Octobergrace Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 First, I am deeply saddened to have just read of T-Bone's death and send my sympathy and prayers to all members of his family who were so close . . You have been the supreme example of love and caring during his fight with lung cancer and and also have been so supportive to members on this message board waging the same fight. May God be with you. It has been a busy time so I have not posted about my Dad in a while. In late July, we went to Duke Cancer Ctr. to look at clinical trial possibilities since his onc. said he Iressa results were "disappointing" and there were no other options . Once at Duke, well... Halleleujah! The oncologist pulled her chair right up to my Dad eye to eye(no talking thru him to me) and said, "Mr. Bryant, I have been reviewing your scans and history and I want to tell you that so far you have done remarkably well. You are very strong." My Dad smiled his best smile in months. Finally, he had a dr. recognize and validate his hard work and tremendous will to live at 79 instead of acting like 79 is too old to want treatment options or to have hope. He is being tested for an upcoming clinical trial and the dr. talked about other available treatment options but said that she would not recommend anything as long as the Iressa is working...she says oncs. need to learn that "stable disease is good"...often better than dramatic swings of remission followed by agressive recurrance. Daddy's dr. has made no secret of being very disappointed with no significant regression of his tumors with chemo...but the Duke onc. showed us that his tumor load is approximately the same now as 1 year ago - many spots with no significant growth, the most worrisome tumor being in the center of his chest. So, for all who are looking for significant remissions after chemo, stable tumor may be good news... That said, I am posting because my Dad went to his thoracic specialist Monday with breathing difficulty, coughing, fatigue, lowgrade temp. and no appetite, all since the weekend. The dr. suspects pneumonia, started antibiotics and ordered a CT scan for tomorrow (Wed.) followed by a dr. appt. for him to read the scan and decide what to do about the symptoms...says maybe a broncoscopy(sp?) to see the windpipe and vocal cords. Can somebody tell me about this test, what my Dad will experience and what we should expect? Also, interestingly, the Duke onc. and this specialist strongly advocate for a vocal cord procedure to restore his voice and especially to close the windpipe opening so that he will not aspirate. Both said that aspirated food and liquids can set up infection and that one gets very worn from coughing in reaction to the foreign particles. My Dad's onc. had told me that he "wouldn't bother" with the procedure and that nobody in Charlotte did it...the lung specialist says he always recommends it since it is a very simple procedure commonly done by ENTs here and has big benefits. Anyone with more info? I know it is late to ask, but please think of my Dad tomorrow; he is pretty worn down from the weekend and apprehensive...gets nervous with procedures. Nevertheless, he went this evening to restock the community food pantry he still manages , to prepare for his absence in the next few days....amazing. In the meantime, I am catching up with news from the forum - and feeling very sorry that I have been absent so long. Octobergrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy P Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Grace - I can't answer your questions about the procedures but wanted you to know that I will be thinking of your Dad tomorrow and in the coming days and only hoping for good things. Let us know how things come out. Much Love to You, Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinaresholz Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I'm sorry to hear your Dad is weak. I wish him the best of luck. He is a real trooper. Prayers for you both. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tess Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 I am so sorry, God Bless your dad. He is such a fighter and sounds like he has so much courage. Bless is heart I wish cancer never existed! its so sad. I am keeping him in my prayers tonight. God help us all. Tess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 The bronchoscopy is a procedure where they put a tube down his throat with a light on the end....it sends a picture to a camera that transfers that picture to a TV screen (monitor) so that the doctor can see where he is and what everything looks like in there. Some times this procedure is used to biopsy problem areas but most of the time it is used just to "see" what is going on. I can't help you with the other procedure. I wish your dad the best of results tomorrow and think it is great that he has such a "can do" attitude. Tell him we are thinking about him and adding him to our prayers. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Prayers going out for your dad. Sounds like a new onc. may be a good idea, since your dad wants to fight more than the onc. does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseysmom Posted August 25, 2004 Share Posted August 25, 2004 Grace, Nuska explained everything. Best wishes to you and your dad. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octobergrace Posted August 26, 2004 Author Share Posted August 26, 2004 Tess, I am so sorry for your loss which I just read about this evening while catching up on more past posts. I loved the words at the end of your signature telling how he passed on holding your hands with his way to heaven lit by the moon. He, and you, have been very brave. Thanks for all your support; it has been a hard day. My Dad's CT scans show that the lung cancer has progressed - more spots and larger and there is a large shadow which could be pneumonia or more cancer. Bronc is scheduled for Friday at 6am. What I would like to know is what can my Dad expect during and after the procedure - is it uncomfortable, will his coughing and breathing problems interfere, etc.? A friend's medically fragile child spiked a high fever each time he had to have this procedure; is that common for adults/lung cancer patients? My Mom and Dad are worn out after fighting the city traffic to get to all the appts. and riding the roller coaster of good-bad-good-bad news. I left them looking kinda lost, to drive back home, 100 miles away. I am feeling overwhelmed and I know that is keeping the reality of this bad news at bay for the moment; not good. I am tired too and stay torn between wanting as much time with my folks at this time and the two special needs children I have fostered for 11 and 5 years respectively. And it will only get harder, I know. How can I do it? I know that many, many of you face the same challenges and ask the same questions and say the same prayers. Thanks again for being here each time I need to read a kind word. And please hold my Dad in your thoughts and prayers on Friday as he has this test and hears the results. Octobergrace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvmydog2 Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 Grace, I do not have any answers for you but can send prayers up for you. Let us know the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Daughter of Bill Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 So sorry that there is progression of the disease. It is so hard to see our Dad's, our ROCK'S, so sick. Believe me, I know. One thing that I vividly remember the nursing staff telling me after Dad had a bronchoscopy was that he might get a bit of a fever. She told me to give him some Tylenol if he did spike a fever. My Dad did really well with the bronch. They sedated him.........he didn't even know when it happened. When I went in after the procedure, he was certainly a happy man. (drugs, ya' know) Best wishes for your Dad! In my thoughts and prayers~~~ Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 No answers for you but I wishing for great results, a speedy recovery and the strength to fight on! love and fortitude elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted August 27, 2004 Share Posted August 27, 2004 Grace, Sorry, I'm getting to you so late, you probably won't read this before Friday's procedure. Steve had no major problems with the broncoscopy. They put him under and even after he came out and seemed awake, later he had no memory of anything which happened for the next few hours. In fact my neighbor just had one yesterday and said the same thing. His doctor said they call it the amnesia drug. They both did have a bit of a sore throat, but not unbearably so. I'm sorry that the cancer has spread, but your dad sounds like he is still capable of putting up a good fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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