Update on Dad (longish read)

[Pushbutton2]

I've posted a few times about my Dad, lives in NW Iowa, and his battle with cancer. Several members have expressed condolences and offered up prayers. I'm starting this new thread to consolidate things into one thread.

I'll give a quick overview:
In 2015 he was diagnosed with Bladder Cancer. In 11/2015 he had has bladder removed and had a urostomy bag put on.

Christmas of '21 he says the Dr's found a mass on his left kidney. He'd taken himself to the hospital for lower pain in his lower abdomen.
I was able to take him to 2 Drs appts over Christmas Vacation. The first appt the Dr could only verify that there was a mass. Unfortunately since the mass was an incidental find the scans weren't conclusive. The Dr ordered a CT Scan with contrast. I was able to take him to that appointment as well. After that we came back to Texas.
The Dr saw the scans and ordered a PET/CT Scan. My Dad's Girlfriend & my younger brother took him to Omaha for that. That Dr said it's stage 4 cancer in a couple of locations. Adrenal Gland on left kidney, spot on a lung and lower right leg and was inoperable.
Dad says he asked the Dr how long he had left. The Dr told him 4-6 months if he did nothing or chemo didn't work. Possibly maybe 1-2 years with intervention. Dad was than referred to a Dr close to home, same Dr who treated Dad's bladder cancer.
2/25/22 I took an extended leave of absence from work.
2/26/22 I flew home to Iowa. They started Chemo in March we did 4 cycles of it. The Dr ordered another PET/CT Scan to compare to the previous one.
4/21 we saw a Radiation Oncologist. She ordered/ prescibed 10 radiation treatments for Dad's leg. She wanted to wait to start those till after the PET/CT Scan.

Last Friday 4/29/22 we had the PET/CT Scan.
5/4 we had another appointment with the Chemo Dr.
He said the tumor shrunk in some spots, stayed similar in others and shrunk in others. The Dr didn't say it was a failure because the tumor(s) were reacting to the chemo. However since it wasn't significant or immediately noticeable the Dr said it was ineffective. I chose to not get into semantics. Than I realized what the Dr said. Chemo didn't work. We're 4 months into 4-6 months .
The Dr wanted to try a different approach. Immunotherapy. He went over the risk and such. Dr also shared that it's less toxic to the body. He also offered up to do nothing and call in Hospice to keep Dad comfortable.
Dad asked me what he should do. I couldn't hardly breathe let alone speak. I choked out "Fight!" but quickly followed that up with "that's a selfish choice on my part!" Dad looked at Dr and said Ok, we'll try that and see once what happens.

I was elated. The Dr also consulted with an Orthopedic Surgeon about the bone cancer in Dad's leg as it's effected the bone and there's some bone missing. The Surgeon recommended Zometa. It'll help control the calcium in the blood and help the bone regrow. On 5/4 Dad got his first infusion of Keytruda and Zometa. While Dad was getting his infusions I was in the waiting room, like usual, one of the RN's came out and went over the things to watch for with his new medicine. I had to choke out a bunch of words and questions. I was hurting inside. She answered them all. She was awesome. She even brought me some Kleenex and a new mask. Said she knows its hars to breathe through your mask when it gets wet from a runny nose. I smiled abd gave her a thunbs up. I didn't trust myself to speak. So now it's Saturday. Dad's still weak, he has no appetite, but he's been feisty the last couple of nights. I've told him as much. He apologized. I said no need! It's a compliment!! How many days has there been when all you've done is sleep... I hope it means you're improving.
5/9 we start 10 days of radiation it helps with the leg.

So to recap.
Chemo: ineffective
Trying Immunotherapy
Kyle sad when found out, not as sad now

[CabezaBlanca]

Prayers up for both of you.

[Burnadell]

More prayers, Kyle.

I am confused you said the chemo failed, yet you said some tumors shrunk, some remained the same, and others shrunk. If the tumors have not grown, others shrunk, and no new tumors, that does not sound like a failure. Nevertheless, prayers for the treatment to work.

[30-30]

Prayers up!

[DUKFVR]

Prayers Up for Y'all. So sad to hear this.

[MontagueMech]

Prayers sent.

[Pushbutton2]

Originally Posted by Burnadell

More prayers, Kyle.

I am confused you said the chemo failed, yet you said some tumors shrunk, some remained the same, and others shrunk. If the tumors have not grown, others shrunk, and no new tumors, that does not sound like a failure. Nevertheless, prayers for the treatment to work.

I am confused as well.

That's the way I remember the Dr describing it.

I'm not sure of the success/failure matrix the Dr uses.
Since I'm not a Dr in my brain this is how it makes sense to me.
Had it been a success there would have been noticable reduction in tumors.
Had it been a failure they would have enlarged noticably.
Since it didn't do either it wasn't a successful treatment.
I'm guessing the Drs are looking for a noticeable reduction in growth.
The word noticable adds more questions. How much is noticable? Do you measure by Naked eye? Tape measure? micrometer? Measured across widest point(s)? Circumference? Mass 2D? Mass 3D? Heart Girth? Volume?......

[Backwoods101]

Y’all are in our prayers Kyle


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[Louis]

Prayers up

[Hogmauler]

It’s always a tough row to hoe Kyle. Cherish the time you have with him and your mom. And take lots and lots of pictures. I so wish I had done that. Stay strong, stay faithful, stay appreciative. Gods placed the perfect son by his side.
Blessings,
Bruce

[Phillip Fields]

Prayers up.

[Big Lee]

PB2 sending positive thoughts your way. You are a good example of what a son should do.

[Katch66]

Prayers up for your father, your family and yourself.

[cva34]

Prayers

[BTLowry]

Said a little prayer for all of you just now Kyle

[Gumbo Man]

Prayers up.

[cram369]

Prayers sent.

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[Bisch]

Prayers up!!!

Bisch


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[tazhunter0]

Prayers up for you, your dad and family.

[WyoBull]

Prayers for your father.

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[Tbuddyandroby]

Continued prayers, Kyle.

[Burnadell]

Another prayer sent for your dad.

[rebelbow]

prayers up brother
tough path to travel

[Mudslinger]

Prayers for your Dad.

I have not had my Dad since 01 so cherish your time with him.

[Pedernal]

Prayers up

[Pushbutton2]

We are back in the hospital.

Dad has Pneumonia, low blood counts and his white blood cell count is high.

They're treating him with IV Antibiotics for the High White Blood Cell Count. It was at 20, normal for a non immunocompromised person is 4-11.
This am when they checked it was 7.9.

He's dehydrated so they been giving him IV Fluids, which should also help with his diminished kidney function. He's been being treated for diminished kidney function for a couple maybe a few years now.

He hasn't had another chest x-ray yet today to check on the pneumonia.

The Dr ordered 1 unit of blood for him. I think they're cross matching that now.

Dr asked Dad if he was ready to go home yet. Dad said No.

I wasn't sure if they Dr meant earthly home or heavenly home.

Oh and last night after we'd gotten Dad semi settled in his Girlfriend was on her way to a meeting and her car died. Me and the youngest brother got her to her meeting than got her car to his house. It's either Battery or Alternator. I think So I'll need to squeeze out some time to diagnose and repair that too.

Anyways that's my update from Iowa

[kcmarullo]

Prayers up

[Pstraw]

Praying for your dad and for you.

[gingib]

God Bless you!!! Spend as much time with dad as you can

[Backwoods101]

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[CassCounty]

Prayers up!

[RascalArms]

Hang in there Kyle. Continued prayers.

[Pushbutton2]

Well
Dad requested the family to come to the hospital.
He's decided to make us of Home Healthcare to keep him comfortable until he's called home

[kerrbow]

Praying for him and you and your family in this decision he has made, brother.

[txhoghunter2]

I know it’s hard, been there. Prayers for y’all.

[Pushbutton2]

Dads been released.

We're headed to Sheldon to get new prescriptions filled than home.

Heather, Dad's Hospice nurse, called and she'll meet with Dad after we get back.

[Killer]

Praying for your family and your father

[Pushbutton2]

Dad's been declining.
Since he's got decreased kidney function we thought it might have been a buildup of Morphine in the kidneys. It's not.

Hospice Nurse left about 3:30 today.

Dad's condition hasn't improved any since we haven't given him a morphine pill since yesterday. The morphine should be out of his system or mostly out.
That tells the nurse that Dad is in physical decline.
She'll be stopping by everyday now.

She's guessing he's got 7-10 days left.

He struggles swallowing so we're not giving him his prescriptions or supplements anymore.

We switched him to 0.25 Oral Morphine for pain.
The nurse pre filled some syringes for us.

She's also bringing oral Lorazepam for him. Just in case.

He was struggling a little to breathe so we put the oxygen on him and since he had a bloody nose we added a humidifier to it. Takes distilled water only.

[doghouse]

Prayers up for all!

[Meatcutter]

Prayers for the family.

[RR 314]

Going through similar stuff with my 86 year old dad. It is hard on everyone. Prayers sent.

[Pstraw]

Praying for your Dad and for you.

[skinsfan]

Just went through the same exact thing with my father-in-law, it’s tough. I will pray for you.

[brokeno]

Prayers sent for peace

[Uncle Saggy]

Prayers for you all


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[CassCounty]

Praying for you all.

[sling shot]

Prayers sent

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[witmer_c]

Prayers up!


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[CabezaBlanca]

Sent another.

[pondboss]

Prayers sent.