Re: I talked to Dad yesterday

[Guest guest]

althea i am sorry to hear about your dad. my parents aren't getting any

younger either and i am afraid i will have to face this all too soon also. i am

thinking of you and your family and wishing you all much needed prayers and

hopeful thoughts. i am sure it is just a shock for him now and hopefully things

will get better and the right treatments will help. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Althea- I think the depression is a normal thing when battling cancer- for

your dad. I saw my dad go through it - he retired awhile after diagnosis and

working was good for him - making him feel productive. To the extent possible -

encourage him and your step mom to be active for one another. Like us the body

chemistry is all messed up -Docs may give him something in the form of an anti

depressant to help. Encourage him to go to support groups sponsored by American

Cancer Society -it will help him and your step mom. It is difficult to see a

parent upset - because they generally are/ or have always been the strong ones.

My mom is 76 and it still hurts to see her get upset and particularly if she is

upset because she knows there are things she can't do or remember. Keep your

chin up. We are all here for you.

Hugs,

> and the prognosis at this time isn't looking to good. He has had

> the cancer for over 2 years the doctors said and he will be going on

> radiation and possibly chemotherapy. They told him all the bad side

> affects from the drugs and he is scared.

> He can't remember what the doctor is saying - I suggested he get

> them to write it all down for him so he could read it. I told him

> to not to get depressed although that is a natural reaction to all

> of this. That he has to stay positive and see what happens with the

> medications first.

> He wants to go home to Florida and I am in support of that because

> he will be more comfortable but there is no family there at all. I

> would be able to go there and visit him easier then NY though

> because they have an extra bedroom.

> He got all weepy on the phone because he wants to see me but

> doesn't...

> I am having a hard time coping with all of this and it makes me feel

> so selfish. I can handle hurts to myself but not to my family.

> Heck I have been dealing with pain every day for years now and not

> crying on there shoulders or asking for sympathy.

> He is looking at the glass and seeing it half empty at the moment

> and I am hoping with time that he will adjust to this and start

> seeing the glass half full again.

>

> Thank you all for being here for me. I don't think I am going to

> handle this one very well at all. Mom is strong and complaining all

> the time. Dad was funny and this hurts to see him not laughing.

>

> God bless,

> Althea

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Althea,

I feel so bad for what your family is going through. It is so hard to watch

parents age naturally, but when faced with cancer and treatments, it¹s so

much worse. Maybe if you tell dad that when he is done his treatments, he

can go to Florida, it will give him something to look forward to. Keeping a

positive attitude is very helpful in the treatment process. Hopefully after

the initial shock is dealt with, he will become more accepting of what lies

ahead. Cancer treatment has come a long way and many people are surviving

what used to be a death sentence. Try to keep dad optimistic about the

future and optimistic that he¹ll get to Florida when his treatments are

done.

a

> and the prognosis at this time isn't looking to good. He has had

> the cancer for over 2 years the doctors said and he will be going on

> radiation and possibly chemotherapy. They told him all the bad side

> affects from the drugs and he is scared.

> He can't remember what the doctor is saying - I suggested he get

> them to write it all down for him so he could read it. I told him

> to not to get depressed although that is a natural reaction to all

> of this. That he has to stay positive and see what happens with the

> medications first.

> He wants to go home to Florida and I am in support of that because

> he will be more comfortable but there is no family there at all. I

> would be able to go there and visit him easier then NY though

> because they have an extra bedroom.

> He got all weepy on the phone because he wants to see me but

> doesn't...

> I am having a hard time coping with all of this and it makes me feel

> so selfish. I can handle hurts to myself but not to my family.

> Heck I have been dealing with pain every day for years now and not

> crying on there shoulders or asking for sympathy.

> He is looking at the glass and seeing it half empty at the moment

> and I am hoping with time that he will adjust to this and start

> seeing the glass half full again.

>

> Thank you all for being here for me. I don't think I am going to

> handle this one very well at all. Mom is strong and complaining all

> the time. Dad was funny and this hurts to see him not laughing.

>

> God bless,

> Althea

>

>

>

>