My Dad has cancer

[Tennie]

This past Saturday morning, my Dad had severe abdominal pains, and whenever he tried to urinate, it was quite painful and there was blood in the urine. He was sent to the hospital, and scans found that one of his kidneys has a cancerous lump the size of a fist in it. His urinary troubles were caused by a blood clot that had come loose, and after several attempts to flush it out at home he went back into the hospital, where it was successfully flushed out.

The cancer is apparently at least at Stage 2; however, the scans also picked up a spot on one of his lungs. This isn't actually an uncommon occurrence where I live due to allergies (and so it may be simply unrelated), but it's also possible that the cancer may have metastasized there, indicating it's at Stage 3. We're hoping it's the former, but we won't know for sure until we get back and subsequent test results related to it.

This came as quite a shock to all of us (Dad most especially), even more so since this mess started only a few days before his 58th birthday.

However, since (as mentioned) the cancer doesn't seem to be terminal, there's still plenty of hope for him. The current plan is to have the affected kidney removed within a week or so (give or take, depending on any subsequent changes in his condition); depending on the state of the cancer, it may be possible that he'll be completely done with it after the operation and thus might not have to have any subsequent treatments done (knock on wood!).

Of course, Dad is a hard-driven man, which is how he's become quite successful (he currently runs his own financial planning business); given this, it's rather fortunate that his work has been in a slow period that is likely to continue for some time, as he'll basically be forced to not move much for the next several weeks.

We've been trying to convince him (quite well, thankfully) that he can make it, as some people have survived worse cancers, and he--we--can make it too.

I ask of you to keep him in your thoughts. If you're of a religious persuasion, please say a prayer for him. And regardless of your religious/non-religious leanings, please offer some kind messages for him. I intend to post this not only here, but also several other forums of which I am a member, and I also want to show him these threads so as to let him know that, if even complete strangers (to him, anyway) can offer moral support, then he can certainly make it.

Thank you all.

[Bob Schroeck]

Tennie, I'm sorry to hear about you father. He has my best wishes for -- and total confidence in -- a fast and complete recovery. It's been a long time since cancer was an inevitable death sentence, and sometimes it even seems like it's getting beaten back a little more each month. Given what you've described, it sounds like your father's case is far from the worst it could be, and better than most. He'll pull through, no problem.

[robkelk]

It's never easy to learn something like this. My thoughts are with you, Tennie.

Since your father works with numbers, this might help: The American Cancer Society's Survival Rates for Kidney Cancer by Stage page. Statistics say he's more likely to survive five years than to succumb, even if it is Stage III... but use that drive of his to do whatever it takes to stay away from Stage IV.

[DHBirr]

Heckuva birthday "gift" he got.  My best wishes for your father's full recovery and a long, hearty life to come, the young pup (I'm 59).

[Tennie]

Thanks, guys.  I intend to show Dad this and other similar threads that I've posted on other forums.  That should help encourage him.

Hopefully it should also help if I mentioned that Dad served about 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, and given the reputation that those guys have, hopefully it should also act as some form of encouragement.

[Bob Schroeck]

Well, hell, in that case he'll probably scare the cancer away. <grin>

[SilverFang01]

My best wishes to you all as he kicks this thing to hell and back.

[Tennie]

Last night, while visiting Dad in the hospital, I showed him this and other threads on other forums. Mom also read them as well. They have liked the messages you guys have posted, and are grateful for them.

It's also a good thing that, even before then, Dad's sense of humor had returned to him, as he'd been joking with some of the staff (and us) whenever he could.

Well, hell, in that case he'll probably scare the cancer away.  <grin>

In our family, it's joked that I never had to fear monsters under my bed or in my closet, because monsters fear U.S. Marines.

[Tennie]

Today is Dad's birthday, and tomorrow he's scheduled to have the kidney removed.  After that, he'll probably have more scans done on his body in order to make sure there aren't any more cancers elsewhere (knock on wood!), and depending on their results, he might be discharged so as to recuperate at home.  Regardless of what happens, I'll try to keep you guys informed about his condition.

Once again, thank you guys for your support.

[Bob Schroeck]

You're very welcome, Tennie. All our best wishes are with him.

[Tennie]

Well, here's some good news:
 
Dad was scanned head to toe before the surgery, and it was found that the kidney was the only cancerous area.  The surgery went ahead as planned, and now the cancer has been successfully removed.  Dad'll have to stay in the hospital until Wednesday, though, in order to make sure there aren't any subsequent complications in that time period.
 
Best of luck to him, in any case!

[Bob Schroeck]

Excellent news, Tennie!

[robkelk]

That is good news!

[Dartz]

Good luck. Here's hoping

[nocarename]

Good news indeed.

[DHBirr]

Yes, very good news.

[Tennie]

Well, Dad managed to get out of the hospital yesterday, as the doctors determined that he was recovering more quickly than expected.  This is a good thing, as my sister turns 16 today (and I doubt that he would've wanted to miss out on the action).

[Bob Schroeck]

That's even better news, Tennie! Please let him know all our best wishes continue to go with him. (And a happy birthday to your sister from the Drunkard's Walk Forums, too!)

[robkelk]

Excellent news, and excellent timing!

[GethN7]

Give your father my best regards on his recovery. My own father had his own kidney related issues he managed to overcome, so here's hoping lightning strikes twice and then some.

[Tennie]

Yesterday, Dad managed to receive his pathology report.  The basic gist of it was that the cancer was indeed confined to the kidney, and now it's been entirely removed.

Thank you all for the support you've given my family over this past week or so.

[robkelk]

Good news!
I hope your father makes a quick recovery from the surgery.

[Mamorien]

Yes! Very yay!