Sorry, I'm just crashing through quickly because I've a stack to do and it'll be tomorrow before I have any real details, but my dad was at hospital this morning to get the results of his biopsy.
He had the operation last Tuesday to remove the tumour, it didn't go exactly according to plan in that it should have taken 90 minutes, but ended up taking closer to 4 hours to complete the surgery and he's been in an awful amount of pain since then, but anyway ..... he went to the hospital this morning and his doctor told him that they had tested 24 nodes and he's in the clear, the tumour wasn't aggressive and he won't have to go through chemotherapy.
It's the best news we could possibly have hoped for and his doctor even said that it will be ok for him to travel too. My mum and dad had booked a holiday earlier this year and planned to fly out on 22 September and now they'll still be able to go, of course he'll need to take it easy but if anything his doctor thinks it will do him good.
He'll still need to have the usual checkup every two years, but for now everything is on the up:)
Showing posts with label Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cancer. Show all posts
A little silver lining
Well we've at least had some good news today.
My dad had originally been told earlier in the week that he would have a CT scan taken of his chest on Thursday, now obviously that didn't happen yesterday and he was told that he would be discharged today and that there wouldn't be any urgency in having the scan done immediately and that it could be done at a later date at the outpatients dept. My mum wasn't particularly happy about this and lets just say she made the poor doctor aware of her feelings. Anyway, when my mum arrived at the hospital this morning to go through everything with the oncology nurse and bring my dad home, he wasn't in bed and it took her a while to find a nurse who knew where he was. Yep, off having the CT scan.
The good news is that the scan showed his chest to be completely clear and so far the only signs of cancer in his lower torso is that one large tumour.
My mum and dad were sat down with the oncology nurse (who I'm told is absolutely brilliant) and she talked them through everything, they were admittedly a bit concerned about waiting five weeks now for the surgery, but the nurse called the surgeon who will be operating on my dad in and he assured them that the surgery would take place sooner than this.
My mum said they felt 100x better after speaking to the nurse, she explained that this type of cancer starts as a polyp which becomes cancerous and continues to grow at a very slow rate and it can often remain undetected for as long as ten years. The reason most people are referred to hospital because of this cancer is because they need blood tests for some other reason and their blood count is low. The only other symptom which it seems to cause is the odd bout of deli belly, and sod's law hasn't my dad tried a couple of new fast food places in the last few years and been on that Liverpool ferry more than once! You just wouldn't connect the two, would you?
The surgery will still be major, in the majority of cases it can be removed by keyhole surgery and all being well my dad's will be no different although he will have half his upper bowel, appendix, nodes and some tissue removed. Then the nodes will be tested, if they're clear then so is he, but if they contain any cancerous cells he will have to have a course of chemotherapy.
It doesn't feel quite so up in the air now and we feel like we've at least half an idea of what to expect over the next few months. It's going to be difficult but the cancer is very treatable, and we can prepare ourselves now and just get through it one day of it at a time.
My dad had originally been told earlier in the week that he would have a CT scan taken of his chest on Thursday, now obviously that didn't happen yesterday and he was told that he would be discharged today and that there wouldn't be any urgency in having the scan done immediately and that it could be done at a later date at the outpatients dept. My mum wasn't particularly happy about this and lets just say she made the poor doctor aware of her feelings. Anyway, when my mum arrived at the hospital this morning to go through everything with the oncology nurse and bring my dad home, he wasn't in bed and it took her a while to find a nurse who knew where he was. Yep, off having the CT scan.
The good news is that the scan showed his chest to be completely clear and so far the only signs of cancer in his lower torso is that one large tumour.
My mum and dad were sat down with the oncology nurse (who I'm told is absolutely brilliant) and she talked them through everything, they were admittedly a bit concerned about waiting five weeks now for the surgery, but the nurse called the surgeon who will be operating on my dad in and he assured them that the surgery would take place sooner than this.
My mum said they felt 100x better after speaking to the nurse, she explained that this type of cancer starts as a polyp which becomes cancerous and continues to grow at a very slow rate and it can often remain undetected for as long as ten years. The reason most people are referred to hospital because of this cancer is because they need blood tests for some other reason and their blood count is low. The only other symptom which it seems to cause is the odd bout of deli belly, and sod's law hasn't my dad tried a couple of new fast food places in the last few years and been on that Liverpool ferry more than once! You just wouldn't connect the two, would you?
The surgery will still be major, in the majority of cases it can be removed by keyhole surgery and all being well my dad's will be no different although he will have half his upper bowel, appendix, nodes and some tissue removed. Then the nodes will be tested, if they're clear then so is he, but if they contain any cancerous cells he will have to have a course of chemotherapy.
It doesn't feel quite so up in the air now and we feel like we've at least half an idea of what to expect over the next few months. It's going to be difficult but the cancer is very treatable, and we can prepare ourselves now and just get through it one day of it at a time.
Thank you
I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers over the past few days.
We've just received the results of my dad's biopsy and unfortunately it has confirmed our worst fears.
My dad has cancer and it would seem judging by the results that he has has this tumour hiding like a coward inside him now for the past 3 to 5 years.
I just can't believe this, he's only 43 and although I've done nothing but break my heart since the doctor told us a huge part of me just can't comprehend it at the minute. I'm still in some way convinced that they're wrong ...
He is being discharged from hospital tomorrow morning following some discussions with his consultant and some nurses who will help provide support and advice. He will have to have an operation in three weeks time to remove the tumour and then the chemo will start. His doctor has basically said that the cancer is at such a stage and the operation itself will be very stressful and he feels that waiting a few more weeks won't make any difference and he would prefer that my dad take it easy and try and build his strength and that the best place to do this is at home.
I know it's going to be alright though. My dad is young and strong and he'll fight this. He's been putting up a decent enough fight against it for the past 3 years at least without even realising it and now he knows it's there, the cancer doesn't stand a chance!
We've just received the results of my dad's biopsy and unfortunately it has confirmed our worst fears.
My dad has cancer and it would seem judging by the results that he has has this tumour hiding like a coward inside him now for the past 3 to 5 years.
I just can't believe this, he's only 43 and although I've done nothing but break my heart since the doctor told us a huge part of me just can't comprehend it at the minute. I'm still in some way convinced that they're wrong ...
He is being discharged from hospital tomorrow morning following some discussions with his consultant and some nurses who will help provide support and advice. He will have to have an operation in three weeks time to remove the tumour and then the chemo will start. His doctor has basically said that the cancer is at such a stage and the operation itself will be very stressful and he feels that waiting a few more weeks won't make any difference and he would prefer that my dad take it easy and try and build his strength and that the best place to do this is at home.
I know it's going to be alright though. My dad is young and strong and he'll fight this. He's been putting up a decent enough fight against it for the past 3 years at least without even realising it and now he knows it's there, the cancer doesn't stand a chance!
Help Fight Against Cancer
The very lovely Laura Cameron has got together with the Fabulous Folks at Folksy to set up a shop in aid of Cancer Research UK.
An avalanche of wonderful sellers on Folksy will be donating beautifully handmade items to the shop which will be up and running soon.
Cancer is a disease which runs very deeply in my family and the families of many others. These families will spend this coming Christmas mourning the departure of those close to them and also celebrating with those who have fought against and overcome this terrible disease.
So far I have donated two pairs of earrings to the Folksy Cancer Research UK Shop and plan to donate more just as soon as possible.
I would urge everyone who has been touched by Cancer to get in touch with Laura and donate what you can however small you think it may be. Even the smallest things can make a difference in the fight against Cancer and helping to support families affected by Cancer. You can get in touch with Laura via her shop on Folksy (which I've given the link to above).
To donate a product, all Laura will need from you is three square images of the item, the item price and a shop description, simple as that.
Laura is currently in the process of building the shop and will notify us of it's launch, we in turn will then spread the word of this wonderful opportunity to purchase items, perhaps as Christmas presents which will make a huge difference.
The best part is that all of the proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK. Each seller will cover all of their own material and P&P costs so you know that this really can make a difference.
I would ask everyone once again, if you can donate please, please do and once the shop is open please make it your first port of call for all your Christmas pressies this year. So many brilliant and talented designers are donating to the shop that there will be an amazing selection to choose from.
Thank you.
UPDATE - The Cancer Research Shop on Folksy is now open for business and filling up steadily with lovely items. Please head over and take a look and don't forget to check back often as new items will be added regularly.
An avalanche of wonderful sellers on Folksy will be donating beautifully handmade items to the shop which will be up and running soon.
Cancer is a disease which runs very deeply in my family and the families of many others. These families will spend this coming Christmas mourning the departure of those close to them and also celebrating with those who have fought against and overcome this terrible disease.
So far I have donated two pairs of earrings to the Folksy Cancer Research UK Shop and plan to donate more just as soon as possible.
I would urge everyone who has been touched by Cancer to get in touch with Laura and donate what you can however small you think it may be. Even the smallest things can make a difference in the fight against Cancer and helping to support families affected by Cancer. You can get in touch with Laura via her shop on Folksy (which I've given the link to above).
To donate a product, all Laura will need from you is three square images of the item, the item price and a shop description, simple as that.
Laura is currently in the process of building the shop and will notify us of it's launch, we in turn will then spread the word of this wonderful opportunity to purchase items, perhaps as Christmas presents which will make a huge difference.
The best part is that all of the proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK. Each seller will cover all of their own material and P&P costs so you know that this really can make a difference.
I would ask everyone once again, if you can donate please, please do and once the shop is open please make it your first port of call for all your Christmas pressies this year. So many brilliant and talented designers are donating to the shop that there will be an amazing selection to choose from.
Thank you.
UPDATE - The Cancer Research Shop on Folksy is now open for business and filling up steadily with lovely items. Please head over and take a look and don't forget to check back often as new items will be added regularly.
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