Caren

My husband and I went in to see him today. He was just having the IV anti-biotics. He's had a couple of units of fluids and should now be having a couple of units of blood. The doctor sent him for a chest x-ray after I had come home last night to rule out chest infection. Then when the doctor called in to see him today he gave him the result of the Bone Scan, which unfortunately, as we suspected there are metastasis to that shoulder area. They have now stopped the Anti-inflammatory that they were using to treat that and have started giving him Oral Morphine to deal with the pain. He will definitely be staying in over the weekend and the Oncologist will come in to see us after clinic on Monday to discuss everything.

I would like to thank everyone for their kind words!! I am worried that b/c he has needed a transfusion after just one cycle of the Chemo, when the Oncologist had already warned us that after cycle three he would probably be needing one, that they may not resume the treatment. I don't know if treatments are changed or just stopped and move on with Palliative care.......

We took my dad for the Bone scan today as arranged and then after we got back he was sick and started shivering saying that he was cold, when he felt hot to touch. Over the course of 4 hours his temp had risen to over 100 degrees (38 ) and so I had to phone the unit. I was told to bring him in and they took bloods and said that he is anemic and needs to have a blood transfusion in the morning. His kidney function isn't great and so they took a urine sample and think there is a urine infection (which they say could be causing the confusion) so they will give him IV fluids tonight along with anti-biotics. They couldn't say how long he will be in for, it just depends on how fast he picks up. In a way I'm glad that he's in there b/c I just knew that something was wrong and there was nothing that I could do to help him at home.

Yes he's drinking plenty of orange squash or coffee. Well actually today he's drunk a fair amount of milk, just for a change.

We are back from his visit with the nurse. His BC is too low for Chemo tomorrow and so that has been put on hold, possibly until next week. His LFT was off too and she was very concerned with the way that he's walking. She said that he looks to ill for Chemo tomorrow and wouldn't be giving it, even if is BC was good. She is also a little concerned about the confusion. This is what we have planned now... He was already booked in for a 'Whole body bone scan' tomorrow and then would of been receiving the results on the 6th of next month when his next visit with the Onc is booked for. So he will still have the scan tomorrow and she's bringing the appointment with the Onc forward to next week to discuss everything else and get the results of the scan sooner. Caren x

I am so glad that your dad is comfortable and able to recognise and tell you all that he loves you at such a hard time.

Thank you both once again. Sandra, it is the ramblings that I find particularly worrying. He isn't due to see the Oncologist until 6th of next month. I will give it a little while to see if that improves and if it doesn't then I will give him a call and see what he suggests. He has just finished one cycle of treatment and starts the 2nd on Thursday of this week. They are hoping for 4 cycles, but said that they will know for definite if they are going for the full 4 once he sees the Onc next, to determine whether or not it's working. They said that if it isn't showing any shrinkage or if there's more spread at that stage (Beginning of 3rd cycle) then they will stop the Chemo b/c it won't be fair on him to have all the symptoms but with no results.

My dad just seems to be slowly giving up on any hope that he had a few weeks ago He had a really bad week last week and I feel that it's knocked his confidence. He doesn't want to do his daily walk to the shop anymore and has barely gotten dressed the past few days. He doesn't want to eat, or even attempt eating, so I have spoken to the Doctor and they have prescribed Ensure Plus drinks for him. Also yesterday he was rambling a lot and wandering off during conversation. He was asking me and my husband things that really didn't seem to make much sense. I don't know if it's only the Chemo doing this to him or if he really just can't be bothered with the fight. He sees the Chemo-nurse tomorrow, before starting his next cycle of Chemo on Thursday, so I think that I may have a private word with her while we're there.

Everybody Hurts (REM)

Awe, thanks for the comments everyone

Hard

Thank you, Katie

Run

I'm so sorry, Shrimp

Bowel (sorry 1st thing that came to mind )

She's like the Wind (Patrick Swayze)

Personal

Thank you ladies

Diary

Take the last letter of the song above to make a new song. I will start with....... Dancing QueeN

Coke or Pepsi? Tea or coffee? Wine or Beer? Chinese or Indian? Sweet or Savoury?

Happy belated birthday!!!! Yesterday we had Spaghetti for dinner Tonight I think I may make a chicken curry (one of my dad's favourites).

Organise

I thought I would post a few pictures of us. There are none of my husband because he won't allow me to post his photo on the internet. My dad, xmas '07 Me with my eldest daughter, Josie, she's 13. My son Harry (10) and daughter Maddison (6) Thanks for looking