My father who is 64 found out he had cancer of the tongue last year. He was taken into hospital pretty quickly and had that part of his tongue removed. They also removed a couple of surrounding glands as a precaution, they said. He had a course of radiotherapy to kill off any cancer they missed during surgery. He seemed to be doing fine. He came out of the surgery well and was making very good progress. He was having periodic check ups with his doctor and was told he was doing very well. Unfortunately, as bad luck would have it. After his surgery he had a minor car accident, where another car drove into the side of his car. He didn't appear to be injured at the time and was still making good progress. Some weeks afterwards he started to feel some discomfort in his right thigh. He went to see his doctor, who upon hearing he had had a car accident, gave hime some pain killers and sent him away. The pain killers helped for a short time and gradually the pain started to get worse and worse. When he saw his doctor who performed the treatment for his tongue cancer, he just told him that if the pain persisted then he would take a look at him, but he didn't seem too concerned. Months passed by and my father kept on seeing his regular doctor and he just prescribed Morphine to help him with the pain. My father had lost a lot of weight because he was in too much pain to eat anything anymore. Finally the doctor decided to send him for a bone scan. Whilst at the hospital my father was having some problems urinating and was advised to go to the ER if it persisted. So that is what happened. He ended up spending 2 weeks in the hospital. During that time he was told that his cancer had spread. He now had it in his hip. It has apparently passed through glands and into his blood and then his bones. He has some spots of the cancer in his liver now also. He was transferred to a Hospice so they could help control his pain. My father did not want to be in there and demanded to be at home with his family. So currently he is at home but it is a very stressful time for my mother who is taking care of him at present. I go and stay with them when I can to help her out. To tell you the truth I am a little unsure how this is all going to end. We have been told my father only has a matter of months to live. We are all devasted and of course my father has not taken the news too well at all. I am upset and angry that this wasn't detected sooner when something could have been done about it. But I am sure that is just a natural reaction. I am trying to keep a calm head about this although I am having a hard time with it. I just sit and cry, I can't help but think of my father and how he used to be when he was fit and healthy. Baring in mind he was always a fit and healthy man. He took up Taekwondo in his 50's and got his blackbelt a few years later. He has never smoked or ever drank alcohol in excess. It just seems so unfair. And it also makes me think weather this is something that could possibly be inherited. My grandfather died of hodgkins disease (in the 1970's). Has anyone been through this or is going through it right now with a loved one. I would be grateful for whatever advice can be given.
Thank you.