My Dad has advanced primary bowel cancer and secondary liver and lung cancer. Was having chemo back in the summer but had to stop treatment due to having a stroke at the end of August. The stroke has left him with very little mobility so has to be in a wheelchair when out and about and has to walk with a frame and with support from someone. The past two months have been quite stressful, what with adjusting to his new struggles but also with the worry of what not having chemo would have on him. Back in February, Dad’s scan looked good but because of Covid they decided to give him a “chemo holiday”. When he had a scan again in July, they told us it had spread again, worse than it was when he was first diagnosed. He had his telephone appointment yesterday to find out if they’ll restart treatment for him. Unfortunately it was not the good news we had hoped for. They’ve said because his scan that he had in October was looking good and “stable” they’re going to leave him for 12 weeks to see if he gets stronger. Problem is, the issues he has are not going to go away as these are side effects from the stroke not the cancer! It just feels like they’ve given up on him and I just don’t think I can accept that! Do they not realise that last time they left him for 5 months without chemo, everything metastasised! Just feels like it’s all going to happen again and what little time we have with him is being cut short even more.
Anyone else going through similar?
Hi
Sorry to read about your issues with your Dad's treatment and having dealt with a number of family members who have been through strokes and similar that is really quite hard too.
I found it difficult at times not being in control with Janice's cancer but it is sometimes important that we listen to the patient and what they want. Chemotherapy can be difficult - Janice's first chemotherapy caused a lung to collapse and that was the end of that treatment. The doctors generally meet in something called a multi-disciplinary team and will discuss details of the patients there - though sometimes that seems something of a black box - well at least to me.
My wife was on watch and wait for a while after her first chemo, at one point they decided a different type of chemo might work and when we tried it then her cancer seems to have been stopped - for now at least, and that has lasted 6 years.
Does your dad take someone with him to appointments - if so asking a question about the risks of spread against the risks of chemotherapy might be a really good question and might give you some of the answers you want.
<<hugs>>
Steve
