jenburke
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Lissa, my dad also had to give up red meat – it simply doesn’t agree with him anymore.
He also started to break up his day into small meals.
Since he started drinking Boost, his energy has picked up.
Sophie, that is what has happened with my dad with Dr. Hoffman.
I had to pull together records and fax them and then my dad was given an appointment with a surgeon. That surprised me, as I didn’t think anyone would be willing to operate on him, from what doctors said to me from our local hospital. I fully expected dad to be paired with an oncologist to start chemo instead.
http://www.fccc.edu/physicians/surgical/hoffman.html
By the way, I do plan on asking the nurse who works with his oncologist at Fox Chase these questions about diet this coming Tuesday, but I know the folks here have some golden advice.
This Tuesday at 8 am, Dad has an MRCP at Abington Hospital, since that is where his Keystone 65 says he must go; we already tried getting it done at Fox Chase to keep things simply and efficient.
Previously Abington did not want to do MRIs on him because he has steel in his belly from an operation in the late ’70s.
Fox Chase insists that he will be fine through the imaging. In fact, the script has written on it, “metal clips okay.” Hopefully Abington will go along since the doctor at Fox Chase insisted that the MRCP is essential to determining surgery.
As far as MRIs, dad was also asked about his cataract surgeries in both eyes around ’92. We were told that the lens used in cataract surgeries by that time would not pose problems for the MRI.
Lilly, I’m so sorry to hear this!
Pauline, I have been a complete nag trying to get my dad’s tests and consultations more quickly. I’m feeling now that his life depends on it.
A question about Lilly’s dad: why is there coughing? My dad is doing this quite a bit, and we were blaming it on the procedure to install the second stent. Also what is the role or significance of the ascites in terms of disease activity?
It seems that different docs give different options for what is best.
My dad is 82 and was diagnosed on July 29, 2008. The diagnosis resulted from a hospital stay for jaundice and weakness. A temporary stent was installed and has since had to be replaced this August.
Jefferson University Hospital wanted to start chemo with surgery as a possibility after shrinking the tumors, while another hospital wanted to do only chemo as a palliative without much hope. Fox Chase wants to start off with surgery and also do radiation, and this is the path we have chosen.
It’s hard to know what is right, especially when the experts disagree.
DianeC, I’m sorry to hear about Brad. Did he have a stent that failed? Is that why the infection happened?
Lainy and Jeff, thanks for throwing light on the subject. My dad is being followed with his blood work for his sugar and liver levels . . . though now I’m wondering if the frequency should increase.
Jeff, interesting about Mayo. I think you’re right that the progression of the disease could trigger other health issues involving sugar, so I’ll make a point of bringing this up at his appointment.
Do people with CC metabolize sugars differently?
My dad had an amazing sweet tooth and could put away cake, ice cream, candy, etc. without gaining weight or having any medical problems.
However, a few months prior to his diagnosis, his sugar shot up enough that his doctor had to recommend a revised diet without so many sweets. He stayed on the diet for a bit, got his sugar level drastically down and then went back to sweets (not as much as before though) so that he is in the high normal range.
Now I’m wondering if he should go back to the super strict diet of very few sweets.
I’ve noticed my dad’s appetite has gone downhill, and the weight loss is apparent.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the link and the thoughts.
My dad was really blessed overall, despite a few serious health bouts that resolved. Roughly 30 years ago, he had part of his intestine removed because of cancer, which did not return, except for polyps that could have become cancerous over time if left in place. He was very careful with medical maintenance. Before that, he had a benign tumor removed from his breast.
In ’00-’02, he dealt with prostate cancer, which included surgery (partial removal) and radiation therapy. He has been cancer free since ’02.
In ’03, he had an appendectomy. In ’07, he had some bladder stones surgically removed.
In ’08, he had to change his diet because his blood sugar became too high. Diabetes was never an issue in his family. Now I’m wondering if perhaps this cancer had something to do with it?
He has taken Synthroid for an underactive thyroid for years now.
None of these things, even while serious at times, ever knocked him down.
While he was hospitalized last week having the stent put in, the diagnostic imaging showed a neoplasm in his right breast. I’m bringing him for mammogram on Friday to see what’s up.
The most frustrating thing for him is the fatigue: he’s not used to being in a chair without energy to do much. Fortunately he’s a reader, and that’s helping.
Throughout all of this so far, he has not had pain or nausea that makes him want to throw up. I’m wondering at what stage do people start to need pain management?
