Hello everyone:
My name is Priscilla and my 64 year old Dad has NHL...again. He was first diagnosed with it in October 2006. The problem is, because he suffers from an enlarged heart and also has a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, he cannot have the newer cancer treatments. His Oncologist had him on Procarbozine. It is a medication from the 1960's which was stopped in the 602's because of causing sterility and worse Luekemia. This medication however, is the only one my Dad can take because it won't affect his heart. He cannot have dairy, avacado, pickled items. bananas, smoked meats, or aged meats, due to them causing severe reactions with the medication. He was in and out of the hospital because of complications of the chemo and his blood pressure and diabetes. Finally, in April of 2007 the Cancer was gone. We were all so happy!
January 08, 2008 it's back. Stage 3 and spread all over his chest and esophagus. He is constantly coughing. Again, the Procarbozine is the choice chemo drug. He is so weak and tired. He had only has one treatment so far and he can barely walk. I ravel daily to take care of him. He is too stubborn to move in. He lives by himself so I constantly worry if he is taking all his meds, eating, resting. It is so hard! He has family in Texas that are too involved in their own lives to stop and help. He has one brother that is married and retired. His brother lives minutes away from him yet conveniently always has other stuff to do. I am married and have 2 school age kids and one pre-schooler. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and battle my body each day to move. My Dad is tired and weak and is considering quitting treatment. He doesn't want to suffer. I know that I have to support in whatever he chooses but it is so hard. I love him so much and he means the world to me and my family. I need help on how to do this. I am scared of not being emotionally strong enough for him and my family. I need to prepare myself for the rest os this journey. How? How long does this evil Cancer take to selfishly take my Dad without treatment? How long will he have left to be with us? How do I cope?