Newbie Sad for Dad (colon, brain, liver)
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| Tue, 04-08-2008 - 10:05pm |
Hi Everyone!!
First, I would like to thank you for being part of such a great support system. This board provides information and real stories for people dealing with very hard circumstances. I just stumbled across this board, and I am so ecstatic to have found a place that can hopefully get me through the tough road ahead.
Here's my story.....for a few months my Dad wasn't feeling well and in Feb.08 we found out he has miligament colon cancer. Surgery was immediate, and it turned out the doctors didn't remove the mass but a colostomy was done. The mass is the size of an apple and grew along the outside of his colon, which are the reasons why it wasn't taken out. In March Dad was home for about a week, and he started having symptoms (loss function of left hand, increased stuttering) of a brain tumor. Took him to the ER and a tumor (3.3cm, miligament) was found on the right side of his brain. The tumor was removed successfully (YEAH!!!) but while in the hospital the biopsy of his liver came back. Not good news...the mass within his colon spread to his brain (which was the tumor they removed) and to his liver. The doctors were planning to start chemo 6 weeks after the colostomy, because Dad lost so much weight and is very weak. But due to the spreading, chemo started last week and fractionated radiation (for his brain only) is to start soon. All this has came about SO quickly that my head is still spinning. But, I will say that none of the doctors (at JHH) has given my Dad a timeframe. I'm hoping that's a good thing.......
I'm 27, an only child, and our family is very small. My grandparents and great-grandparents all passed away from cancer before I was born. Basically, it's my Dad, me, and my aunt who is mentally handicapped. I moved back to take care of my aunt recently, and just quit my job to take care of both. I'm extremely overwhelmed and basically all alone. I suffer from depression, bipolar, and PTSD which I take medication for. But, unfortunelty my Dad suffers from the same and doesn't believe in mental medication. He's always been very independent and did everything himself. Now, being so dependent he's gotten very depressed, moody, angry, irriatable. I would LOVE to hear from anyone who has gone through a similar situation. My Dad is getting 5-FU chemo.....does anyone have experience with this?? Any information would be great. Thanks again!
Sincerely, Christina

Welcome to the board, Christina.
I am happy to be here for you.
I am sorry to here about your dad. I am going through the same thing. My mom was diagnosed about a year ago with lung cancer. Initially they thought it was from a lump they found in her breat but it turned out to be primarily from her colon. She is 59 (58 when diagnosed). Her doctors aren't real clear on whats going to
Hi Christina-
I just posted my own story a little while ago so I won't re-hash it here.