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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Hi all,
I thought I would introduce myself since I've spent the better part of today going through past posts.
My name is Steve, and as the topic indicates, my Father is about to find out he has Stage 4 Colon Cancer. I say about, because he is still recovering from surgery that took out about 2 feet of his Ascending Colon.
He knew he had cancer, but not how bad it is.
I still don't have all the details, as everything has happend so fast in the last few days. I'll give you a bit of the history.
A few weeks ago, my Dad made an appointment to get tested for Diabetes because he was having some problems with his vision.
He went in for the tests, and they came back negative for Diabetes, but indicated he was anemic. Since my father is 65 and never had a Colonoscopy when he was 50, the Doc suggested that he get one done asap.
Well the colonoscopy was done on wednesday and the Doc informed him he had colon cancer, but could not tell him how bad it was until they went in to remove part of his colon.
Well, the surgery was this morning. I am 2500 miles away in WA state and my brother is there with him in Arkansas.
The Cancer had metastisized(sp?) into his liver, but not his lungs. He is Stage 4, but I don't have all the details yet.
So, they removed a couple feet of his colon and the one cancer on his liver. I still don't know the specifics of his staging yet, as I'm still trying to get the wording down. I don't know how many lymph nodes they removed either. I understand that is important in knowing how far it has spread.
I am 41 and will get a colonoscopy as soon as I can. I'm a little scared, but I need to know.
I don't really know what else to say except "thank you" for all the good info on these forums.
Before Dad went into surgery he said he would never do Chemo. I hope and pray that he changes his mind.
Thanks for listening, hopefully I can talk to the doc on the phone tomorrow and get the specifics and I'm sure I'll be back with lots more questions.
Thanks again,
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Thanks Brainman,
It's going to be a long night. I don't think I'll be sleeping much.
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Landog, I wish I had some comforting words to help you through this long night. Both of my parents died of cancer. I was blessed to be able to be with them. I cannot even imagine what you must be going through. In addition, I had the good fortune to work in a hospital for most of my life… with cancer patients… so I knew what questions to ask and was able to help both my parents and the rest of my family understand what was going on. I will pray that your brother can be your eyes and ears tonight. God be with all of you.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:52 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Thanks Jim,
I lost my mother last year due to complications from Gallbladder surgery. She had been in poor health, and didn't come out of recovery.
I am in the military, and unfortunately, by the time they told me I needed to come home, I didn't make it in time. She passed the day after thanksgiving.
I saw my dad just last month when I went home, before all of this started. I will go home again as soon as he's up for a visit.
Everything just happened so fast. A few days ago it was just a simple test for Diabetes, and now it's Stage 4 cancer. It's a lot to take in.
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:14 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Hi Jim,
I wasn't able to talk to my Father today, but he did come out of the anestesia and did get up and walk just a bit.
I don't have much more info than I did yesterday, and I'm a bit frustrated. I know I'm being selfish, but I just need to know the whole story.
They removed 4 feet of my Father's colon, but said he still had 4 feet left. This confused me because I thought the colon was only 6 feet max.
They were able to reattach and he will not have have any "ostomy." I guess they didn't have to remove any of the descending colon or rectum. It was all upper/middle.
The doctor talked to him this morning and urged chemo as soon as he was healthy enough for it.
I still don't have any info on the lymph nodes or if they did CEA bloodwork yet.
It was a long night,
Thanks so much for writing back Jim, it's hard not to get on a plane right now. My brother says my Dad may be up for talking on the phone tomorrow. Let's hope so.
Cheers,
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Steve, when my mother had cancer 8 years ago, I lived 3.5 hours away and that seemed very far indeed. My bothers and I alternated staying down here with my father and mother. When I was at my home, I thought about my mother almost all the time. Getting information from my brothers was not the same as hearing the doctor tell my mother. Unfortunately or fortunately, I am not sure which, 6 years earlier, I had the same type of cancer my mother did… except that mine was a lower grade. So it was like reliving my own experience word for word. I knew what happened to me and expected the same was true for her except that she would probably not survive as long as I did.
I don’t know exactly why I am telling you all of this other than to let you know that I have been where you are (sort of). The details are different, but I do know how hard it is to stand by the phone waiting for updated information about my parents.
On the side… I was an Army Reserve Chaplain for 8 years so I know something about being in the military too.
God be with you and yours.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:36 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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A Chaplain!
Well, you've earned a special place of honor with me then. I used several last year and this year as I was trying to cope with the loss of my mother and a alot of job stress that eventually led me to decide on retirement. They were all top notch!
It was the chaplains and my Priest that gave me a sympathetic ear when I needed it and asked probing questions even though I didn't want to go there.
I've got to say, I don't know how I would have gotten through this time without Father Paul, my local Catholic Priest.
Bless you Jim, and thanks!
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Jim,
thanks so much for sharing your story. I am so glad that you are beating this second round.
I found myself spending all day researching cancer. It's a hard word isn't it? But it's just a word and nothing else.
I really need to hear my Dad's voice. I hope he's up to talking on the phone tomorrow. I need him to tell me that he will go through with the chemo. I need to know that he wants to fight.
My mind is a mess. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Hi Jim,
Happy New Year to you too.
Dad is getting better, although I still haven't been able to talk to him on the phone yet.
They put a tube down his nose and are he can't talk with that.
My brother says he's getting stronger, but had a bad day yesterday, lots of nausea.
Doc says his colon is "waking up" which is good.
He seems to be recovering from the surgery, but the best news my brother gave me was that Dad did agree to Chemo once he's stronger.
That's a good move, because before he went in he was adamant that he wouldn't.
Jim, I've read your account also and want to ask how you are doing?
Cheers,
Steve |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3711
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Glad to hear that your dad is doing better. I would think that the nausea is the reason for the tube down his nose and the fact that they removed several feet of his large intestine.
As for me, that is a mixed story. As of last November, there was no sign of any recurrence. However, they did find a small stroke on the other side of my brain. The combination of both is not easy to deal with. I have been tired most of the time since mid 2005. I have never recovered totally from the surgery which means I have not been able to go back to work. So, it is a “good news, bad news” story. Anyhow, it is not easy. But I am alive 
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Landog
New User
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: New- Dad has Stage IV |
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Alive is definitely good
Jan 1st was my 1st offical "retired" day, although I haven't been to work since November.
It is a very strange feeling. The military is all I have known since April 2nd, 1985. And now it's all done.
I was going to sign up for some classes, but now want to wait abit to make sure Dad doesn't need me to come home.
So, for now, I'm trying to be a good house husband and stay busy.
One of the things I've always wanted to do is learn to play the guitar. So I bought a used Acoustic and signed up for some lessons. I went to my 3rd lesson today and my teacher is really awesome.
Cheers!
Steve |
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