Warning: this post talks about Cancer.
I promise I haven't forgotten this blog. I've just been busy with one thing after another and it kept getting put off, and the more I put it off the harder it became to sit down and catch up. But today's the day to get back on track!
So, my last blog was on the 18th March, but I haven't updated you guys properly for some time, but I want to do a Dad appreciation post and update as he's really got back to his normal self much more since March, we know a bit more now, and I feel strong enough to talk about it openly.
In an earlier blog post I mentioned that a few days before Christmas we found out my Dad has an incurable cancer. I feel like it's time to talk about that properly.
The primary tumour is in the bowel, with two mets on the liver, and numerous mets on the lungs.
He had a major surgery, laparotomy and stoma formation, came home from hospital just after New Year, and we celebrated Christmas with him properly at home, although he opened his presents in HDU.
He's on quite a few medications to help with his stoma, pain, iron and magnesium levels, and build up drinks to help replace the 30kg of weight he lost before they found out what was wrong with him.
He has since had two admissions in February for stoma blockages, and one trip to A&E for a stoma prolapse.
His chemotherapy started on 7th March. He has a three week cycle, two drugs on day one, one drug on day eight, and one drug on day fifteen. He doesn't have a break between cycles. Chemotherapy means more tablets for steroids and antisickness.
His review CT scan in May and appointment with the oncologist revealed that his cancer antigen (CEA) levels are decreasing, his primary bowel tumour has shrunk, and the original liver mets have shrunk, but a few more small liver and lung mets have appeared, and they're concerned about the liver ones in case they continue to grow or more appear.
We're limited to three authorised types of chemotherapy so we're continuing with the same treatment for another three months for now with a further CT scan at the end of the three months.
In himself, he's improved drastically since leaving the hospital, his recovery from surgery was good, and although he initially needed oramorph almost every day, he's only had to use his oramorph once since March, and that was after walking around all day almost non-stop. He's got himself a new little car which has given him his independence back, and he can take himself off out for the day, and take his dog with him too if he wants to.
We're working through his bucket list fairly quickly, as we don't have a real prognosis yet, and I doubt we ever will, but we know that if chemotherapy doesn't work he could have less than a year, and we're already almost half way through the year so we're making sure to pack plenty in, just in case.
Here's a few of his adventures so far this year:
His Cousin's Wedding:
Dinner in Bella Italia (he loved that lasagne!):
Easter Egg Hunt:
He bought me a special stethoscope:
Fishing trip, wearing his new Hogwarts hat:
Platform 9 3/4:
And with his girls:
We've just taken him to Comic Con this weekend.
And the Emirates Cable Car:
Coming up, so far he's got:
June - Download Festival and Fathers' Day.
July - A family holiday to do a "secret" activity which he doesn't know about yet.
August - Reading Festival.
September - Warner Brothers Studio Tour and nine days in London with my Sister.
October is empty so far, but I doubt it will stay that way!
November - Celebrate Halloween and Bonfire Night while I'm home for a weekend from uni, and celebrate his 55th birthday.
December - Star Wars themed Christmas.
Plenty for him to look forward to and hopefully keep him strong.
Obviously, I'm nervous about leaving him to go to uni, and I don't drive yet so visiting home is a five hour train journey each time. But he's doing so well in himself, and is so positive about life as he says he doesn't want to waste his limited time moping about it and losing even more time. He's thrown himself into life headfirst, and is enjoying himself. All of this makes it easier for me to cope. And we'll face the inevitable when it arrives.
On the medicine side of things there's not a lot to report at the moment. I've applied for my student finance, packing is well underway, and I've been buying the "essentials" (read: so much stationary!).
In non Dad related life update: I'm off to Japan on 18th June for three weeks with my brother, and so I'll likely post a bunch of pictures of that when I get back.
I'll try to update this blog when I can over this hectic summer. Once I'm settled in at uni I'd like to attempt to get this blog back on track, weekly on Monday mornings.
Sorry for a post full of mixed sad and happy things, but such is life.
Thanks for reading.
Katherine
