painful so he had 2 lots of radiotherapy which def helped and shrunk the tumour.dad was told of a new drug that they wanted him to trial.sadly he was not suitable for the trial due to blood counts etc but was told there was a fairly new cancer drug called everolimus(afinitor) they wanted him to try. this however would need funding.the price was very high but like the sutent(which needed funding we were optomistic.the news back 2 weeks later was no PCT had turned us down but dads consultant had applied to another company and they said yes.dad has been on the new treatment 10 days now.the main side effect of this is such a sore swollen mouth with ulcers which stops his ability to eat and drink.he does seem quite out of it at the moment so we are contacting mcmillan nurses and his cancer nurse.

7th march 2011

dad has been admitted to hospital.for the last 4 days or so he has been quite out of it.he is very dissorientated ,grabbing for things that are not there,hallucinations,sleeping 22 hours a day.we have spoken to a nurse and she seems to think it could be to do with his type 2 diabetes as he had a urine reading of 27.8(very high) we were told to take dad to his cancer ward at the hospital where it seems it is not the diabetes but a build up of morphine pain relief(mum did stop giving him this 2 days ago as pain was ok and because he seemed so out of it)they have kept dad in for at least overnite and the morphine has been stopped. they have also stopped the cancer drug for now as his poor mouth is so sore so they want to try an get him back to better health before restarting the drug again. i will update when i have more news.

Anonymous
  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    MARCH 12th 2011

    spent last nite with my friend.we lit a candle for our friend and fellow netball player helen as it is 1 year today since she lost her brave battle with cancer.her ashes were scattered today in her favorite place so that has bought some comfort on a sad day.

    on a more positive note dad was released from hospital today.ive been over mum and dads for 3 hours this afternnon.he seems to be doing ok.he did mention he may have come home a little too soon...more for mums sake as he does not want to be a burden or put to much pressure on her.like i said "dad you are not and if any of us think mum cant cope we would do something about it."that seemed to ease him a bit.he spent most of the time awake(watching his beloved arsenal on tv....not happy they lost tho!!) his pain relief is down to paracetamol and codeine and he seems to manage ok at the moment. i am going back tomorrow to see them both so will update my blog then

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    MARCH 13 th 2011

    dad has had a really good day today. he was in a bit of pain last nite but refused to take the oxynorm as didnt want to go back to how he was and managed ok with the soluble paracetamol and codeine have spent the afternoon with him at home and he was really bright and cheerful and talking about my wedding in june. mum is popping out for a few hours tomorrow so i will go over and spend time with him.things def seem better

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    MARCH 14th 2011

    today has been a fab day for dad...mum went out this morning for a few hours so i drove over to their place to be with him.he was up and about mobile even sat at the desk in his office going through emails and sorting bills out.we had a really good chat and talked about his cancer drug and how he feels if they will re start it.he has faced the fact that he is not going to get better now and there is no cure but that he will live and enjoy each and every day.considering that he has faced up to this he is in really high spirits and was like he wasnt ill at all.he is so positive still and im sure he thinks a miricle cure is just around the corner......maybe one day there will be!!! lets hope this great outlook and his health being as well as to be expected at the moment continues.

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    MARCH 15th 2011

    rang dad this morning and he informed me he was off out with mum to the bank and posy office!!!! what a lovely warm sunny day to be going out as well.i popped over after lunch and apart from being a little tired he was in great spirits and chatty. mum is still concerned he is not eating as he should be and they will chat to his oncologist when they see him tomorrow. dad may go back on to the everolimus at half strength.....part of me want him on it to extend his life and the other part says no leave him be as he is doing so well at the moment...as me an dad said we need an identical clone of him.1 taking the meds the other not to compare...then again i guess thats what cancer research and trials is all about.his attitude is fab and he is a shining example and im so proud of him

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    March 17th 2011

    dad saw the oncologist today.he is off all cancer meds now and just codeine and soluble paracetamol along with the diabetic meds.he has been told by oncologist that the everolimus even though only on it for 10 days had def hlped as he is much more mobile(seems the blip he had was def morphine related) he has been told he can go back on the everolimus at half the strength and see how he is or to just stay off all cancer meds...its a big decision as he is feeling so well at the moment but i do worry how long this will last.i would like him to go back on the everolimus and if it wont agree with him we can take hm off but that is not  my decision to make but then again i dont want him ill again and in hospital if he has problems...its a nitemare decision and i will support my dad every step of the way no matter what he decides to do