cancer in lymph nodes

[natenapril]

My Dad has cancer in his lymph nodes in his throat and armpits. I am a mess. We are 3000 miles apart.
He won't find out until next week how bad it is.
Anyone know anything about this type of cancer?

I forgot to add he meets with his oncologist on Next teusday so we have a week of worry.

 

[kimis]

I do know that this could be a few different kinds of cancer and that a lot is being done with these types of cancer. There is a high remission rate. We get so scared when we hear the word "cancer"---I know I have been there.

Remember stay positive! Cancer is not the same fatal disease it was years ago. There are a lot of factors to look at. For example your dads age and general health. There are many kinds of treatment and your dad will let the dr know he will do what ever treatment they have for him so he can get into remission.

As hard as it sounds if you stay positive than your dad will stay positive and those around him will stay positive. Remember that your friends here on this board will be praying for him and all of you. Anytime you need to vent we will listen.

Lots of prayers and pixie dust being sent your way. I will also pray that this week goes fast--remember I said I have been there.

 

[luvdzny]

DH had Hodgkins Disease which is a cancer of the lymph nodes. The first time he had radiation and was in remission for 2 years. When it came back he was staged at 3.5 with 4 being the worst. The doctor he was seeing at the time would not listen when he DH said he was sick again. Anyway, that was 15 years ago and he is doing great. He almost died last summer, but NOT from the cancer. I do not know about the other lymph node cancers, but Hodgkins is very treatable. Good luck to you and your family.

 

[natenapril]

Thanks for posting.

His health is not the greatest. He is overweight and complains about chest pains alot. Both of his brothers have had bypasses. But he won't get it checked out.

Also his wife is not the nicest person. I am trying to stay positive but besides my sister he is the only family I have left. My children thinks he hung the moon.

His wife cancelled his appt with the oncologist today. She changed it to Wed. Typing it out sounds small but I wish she would not have done that. I am a mess waiting. I try to act casula when I talk to them and then lose it on my poor DH.

 

[kimis]

Sometimes that is what dh's are for. I am sure he understands. I feel bad for you and your children. Is there anyway that when your dad does go to the dr he will sign a consent form allowing the dr to talk to you on the phone? That might help a little. But your dad would have to sign a consent and you would have to arrange time to talk to the dr. good luck. Keep us updated.

 

[natenapril]

Sometimes that is what dh's are for. I am sure he understands. I feel bad for you and your children. Is there anyway that when your dad does go to the dr he will sign a consent form allowing the dr to talk to you on the phone? That might help a little. But your dad would have to sign a consent and you would have to arrange time to talk to the dr. good luck. Keep us updated.

I wish. But I am the youngest and so I am still treated that way. It took me awhile to get the truth out of him about his diagnosis. Even though I am 30 with 3 kiddos of my own he still sees me as a 6 year old girl w/ponytails.

My DH is being great. He is just as upset as I am though because he is close to him as well. Lots of turmoil in this house. My children have never dealt with anything like this(death OR sickness). My 11 year old DD is confused and not grasping the situation. I wish I could be more like her.

Thanks for the support. It means more to me than you will ever know. We just moved so I really don't have anyone other than my DH to talk to about this.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Hugs, hugs, hugs.. so far away and not knowing can be so difficult..

Just food for thought here, not sure if the diagnosis is cancer in the lymph nodes or that is where it presented. My daughter had thyroid cancer, the secondary site was a lymph node so that is where we saw it first....but it was originally in the thyroid.. and sometimes Thyroid cancer, if it is papillary can be an easy one..

Anyway.. here is how I try to think... until I know what it is, I cannot beat myself up with worry. Granted I am here with my DH who is battling cancer and my children are only an hour away.....and treatment is in the city where my children live so they do not deal with the being so far away thing, but I try, notice I said try, to take it as it comes. It is a battle, think rollercoaster, and there will be good days and bad, and you cannot change it by worrying and making yourself sick... Another thing we say in this family is... it is what it is.. we have no control, we just deal.

We are here for you if you need to talk, this board is great for help, prayers, hugs whatever you need and we are here for you. Please let us know how he is doing....also I agree with poster, maybe he could sign that release so that you could talk to the doctor directly.. Our oncologist, who we love, actually emails back to my daughters when they have questions.. he is the head of the department in a big Boston hospital, so calling can sometimes be difficult to get through to him, emergencies aside, but emailing is great.. maybe you could ask for that??

 

[mommasita]

Keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[natenapril]

Thanks Mackey Mouse.
His Thyroids have been checked and according to his Family practioner but we will see what the oncologists says. His family practioner told him it was his lymph nodes so I am really not sure. Hopefully Wednesday will bring some answers we all need.
I have good and bad times. Today I hid upstairs while my children were playing WII and had a good cry. Sometimes songs on the radio will get to me.

to you Mackey Mouse for staying stong. I wish I could. I am working on it. And prayers for your family.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Also, hugs again, remember I have been at this.. it will be 4 years in November..that makes a difference. When you first hear, it just hits you right in the pit of your stomach and you start running in circles...where do I go, what can I do?? Once you find out the diagnosis, you will educate yourself...that is what we all did. We read everything we could get our hands on PC and asked lots of questions....

It is still new to you, he is far away, and the not knowing is so difficult. Hang in, get that diagnosis first and then we will all help you deal. I did my fair share of crying....when they were taking my DH to the operating room, I could not even talk, I was borderline hysterical as the operation itself was so intricate, it could have killed him, but he came through it with flying colors and with a sense of humor, that is my husband. So....I am glad that you think I am brave....hugs, I have been at this a lot longer and I try to be brave all the time.. Not that you get hard, you know what to expect and you have to deal with it, as it is what it is.

Hugs again.

 

[natenapril]

Thanks Mackey Mouse. I am so sorry youhave gone through this. But I aprreciate the advice you are able to give as someone who has been there, done that. Prayers again for you and your loved ones.

I will keep you up to date after he sees the oncologist and he said he was to see a hemotologist too.

 

[lookingforward]

I am sending my best wishes for your Dad. Keep positive thoughts and make sure he sees good doctors. I am finishing up breast cancer treatment (stage 2) and its been tough...but doable. They can do amazing things now with many different types of cancer.

 

[PrinceAndPrincessQ]

My prayers are with you and your father. It is heart warming to see how much you love him.
I hope you get some good news from the oncologist......it can happen!!

 

[natenapril]

THanks for all the support.
Just 3 more days til the appt. It seemed like forever and now it's not that far away.

 

[natenapril]

Still waiting to find out. Man this day is dragging.

 

[natenapril]

Thought I would update.

Well, he has luekemia. Not sure if he needs to start Chemo yet. He finds out next week. There is no cure (of course) and he needs to be tested every 3 months to see how bad it is. He is getting his bone marrow checked next week as well. Apparently this is a type of Luekemia found in older people (over 60).
Not sure how I feel. Should I feel relieved it not in his lymph nodes or be upset that he is sick I will work it out though.

 

[lookingforward]

Thought I would update.

Well, he has luekemia. Not sure if he needs to start Chemo yet. He finds out next week. There is no cure (of course) and he needs to be tested every 3 months to see how bad it is. He is getting his bone marrow checked next week as well. Apparently this is a type of Luekemia found in older people (over 60).
Not sure how I feel. Should I feel relieved it not in his lymph nodes or be upset that he is sick I will work it out though.

Sorry to hear that he has lukemia I am sending my best wishes and thoughts to you and your Dad. They can do great things with cancer so keep your chin up, so to speak.

 

[safetymom]

I will keep you all in my prayers.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Well, at least they have a diagnosis and now they will decide how to treat and he will rise to the occasion and do battle against this disease... You hang in there too, it is not easy to watch loved ones with any kind of debilitating illness..