My Dad, now 63, was diagnosed with Stage 3b lung cancer in April of 2007. He wasn't going to do any treatment, but as I am my parents' only child and was expecting my first baby that October Dad decided to do whatever he could to try to be there for the birth of my baby.
His cancer had spread to his lymph nodes so they decided not to remove the tumour, but he did a walloping round of chemo and radiation that summer. He had pneumonia when my son was born, but was able to meet him a few weeks later. We were really thrilled to have him with us (and quite well!) for Christmas too.
Spring of 2008 he started to have some problems with the dexterity in his right hand. Within days he had lost use of his entire arm, and then began to have tingling in his leg. Tests found the cancer spread to his brain, and he was put on steroids and then had radiation on his brain tumours. He completely recovered the use of his right side.
Since that time, he has had radiation on the brain tumours again, and the cancer has now spread to his other lung and he has had some skin cancer as well. All in all, he is generally well and everyone is amazed that he is still here - 3 years later!
Lately he's been sleeping a lot and he has become more and more confused in the last 6 months. He has very little energy and his appetite comes and goes. He vomits some days an has frequent headaches that he takes percocet for.
It's been a long road. I'm grateful that we've had so much time together and that we know we're losing him. So many people lose their loved ones in accidents and never get the chance to say goodbye.
I'm just not sure what to do, as I've just been SO sad lately. I feel like I can't function properly at work or in my personal relationships, and I don't know what to do about it. I've been very strong for this 3 years, but it seems to be catching up with me. I've looked for support groups in my area but there don't seem to be any.
Maybe it would help to know that someone out there understands....