Duane Fast

Welcome to the CaringBridge site for Duane “Papa” Fast. We are using the site to keep family and friends updated in a single location, making it easier for all of us. We sincerely appreciate your prayer, support and words of hope and encouragement.  As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult time for all of us and we love our Papa dearly and just want him better! 

BACKSTORY
In August 2018, Papa was having difficulty breathing and ended up in the hospital and they found a fluid buildup near his lungs.  The fluid was sent for testing, the initial results of the fluid buildup was cause for concern, and Papa was referred to Mayo clinic in Rochester for a possibly sighting of Mesothelioma cells.  After a week of testing and biopsies (frankly, surgery to me) it was confirmed Papa does in fact have Mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma with cells being considered Epithelial.  This cancer is by caused Asbestos and thankfully has not traveled anywhere beyond the pleural lining of the lung and possibly the lower right lung. 

Asbestos exposure is the main cause of pleural mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air passages and reach the pleura, where they can cause inflammation and scarring.

TYPE
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases. The name relates to the location where it develops, the pleura, which is the tissue lining the lungs.  

Epithelial Mesothelioma
In addition to location and whether the disease is malignant or not, the type of cells also differs among mesotheliomas. Epithelial mesothelioma cells are organized and structured, as well as the most common cell types, accounting for about 50 to 75% of all cases.

NEXT STEPS
On Monday, September 17 (very early) Papa will be going under major surgery to remove the lining of the lung (or more if needed).  He will be in the hospital for 7-10 days, likely followed up with radiation and/or chemo. 

 Duane, Sandra, Patton, Gina, Landry, Dixcee, Doug, Zoe, Archie and even Mr. Mully are very grateful to all of you who care so much about us and have offered to help, pray and assist with countless other things.  We thank you!

 *I am doing my best to describe what I understand; I am not a medical doctor and doing my best to be accurate.  - GF