Posted on 01/30/2015 5:05:51 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
This is a ping list for cancer survivors and caregivers to share information. If you would like your name added to or removed from this ping list, please tell us in the comments section at this link (click here). (For the most updated list of names, click on the same link and go to the last comment.)
Maybe he was rotten from the beginning, just like the boys who grew up next to my parents. In their golden years, my parents (and all of their neighbors) were harassed by those rotten boys, beginning when the boys were small and then later when they were teens. (These days they're in and out of prison.) The so-called "parents" of those boys were no good, too.
Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the neighbors of this senior couple were nice, and the parents just didn't know what their son was capable of doing. But, I tend to picture the type of "family" that lived next door to my parents. I'm glad this couple is all right.
After 4 sets of chemo and 35 radiation treatments, he is being given a 3-4 week rest before they do more scans and tests to see what the situation is. He was fortunate in that the "sunburn" effects of the radiation did not really hit until the last week. Ankles a bit swollen, but should go down over a few days now that the treatments have been paused.
He actually gained 12 pounds or so over the last couple weeks which is encouraging - he is 6'3" or so and was down to 105 pounds (he was never much more than 145 pounds, so the change wasn't as dramatic as it sounds).
He was pretty sick from time-to-time from the treatments, but tried to stay as active as he could and do some small tasks to keep moving and engaged in life. When they put the port in, they must have damaged a nerve because when he woke up the next morning, his left hand was all but useless. he did some gaming with the hope that using the controls would assist in getting the hand working again and there was some improvement. He is now being scheduled for physical therapy to try to assist his body as he tries to pack on some more pounds before any more treatments that may be needed.
The doctors broached the topic of radiation treatments for his brain, but did not divulge whether they think it needed as a prophylactic or if they believe that it may be infected (the cancer did engage his lymph nodes so it is very possible that some migrated to his brain).
Original prognosis was up to 6 months w/o treatment and 6 months to 2 years (25 % chance to reach 2 years) with treatment. Won't know if that has changed until the end of Feb when they do the next scans.
At any rate, life does go on and our hearts also go out to those who have cancer or who have friends and relatives with it - it is a nasty business and our prayers are with you all.
God Bless
Bob and Ruby B.
Bob and Ruby,
Thank you for the update on your son. The shrinkage sounds encouraging. And so does the weight gain. Praying for Dan right now.
God bless.
Bob and Ruby, my prayers are with you and your family, especially your son!!!!!
God bless you and your son! So sorry to hear about all this trouble. May everything work out to the best!
Prayer Ping, see post #43
Our prayers are with you for Dan.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.