Hi all,

I wanted to not have to write in this journal again because it meant that I was using this journal as a means to keep friends/family updated on my dad's health. Unfortunately, he received some bad news a couple of weeks ago. 

Some of you may know that he is a current follicular lymphoma patient and has been doing well in remission this year. Thankfully so, considering the trauma and recovery he faced early in February. During some regular PET scans he gets every so often due to his current diagnosis, his oncologist found a spot on his right lower lobe of his lung. While small, it raised some concern and a biopsy was needed to confirm it's intent; benign or malignant.

The diagnosis came back as Stage I Adenocarcinoma; the same kind of cancer my grandmother (my dad's mother) passed away from in September 2014. My grandmother's was not caught until Stage III B and the prognosis was not good; she passed away 6 months later. However, my dad's is early on. There are more treatment options available. That being said though, there's a 2/3 chance it will return. 

He is currently looking at two treatment plans:

1) Radio-Knife radiation; the one his oncologist and radiologist prefer due to the trauma that lung faced this year in the car accident. This plan of care involves radiation treatment specifically to that section of the lower lobe, from multiple angles, delivering 10,000 rads over 5 treatments. For anyone not privy to radiation, that is a lot. He had radiation back in the late 80's, early 90's that was 5600 rads over 33 treatments. The chance of success looks good but it cannot guarantee it will completely eliminate all of the cancer.

or

2) removal of the lobe of the lung with the cancer in it. He already has COPD and had a very hard time getting off the ventilator this year. His lungs are not excellent. But this would be a better method as far as complete removal. However, it would be a very difficult recovery. 

He is unsure of which he wants to do currently and I tell him to trust his care providers. They will give him the best possible options and plan of action.

I worry about him living alone and especially now that he's had a lot of recovery/injuries this year. He said he feels good and much stronger, though. Please keep him in your thoughts, he has had a really rough year on top of COVID and everything else. I just want him to come through this because I already thought I was going to have to say goodbye to him once this year, I hate to think of doing it again so soon. 

Xo,

Danielle