Bone Cancer Anyone?

[Glynis]

My father was just diagnosed with bone cancer in one of his ribs. It's in the beginning stages, but the words "bone cancer" scare me to death! Has anyone here had experience dealing with bone cancer? What can we expect?

We are coming up on the one year anniversary of my mother's death, so I'm not ready to lose my father. Anyone got any hope for me?

 

[NikitaZee]

Is it multiple myeloma? My husband's grandmother was diagnosed with it and lived for 10 years after her diagnosis (she was told she had 2 years).

So sorry for your news.

 

[imabrat]

I had Osteosarcoma in my knee, but the ribs is a common place for it too. I was only 14 so I don't really know how it would go for an older person. Be warned, the treatment for bone cancer is VERY VERY aggressive. It will knock you out and take you down for a ride, but you can still beat it.

 

[Glynis]

Thanks for your replies! We only just found out from Dad's PCP about the cancer. He meets with the oncologist tomorrow to find out exactly what kind and what stage the cancer is. I'm just feeling numb and in shock. I just lost my mom 10 months ago, and if I lose my dad now, I don't know what I'll do! I am a definite Daddy's girl, and I'm just not ready.

I know that his age is against him in this fight. He is 78 years old, but he is in extremely good health. He looks like he's 60. I hope I can age as gracefully as he has done! I just want him to be around for a long while, yet. I want all my kids to have concrete memories of him!

 

[imabrat]

DEFINITELY get yourself to a specialty oncologist after the regular oncologist. Especially if it's sarcoma, the kind I had. I'm convinced that if I hadn't gone to an oncologist specializing in sarcomas, I'd be dead right now. Kind of scary to think about when you're only 16. But, I have faith he will win. to your family.

 

[geffric]

I am so sorry you are going thru this.. the onocoliogist will be able to give you great info and what he can do to help delay .. and give you and him the options

I hate to be Debby downer but ..be prepared for pain, it isn't easy.. enjoy life with him now and live each day with him to the fullest..

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad. Chances are they'll be doing an extensive work up to see if the cancer he has in his rib has spread from somewhere else (ribs are a common place for metastasis) or if it originated there. Many cancers today are a lot more treatable than they were even a decade ago. Be prepared for a lot of testing and doctors' appointments. And worry. Hearing the word "cancer" may also make your Dad feel like he wants to get his affairs in order, even if it turns out to be one of the "good" cancers - very common in older folks when they get sick or are looking at major surgery, etc. Best wishes for both of you.

 

[lucas]

Glynis, I am sorry to hear the news. You and your Dad are in my thoughts.

 

[Mskanga]

Glynis the first thing is to find out exactly what it is he is dealing with but like my daughter (imabrat ) said , if it is sarcoma it is extremely important to go to an oncologist who has experience with it. The treatment is brutal but it is not a death sentence. My daughter had it in her femur and she received a knee replacement and chemo , she is doing great now.

 

[portocall]

sorry for your news Glynis. I completely agree with imabrat... get him to a specialty oncologist, they stay updated on the newest and the greatest on that specific type, thus giving your dad the best care available. My sister went to a hemotologist oncologist and I am convinced had she not, she would also not have survived (she was 3 at the time). My first boyfriend had the same kind of cancer imabrat had and the treatment is very aggressive, but it is beatable.

 

[janette]

One of my nephews is a 10yr survivor (so far) of bone cancer. He had the same type as imabrat; the treatment is brutal but he's doing great.

 

[Glynis]

I can't tell you how wonderful it is to hear from all of you! I am preparing myself for the worry. Of course, I worry about him all the time anyway. Mostly I worry about how he'll handle the treatment. He's such an independent man! He didn't even want any of his children to know about the cancer. He wanted to go through it all on his own without "worrying" any of us. Well, I'm just glad I found out and was able to let my siblings know what's going on.

I am definitely going to push a specialty oncologist to him. I live 40 minutes from one of the best cancer centers in the States, the Huntsman Center, and I think we'll push him to be seen there. Once that is done, and we know exactly what we are dealing with, and what the treatment will be, my sister and I will split the month between us and one of our brothers, and we'll make ourselves available to drive him to treatments, and be with him afterwards. I have reconciled myself to the fact that the treatment will be awful, but I don't think dad has any idea. He pretty much turns a deaf ear whenever unpleasant things are talked about, so it looks like we'll have to be realistic for him.

Thanks again, for all your kind words and encouragement! I'm sure I'll be coming back to y'all once we know more!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

My son (25 years old) was diagnosed in l987 when he was 3 with Ewing's Sarcoma. In those days it was much more of a death sentence but 22 years later he is CANCER FREE!

Follow the advice of others and get an oncologists who specializes in sarcomas. Keeping your family in my prayers.

 

[cajunmommy]

Glynis - I hate to share this, but I know you're looking for honesty.
I've lost two men (DH's GF and a co-worker) to this exact same situation.

I can't give many details on DH's GF, but I do know it started as prostate & spread to his bones (pelvic area & spine from what I remember). The co-worker's case was almost identical.

It was especially frustrating to lose the co-worker because the prostate cancer should have been caught early, but he put more emphasis on taking care of fellow family members and his health was not a priority. What's the saying....you may get prostate cancer, but it's typically not lethal - something else usually kills you 1st.

Both men were treated by local oncologists, so I can't say if treatment by a specialist would have helped. What I do know is the chemo + radiation therapy worked for a while, but once the cancer spread to the bones, the pain was brutal. Both men were in their early 60's.

Glynis - be his advocate. Fight for the specialist. Then just be there to help even when he won't admit he needs it. It was painful for me to watch these two proud, vibrant men literally wither away before my eyes. My prayers are with your family for a positive prognosis.

 

[SamIAm21]

My son (25 years old) was diagnosed in l987 when he was 3 with Ewing's Sarcoma. In those days it was much more of a death sentence but 22 years later he is CANCER FREE!

Follow the advice of others and get an oncologists who specializes in sarcomas. Keeping your family in my prayers.

We lost my cousin, Christy, from Ewing's Sarcoma at the age of 16. It was devastating for the family. This was back in the late 80s or early 1990s though, so I'm sure the treatment for this has grown by leaps and bounds. I'm very happy that your son survived this horrid disease.

Glynis, I will keep your Dad in my prayers. I lost my Mom last month to emphysema/COPD and I feel the same way now about my Dad. I don't want to lose him any time soon! He's in good health at this point and he's 77. I would love to have another decade with him.

 

[browneyes106]

I'm sorry about your news. My grandfather died of bone cancer a few years before I was born. I'm not really sure what type it was. My boyfriend's cousin is a bone cancer survivor.