Hello everyone! My 54 year old father was diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma in early may 2009 (not too long ago). We have had 3 chemo treatments of carboplatin and taxol. After the second treatment, the oncologist explained that the cancer had not grown anymore so I was ecstatic that it had not progressed. I am hoping that the 3rd and 4th treatment will help kill some cells. My biggest question is what now. We got our second opinion at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis and they have doctors there that travel back and forth between there and cape so we can stay closer to home. I do wonder however, if I should take him to mayo or to the cancer center in Chicago or is carboplatin and taxel the common practice.
This has all been a nightmare to us. My father is not married and he also has a handicapped son who lives with him. Me and my older brother take turns spending the night and taking care of them but I just feel so scared. We have never had anything like this happen before.
The way it all happened is like something out of a bad movie. He hurt severely for a year going from doctor to doctor complaining of his right front side hurting and burning in pain. It was so bad that he had to hold his shirt off of his side when wearing it and was taking alot of pain meds with no relief. The doctors kept telling him they could not find anything and that they all though it was nerve damage due to 3 prior back surgeries. I even took him to the E.R. twice. We kept telling them he could not breathe that well and they kept telling him that he had emphysema from smoking years ago. I finally took him to the E.R. and a CT of his chest showed he had fluid around his right lung so bad that it covered it 2/3. This is why he could barely breath.
After many tests and a week in the hospital we found out that he had a 4 cm. tumor in his lung, cancer in his right rib cage and a two other bones. I am so mad at all those doctors that did not find it. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this terrible disease but I am still as confused about treatment as before. My dad has always been my rock and now I do not know what to do to help him best. Most days all I can do is cry and I do not know how to stop. I am trying to be strong but we have been through so much and my dad is such a good man.
We are very strong in faith and we keep praying to God every day to please heal this horrible disease.
My dad has been very tired that last month or so and he could sleep all day if you let him. I know that he was very weak before all of this started, but is it normal to be this tired all the time. I have so many questions, but I am not sure where to turn too. We live in a very rural area and I am not sure who to turn to for information. Can anyone help give us good news, advice, or tips they have experienced!