In late April my father was diagnosed with GBM stage 4. The last week of May he had the 4cm tumor removed. The Dr. told us that he had 12 months. This was by far the worst thing that a person could hear about their parent. We lost my grandfather 1-month prior (my dad's father) to cancer. Then to find out that my dad has it... It is sureal. Each day still feels like a daze. But, I still do my day to day routine.
From what Breew has said, I have all the same emotions. I don't know and am very scared of the day that my dad is no longer there. I don't talk with him about his illness, we talk 2 to 3 times aday about the weather and stuff.
He finshed his radeation treatment (30 total). And his temador treatment.
On a positive note, he had his first "big" appointment today. After his MRI and EEG, all looks very good. He will start his 5 days every month temador treatment this Monday. He will do this for 6 months. After that, I am not sure what the treatment game plan is.
The Dr. said that the tumor will return, we just don't know when. So, yet a few more hard minutes and back to the day. I know what we will face, I am just not sure how to face it.
For any Dr. to say something like 12-months left when the advancements are there is by far unfair to the family and patient. I look at my dad and can see that he is getting better, not worst.
On an end note, thank all you for just taking the time to write on these boards, it is the best place I have found where the people seem positive.
God Bless.
Hi,
I'm 17 years old and lost my father in may to gbm
stay strong for him, i went through the same thing, you are not alone!
I was just doing my first GCSE on the day i was told my dad had a year to live, my biggest bit of advise is to boycot chemo, my dad had surgery and radiotherapy once, when his hair started falling out we shaved it into a mohecan, bleached it and died it blue, the radiotherapy alone made him weak, i think chemo would have killed him and even if you are clinging to the idea it may save him when things get hard, it will only make things worse, it doesnt help this type of tumor.
I have a big sister (19) who just got married on the 9th september, (life goes on and i know dad was there), and a little sister (6) who is doing brilliantly at school, and a little brother (8) who is trying his best, stay positive, a big factor in cancer survival is pma (positive mental attitude), If you can be strong for them they stay strong, right up to the point when i was dressing my dad and he went back into hospital we told him it was just the medication and he would be fine soon, that he would have more surgery (though it wasnt possible) and this took away the fear and kept him happy, i know it is a scary and daunting thing, believe me, my world crumbled and my family has been left so poor that we are yet to recover from our losses and are incredably unstable, but we have each other and we had him and we were lucky.
I know it seems harsh that a doctor will say that 12 months is a good life expectancy, but i believe that if he hadnt i wouldnt have done wha was best for my dad and spent as much time with him as possible, and i know i would resent the doctor today if he had said longer knowing that i had wasted time.
cherish him!
the daughter
also, i forgot to say, talk to him if you need to he is still your dad, and when i talked to my dad i found he was greatful that i was still coming to him with my worries, and greatful that he had an outlet also, dont be scared of the future, cherish his life, think of everything you have ever wanted to ask him and do, stay strong, help him with things, go with him to appointments.
I am back at college now, (i dropped out to look after him)and i know he would be so proud, my sister is married to a boy who he really got on with, tom and hattie my little brother and sister are doing great, my mum has a boyfriend but is taking things slow, i am engaged to an old family friend on his side who he was very close too.
It is a scary thing but life does go on, and my dad although deceased is a very big part of my life still, i prefer to laugh at memories then cry, you arent alone
the daughter