Dad's Biopsy

Well, my dad had his biopsy about 2 weeks ago and his follow up with his surgeon. He is still in quite a lot of pain on his right side. He surgeon says he does not have lymphoma, he has lung cancer. Dad smokes about a pack a day so I am not surprised. He is very scared. The cancer has spread to his bone (hence the rib pain) and quite a bit to his lymph nodes. The doctor took out most of the large lymph node tumor but couldn't get it all.

I called my mother and told her about it (my parents have been divorced for over 30 years) and she went on about how she would not want any chemo etc. For some reason this really irritated me. Partly because that is my job (I am an oncology nurse) and see people getting treated every day and getting years of more time and partly because Dad will need chemotherapy to stay alive throughout this year. Also, I know that even if she wanted chemotherapy, she would not be able to get it in Tennessee because she does not have health insurance and is not yet old enough to receive Medicare. AND, she is still smoking even after burying one ex-husband with lung cancer. All I wanted to do was get off the phone- not talk to her about this, and I am the one who called! So I basically told her to let my brother know so he could call Dad.

I plan to visit my Dad this upcoming Labor Day weekend, I have Monday off. He lives on Long Island so the drive will be pretty sucky.

My brother did end up calling him and wants him to come to Tennessee to visit. Dad would like to see his grandsons (my sister's boys) play football (they both play for their school teams).

My sister told my Dad that she would come up for Christmas with her kids. I am told he really broke down crying at that point. I am glad she can do that. I will probably have to work on Christmas so will need to pick a different time. Sometimes it stinks working in healthcare at a hospital but even if I had the day off, I would have to work the day before or day after so it is not like I would be able to come down anyhow. I'll try to take some personal time as I won't be eligible for vacation time until March. I hope most of my schedule will be in blocks (3 on, 4 off) so I can avoid trying to request time off.

I don't think this year will be a good one. I guess the aborted relocation to Tennessee worked out the way it did for a reason.