Chemo Week Is Upon Us. Dad Update 8/12/2015

Dad starts another round of chemotherapy this week, and after countless rounds of these dreaded pills, we are praying and hoping we've mastered managing the symptoms. 

Many ask me, "If your Dad's scans look good, then why does the chemo continue?" 

Dad's fight against brain cancer will be a lifelong battle. This isn't a type of cancer that is curable, we are fighting against terminal cancer. This isn't a type of cancer that statistics show after x number of months and/or years of no recurrence that the chances of the cancer returning are low. This isn't a type of cancer that just goes away. 

And as much as all of that kinda (for lack of a better word) sucks, it's the cards we've been dealt, and it's the path so perfectly created for us. Instead we look at the statistics that Dad has already overcome and beat. 

We look at the recurrence rates in Glioblastoma patients. 100% recurrence within 7-9 months of removal. We are 22 months post removal. 

We look at the median survival rate. 14.6 months with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. We are 22 months post diagnosis. 

We look at Dad's seizure, large blood clot removed during surgery and brain bleed after surgery and notice very few side effects. Right side weakness. Some short term memory loss and word recognition. But that's really it. A very small scar from surgery. And little to no hair loss from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. I can't help but put all these blessing back on a pretty amazing Neurosurgeon (Dr. White), and an even more amazing God.

When the chemotherapy stops working, or when the tumor returns, or if the chemotherapy ever gives Dad a lesser quality of life, then the chemotherapy will stop. But until then we stay as positive as possible during these difficult weeks for Dad. We try to take his mind off of things and continue on as normal as possible. 

This last week Mom and Dad took a trip to the hill country to visit my aunt and uncle, and I realized it was one of the first trips they have taken together since Dad's diagnosis. I realized that Dad's travel usually involves doctor's appointments, MRI's and treatment. It was obvious they both needed this little weekend away more than anything, and it was great to see them Sunday both so relaxed and refreshed! 

It's rather strange not going to the Cancer Clinic so often. As I remember during Dad's IV treatment of Avastin, I was there every 2 weeks for treatment and once a month for a visit with Dr. Fleener. This is all strange in a very good way!

I'm not sure what the next MRI will show, or if Dad will have any signs/symptoms of progression before our next MRI, but what I am sure of is how blessed we've been these last 22 months. How blessed we've been that Dad's surgery, blood clot, and brain bleed left him with the ability lead a normal life. How blessed we've been that Dad's been able to witness the birth of his first grandson. How blessed we've been that Dad has stayed so positive during it all, and how well he's handled all of his treatments. 

We continue to take it all one day at a time, we continue to pray the treatment is working to stop any cancer grown, and we continue to be so incredibly thankful for these last 22 months. 

Thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers, as we continue fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer.