daddyslittlegirl

Thank you all for the replies. Debbie, it sounds like you are just as great of a daughter. I'm glad that you are able to share your hope with your mom and dad. Hopefully eventually your siblings will com around. The good news for me is that I had a long talk with my siblings and got them to at least understand where I'm coming from. One sister actually asked me to continue sharing the stories with her. My mom however is a different story. I have just decided that it's better not to discuss anything with her. That way we won't have any differences and cause my dad stress. But someway I have to get her to stop treating my daddy like a baby. She won't let him do ANYTHING. UGH!!! I keep trying to tell her to let him do whatever he feels he can. My dad is not at all use to sitting around doing nothing. She even clears his dishes for him. He HATES that. He constantly tells her "he can do that." He usually helps with the laundry and she won't even let him do that. She says he gets out of breath walking to and from and carring the laundry. How about taking him a basket of clothes and asking him to fold them??? He needs to feel needed. I don't know how to get this across to her. I appreciate her taking care of him and all, but sometimes I think she's actually doing him more harm then good. If anyone has any advice on how I can acomplish this without insulting her and putting her on the defense I would greatly appreciate it. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent and certainly thank you for the prayers.

Hi Tammy, I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. I don't know much about the chemo combos as my dad has not been given chemo, but I do know what you are going through. So I wanted to let you know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

Many prayers for good news today!

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Two professors at the University of Oklahoma say they've developed a protein that can stop the spread of certain cancer cells without damaging normal cells. Thomas Pento and Roger Harrison helped develop a fusion protein that keeps some types of cancer cells from ingesting a vital protein called methionine. The fusion protein doesn't affect normal cells because, unlike cancer cells, they can be healthy without that protein. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies kill normal cells along with cancer cells, which often cause sickness and hair loss. "Roger has created a mechanism that delivers these compounds specifically to the surface of cancer cells so normal cells won't be affected but only the cancer cells will be damaged," Pento said. "So you can see it would cause a lot less toxicity and it should really be a lot more effective." Pento is a Noble Foundation presidential professor of pharmacy at the OU Health Sciences Center; Harrison is an associate professor of chemical, biological and materials engineering on the Norman campus. They worked with other OU scientists, including Xiao-Ping Zang, Naveen Palwai, Megan Lerner and Dan Brackett, research director at the Health Sciences Center's surgery department. Pento said the research started with breast cancer and expanded to include other types of solid tumors. They found the fusion protein to be just as helpful in fighting lung, prostate and pancreatic cancers. "It could be applicable to many types of cancer," Pento said, "but we've found that it's effective for those four types of cancer for sure." Despite successful testing to this point, Harrison said the fusion protein will need another round of animal tests before moving on to years of human clinical testing. Three phases of clinical tests could take two years each. "So it could be in the order of 10 years," he said. "It sounds so far away, but realistically, given the FDA and all the phases of testing, it could be done rapidly." The two professors have applied for patents on their technology and plan to conduct animal testing themselves before launching their own company or licensing with a large pharmaceutical company to do it. "If you don't patent it and get that protection, then no pharmaceutical company is going to spend the half to three-quarter billion dollars that it takes to do the clinical testing and to get this drug on the market," Pento said.

Hi Yirol, I really like the way you put your dad's infor down. It sounds like he's hopeful. I pray that continues for both of you. Please keep us posted. Sharing stories does help all of us. Take care.

NED is Good!! Keep it up!

I hope you are just being paranoid. I'm going to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. BTW, your mom does sound amazing! You are very fortunate.

You know that sounds like I could have written it myself. I have been trying to get my dad to go for a second opinion for a while. I just really beleive that with all the treatments options available that there should be something else they can do. You got to love that good ole male pride. There are so many wonderful stories here and I try to share as many of them as possible with him to try to give him hope. Once he realizes that, perhaps he will change his mind about going for antother opinion. I'm praying things get better. Hang in there.

I'm so sorry that your Dad is going though a rough time. I know how it feels to continously get bad news. I'm praying that things turn around for you (and him) real soon and he does start to get better.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Missy, I'm so sorry that this has been a tough day for you. I pray that there will be brighter days in your near future.

I'm saying a prayer for you.

I'm so sorry for what you and your family are going through. I'm having such a hard time dealing with this in one parent, I can't imagine how hard this must be on you with two parents being effected by this horrible disease. I don't have any experiences to share with you as my dad has not been offered chemo as of yet, but I do have many prayer for you and your mom. Hang in there.

Hi Teri, I actually hold a health insurance license for the state of Maryland, but I don't know how or if it differs from the laws in California. In Maryland one can not be excluded from group health insurance for prexisting conditions. Therefore, there should be no lapse in coverage. I hope that helps.

Ho Bobby, Try to hand in there and stay positive. My prayers are with you and your family.

wow! she's beautiful! Congratulations! BTW, Lillian is my mom's name. Take care and enjoy her.

I certainly don't want to get in to a car accident and injure him or anyone else. He really hadn't been driving (except for very short distances) for a while. But when someone tells you "you can't". It's different. My dad doesn't share his thoughts that much (it's his way of being strong for us), but he has repeatedly said "I don't want to get to that point where he's a burdon on anyone. He doesn't like other to do anything for him. He's a very strong willed man. So my concern is, is this temporary while he's going through the treatment or is the doctor thinking permanent. Given the timefram he gave my dad, who knows. I'm trying to give my dad hope and I feel the doctor counteracts it. I mean giving such a gleem prognosis BEFORE treatment even started. Okay, why bother. Then taking away some of his independance. Now, I know my dad is going to start losing his will to fight. I just can't let that happen. I guess that's what I'm really afraid of. Thanks as always for listening.

Hello all, I'm so upset. I just left my parents house and my mom told me the onc told my dad he can no longer drive. I don't understand. Sure he's a little off balance when he walks (probably from the radiation), but other than that he seems okay. Has anyone else been told this and if so at what point. I'm really having a hard time with this doctor. First he gives him this short timeframe on his first visit (before he ever began treatment), not he's taking his pride away. I so badly wish I could convince my dad to get a second opinion, but he won't. This is really breaking my heart.

Kelly, I'm so sorry about your mom. I know how it feels when they say that's it. My dad said he's not doing anything else after he completes his WBR. How scary that sounds. I guess we do have to let them make their own decissions. He promised he wasn't giving up too and I wondered, How can you say your not giving up but you're also not doing anything else? It didn't really make sense until I read your post. Your mom has surprised the doctors thus far and I pray she continues to surprise them and you have some more quality time. Hang in there.

I'm so sorry you are having all of these fears. We just found out that my dad has 2 small lesions on the brain. He was having some headaches and dizziness and vomitting. He is currently undergoing WBR for them. I was under the impression that they were going that route was because it was less likely that there would be recurrences. I pray that it's not that. Please keep us posted.

Hi Catrina, You know that's my cat's name (spelled the same way). She was a Katrina rescue. Anyway I'm so sorry your dad isn't doing well. It sounds like you are a very concerned daughter. However, don't jump to conclusions and stress yourself out until you actually know. When I feared my dad had LC I would read the symptons and info on webmd.com. Just a thought. Hang in there.

Hi there, I just wanted to say welcome and I'm sorry about your father. I'm pretty new to this whole thing myself so I can't really answer your questions, but I can offer prayers. Hang in there.

oh I'm so hoping you can make it to the ocean. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hang in there.

I'm so sorry for everything you are going through. I can certainly relate to all your thoughts and fears about losing a parent. That is a wonderful prayer. I too am going to pray for her comfort and yours. I hope you and your mom are able to enjoy some time together with her living with you. Hang in there.

First of all, I want to say a belated happy birthday to you. I'm sure you did enjoy it staying with your parents. You must have felt like a little girl again. I have thought many times about how I would like to rewind the clock. I agree about it not being about us. I want to spend as much time as I can with my dad too. I wish I had an excuse to do that to. Enjoy your time. I'm praying your mom has much success with the Tarceva and that she is here for your 30th birthday! Hang in there.