For those who care/are interested - an update on my father's health situation
Posted by
kelly (aka kelly)
Sep 28 '11, 15:31
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So, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the doctors found another tumor on my father (neck area), around 6 months after his cancer surgery in which they removed half of his tongue and some lymph nodes. That surgery led to a whole slew of issues with my father (major depression, prescription drug addiction, drinking getting worse - which led to my mom moving out). So needless to say, not a great time to find something else.
Last week the MRI results came back and it was discovered there were 2 tumors there - results were "inconclusive" - the other tumor was somewhere in his neck or tongue area, someone needed to study the results more as of last week to find more. A needle aspiration was done last week as my father refused to go in for a biopsy.
Today the results came back - still "inconclusive" (getting really sick of that word) but the doctor is sure it is cancerous. Turns out it is not 2 tumors, but one giant tumor that starts around his neck and ends at the base of his tongue. He needs to go in for an actual biopsy and an EGD next week but everyone is going forward assuming this is cancerous, as the doctor is 99.999% sure based on what he has seen so far.
My father's options as of now are as follows:
1)surgery to get the tumor removed. the surgery would involve removal of the tumor, all of his lymph nodes in his neck (they took some last time, but only a few that showed something suspicious in the pet scan), all of his tongue (so, no more talking/eating/etc), and because the tumor is pressing on his carotid artery, major reconstruction of the carotid.
2) chemo only, and eventual surgical removal of the tumor once is (hopefully) gets smaller
3)chemo and radiation - surgery not a guarantee for now, based on what happens with the chemo/radiation
He has opted for option 3. I honestly can't blame him for wanting to avoid the surgery, based on what they will have to do.
So, that's that. I am at a loss here. Very stressed out. I don't know where to go from here, what will help, or if anything will help.
*sigh*
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Responses:
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*sending good thoughts* -- nm
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Dano
Sep 28, 15:55
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I'm sorry, kelly. -- nm
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con_carne
Sep 28, 15:53
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so sorry. so very sorry. -- nm
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Diva
Sep 28, 15:51
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best wishes for guys -- nm
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Remlik
Sep 28, 15:45
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good grief
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prayformojo
Sep 28, 15:44
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Very sad. Not knowing the kind of chemo they use for this it's hard to tell what the effects will be.
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MojaveMeg
Sep 28, 15:44
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I'm sorry Kelly -- nm
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JenBro
Sep 28, 15:43
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Oh wow. Crap. Yeah, I'd go with #3, too. -- nm
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Mop (194 lbs)
Sep 28, 15:39
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cancer sucks. very sorry -- nm
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Beaker
Sep 28, 15:37
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