Well after months of my dad being sick (bronchitis, pneumonia, and every cold in the book) on January 24th the doctors gave us an answer that would change our lives forever, Lung Cancer. After an appointment with a pulmonologist on the 23rd, the doctors saw something in his left lung and booked him for a bronchioscopy to check out the “something” the following day. While Dad and Cindy arrived at the hospital 45 minutes early to the early check in time (the hospital literally hadn’t even opened!), Mom, Kristen, and I trailed not to far behind. After the two hour procedure the doctor came to get us girls and told us the news. The diagnosis? Lung Cancer. More specifically the tumor is an andenocarcinoma, which is the most common type of lung cancer. The doctor informed us it is most likely stage 3 and that the tumor was not only attached to part of his lung but also one of the arteries coming from his heart.
Once we got word we were able to go see him two at a time, Kristen went full sprint and Mom followed behind. My dad greeted my sister with a very enthusiastic (still under some effects of the anesthesia ;) ) “Hi babe!!!!!!!” only for Kristen to respond with “Are you high?”. We laughed about this for a long time, after all laughter IS the best medicine!
Dad has GREAT doctors so far! We have been so impressed by how quickly they scheduled the next diagnostic tests. Thursday he had a PET scan, which will show us if the cancer has spread anywhere else in his body. Friday he had a brain MRI, which will show if it has spread to his brain.
Next Thursday is the next appointment he has, and that is when the doctor will tell us the results of the PET scan, MRI, the full scope of the cancer, and where we go from here.
I hope cancer is ready, because Dad is about to kick its ASS!
