Update on my Dad
The latest news I have is this:
The tumors found near my Dad’s gastro-intestinal tract apparently originated from the bladder cancer that my father was diagnosed with in March of 2004 and had surgically removed (along with his prostate) in March of that year.
Given that he had six months of chemotherapy after the original surgery (which incidentally showed cancer in his prostate, which was also removed as a prophylactic measure), yet NONE of the scans he had since he was declared “cancer free” have shown any indication of the “new” growths in his abdomen, I must question the efficacy of the detection methods.
Perhaps I am too much involved with matters scientific and have a better than desirable understanding of the nature of statistics, but the current situation does not warm my heart.
Popularity: 30% [?]
November 11th, 2005 at 21:49
I wish the news was better. But, again, you may be borrowing trouble. My grandma used to say “don’t trouble trouble til trouble troubles you.” And a fat lot of good that does! I think of you and your parents on a daiy basis. All best wishes. jae grenier
November 12th, 2005 at 00:53
{hugs}
November 12th, 2005 at 03:02
Unfortunately it could be anything from incompetence to… we just can’t scan for that yet… After I had a melanoma removed about 20 years ago, I had several scans over a period of time. Although at the time I already knew there was nothing wrong - the doctors insisted. The gallium scans were supposed to pick up fast cell growth. If he was having the same kind of scans - it’s always possible that the cells were growing fast, but not fast enough for the dye to be picked up - which is what they look for. I’m sorry your dad has to go through all this when everything had started to look better.