(This was the last post I wrote in 2018 about my Dad. Updates will soon be coming. Please Pray!)
All of my life I have heard of people who have had cancer. When I was young, though, it was a disease that seemed like only “old people” had. And they often didn’t live long after learning they had it. However, through the years as I have gotten older, it seems like cancer is more prevalent and has no age restrictions. Old and young alike are diagnosed and treated. With the advancement in treatments, many people go into remission and some are cured. Some, unfortunately, still pass quickly. Once, the diagnosis of cancer was pretty much a death sentence, but not so now.
The past year and a couple months have been eye-opening watching my Dad go through his diagnosis with t-cell lymphoma and subsequent treatments. There have been some lows, some really-really lows, and some just okay days. And there have been some good days, too. The PET scan he had on May 1, 2018 is clear. We are thanking God that He has brought healing once again and we are praying that the cancer doesn’t return this time.
Before Dad was diagnosed with t-cell lymphoma, his health had been going down. He tried to chalk it up to getting old, but my Mom knew something wasn’t right. And Dad knew it too, but had not been telling everything he was feeling.
He had swollen lymph nodes for years. He had night sweats. He would tire very easily. Only after receiving the diagnosis did some of the symptoms he had been experiencing make sense.
He became very ill in March of 2017. His diagnosis did not come easy. Had he not been diagnosed when he had, the doctor said he would not have lived but a few more weeks. It was that advanced. And that hard to determine exactly what was wrong. He took chemo until the end of July 2017, before being told he was in remission the first time. But the scan at the end of October showed it had returned.
He started back with a new type of chemo in November. He would have a week of treatments, have two weeks off and then have another week of treatments. They later let him go for three week in between treatments. It was like being on a roller coaster. He would feel good for a little bit and then would have to start back with another treatment and feel bad. And even on the weeks when he had treatment, each day would be different. One day wouldn’t be so bad, but then the next would be.
The drug they were using is a fairly new drug so the side effects were unknown to a certain extent. And of course, with my Dad being the unique person he is, his side effects were not the same as the most common side effects they were watching for. A couple unexpected symptoms were itching and hot flashes. The hot flashes were uncomfortable. Of course, we teased him about going through menopause.
Even though the PET scan in May 2018 was clear, the doctor had suggested that Dad still continue with treatments because of the type of cancer he had and the likelihood, in man’s opinion, that it will return. But Dad wants a break. He is feeling good and would like to have some time to enjoy feeling good. So for now we are thanking God for his healing and praying this break he wants will last a long time.
Enjoy your break, Dad!
1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 116:1-9 NIV