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brainman
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Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5617
Location: Tennessee
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mcouture
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Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Dad has 4 tumors and the biopsy is tomorrow |
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Well it's been 1 week since my dad's last radiation treatment. Last week they tried to reduce his steroid dosage and he imediately had trouble walking. So they put him back to original dosage.
In past several weeks he seems to be getting worse. I don't know if it's because of the radiation treatments that are kicking his butt or what. He has a very hard time walking now (with a walker) and at certain times in the day he can't walk at all. He's had/has swelling in his feet/legs - first thought to be some sort of sodium issue but not. Said to be meds related - not sure.
He and my mom live alone in a very rural area - twice this week he has fallen and my mom could not get him up by herself. She had to call a friend - several miles away for help. "downtown" is population 500 and 25 miles away. I am on the fence to whether or not force them to consider getting an apartment in the closest city to them (or me) so they have services available...(at least 911).
So my question (before I got of track here) is is it safe to assume that radiation is still working in his system and he "may" bounce back in the next couple weeks? His followup MRI is scheduled for the end of October.
My mom has 20 hours of help per week coming in to help around the house, general care for dad etc but I still see mom as totally stressed out. I try to make it up once every week, to week and a half but it's a 4 hour drive one way for me so I'm pretty useless to them.
Winter is coming soon and it's pretty harsh where they are so I'm on the fence to what to do. If they move to the city and just an apartment it doesn't buy them much other than being closer to help. I can't force them either...
grrr....where's that manual for life....... |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 5617
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Dad has 4 tumors and the biopsy is tomorrow |
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Hi mcouture. Oh yeah, I remember when I was taken off of the steroids. I felt so weak, unstable on my feet, moody... They had to put me back on at decrease the dosage even slower.
Your father's radiation will continue to work for a few more weeks. I think it keeps working for about 6 weeks after the last treatment. Most people start to feel gradually better as the 6 weeks draws to an end. There could still be some residual side effects of his cancer and the treatments he has received so I will not say every thing will be back to "normal."
If you ever find that manual of life, can I read it when your through? 
_________________
Jim
Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2405
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=2528
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 3: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Twitter: @JimHawkins54 |
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mcouture
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Joined: 30 Jul 2009
Posts: 10
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| Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Dad has 4 tumors and the biopsy is tomorrow |
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Well we moved up the followup MRI. It was done this past Tuesday. We moved it up because he was going downhill pretty fast and we knew something was up.
The MRI showed that the tumors and sizes grew. Initial prognosis was 1 - 3 years, now on the followup he was given 2 - 4 weeks. That would be from initial diagnosis to today of about 3 months.
We placed dad in a wonderful in-patient hospice and he is being watched and cared for like something I have never seen. All the doctors and nurses and staff are soooo caring it is wonderful. Mom is now able to rest (or at least is starting to).
This news is such a big blow because we all made the hard plans 3 months ago that we'd probably have a year left with dad but now we have weeks and at this point he is sleeping 90% of the time and cannot talk.
Thanks everyone for their support and thanks for letting me just talk out loud here..... |
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Sad for Dad
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Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:36 am Post subject: Re: Dad has 4 tumors and the biopsy is tomorrow |
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My heart goes out to you today. I recall when we received the blow about my Dad and even more so when we got the call saying he only had days left. Tears are just streaming down my cheeks as I know how difficult this news can be to swallow.
One thing I can tell you is that when my Dad was in hospice and was sleeping for the majority of his time, he knew we were there and we continued to keep him involved in the conversation by speaking to him, etc. Spend as much time as possible there...
My Dad would have celebrated his 70 birthday today and it is so sad that this disease takes so many of our loved ones.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this time. |
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