Thanks everyone,
I wish Dad had kept his screw you guys attitute that we developed for a while. It just seems that he has never had a break. Not one. Our GP misread the original Xray, the internist he insisted on seeing after getting no help from the GP said that something was wrong but it wasn't emphysema, cancer or heart disease except 2 weeks later after a VQ scan he was told it was most likely lung cancer. After travelling to have a biopsy via bronchoscope, Dad was admitted and a chest tube was inserted to drain the effusion that had developed after his lung had collapsed. Fluid was malignant. No surgery possible. Stayed in hospital for 2 weeks. Had palliative radiation treatment, lost 30 pounds, chest tube remained in for 7 weeks, doctors admitted it should never have been in that long after Dad travelled to hospital by ambulance due to severe pain caused by tube, found a staph infection and infectious disease team decided it was not a strain that required antibiotics, pulled the tube and sent Dad home. Monday was a good day. Appointment to have chemo on Wed March 19th. Blood work good enough for chemo. Denied chemo due to physical weakness. Informed of spots on liver and adrenal gland. Told that he may be able to take chemo later but it would only give him a bit longer and it would take a terrible tole on him. Dad has watched 3 of his brothers go through tough treatments for different kinds of cancer and lost one brother to mesothelioma. He is so tired and beat up and weak after all of the let downs. I wasn't able to be with my family at the appointment on Wed...I work 7 hours away. I left a week ago, I am not sure why he is so very weak if his blood is ok and the infection is not cause for concern. I have been working to get a second opinion since January and had high hopes for help from a friends collegue in California. That fell apart too. I want to send him to Ottawa to see a specialist but I don;t think he will agree now. Sigh. I am sooooo tired of the roller coaster taking us down, I sure hope it is time for an upswing, even alittle one.
Sorry, I really rambled on this time.
Thanks again everyone, God bless...I am sure some of this is familiar to many of you
Lee-Anne