My mom has asked that I post a status following Dads doctors appointment today with his oncologist and his MRI results from Thursday. A little clarification to start off as there have been so many good news/bad news days and Im sure people are trying to figure out what to expect from this whole thing. While Dad did receive preliminary good news during surgery to remove the original tumor and it was found to be liquid, unfortunately, his pathology came back positive for Glioblastoma Mulitforme IV. So, while the tumor removal was not as expected, he still has Glio. The word mulitforme in the diagnosis means multiple sites of cellular (cancer) growth. Glio is not a typical cancer in that it is not comprised of hard tumors encapsulated like a lump as in breast cancer. Glio is a CELLULAR cancer and it does not just pick one spot and grow there. Think of it as mushrooms in your yard. One day, no mushrooms. Next day, a whole pattern of them. Glio grows like little mushrooms-- quickly and in patches. It is also highly vascular, meaning there are a lot of blood vessels that feed the growth of the cancer. These growths grow then die over and over and there ends up being a mass (a collection of cells in different stages of growth and death, liquid, tumor, necrosis, STUFF) that takes up space in the brain. The brain doesnt tolerate growths well at all and the mass causes swelling despite tumor size. Glio tumors (aka masses) grow FAST. People dont survive glioblastoma-- its just a matter of time before it WILL take the person down. Now, as far as Dad goes, his tumor growth is stable but present. There are multiple sites of growth-- not surprisingly. His KPS (Karnofsky Score) according to mom and my calculations is that he is at 60-50 based on day to day assessment of his abilities and changes in abilities since diagnosis. He is 67 years old. Being over 60 plays into his lifespan prognosis as well as his KPS. The doctor confirmed today that the original lifespan GUESS of 4-10 months is an accurate prediction. Dad will be at 4 months on Nov. 1st. On the outside, he would be blessed to make it to April. My prayer is that he makes it into next year and to his next birthday on Jan. 5th. The doctor is adding a new medication, Avastin, that will be given via IV every 2 weeks to slow blood supply to the mass area. It is not a chemo drug so the side effects are not so bad. Mom & Dad have an appointment with a Nurse Practitioner in the Oncology office next Tuesday to discuss end of life plans regarding medical treatment-- when to cease therapies, etc... Please pray for my mom and dad as the reality of dads disease is now really hitting them. My dad is at peace with Gods plan for him but none of us are ready to let him go! My brother, Bobby Crouch and my sister Raeanne Crouch and I will be taking my mom and dad camping the first week in November to Broken Bow, OK as a one last camping trip as a family as we camped our entire childhoods. Please pray especially for my mom, Rae Smith Crouch as she comes to a place of acceptance and that she is filled with supernatural strength and grace as she and dad journey their last months together. I told the Doctor today that Mom is still Dads girlfriend and after nearly 50 years together, they are still dating. I wish I had an endless supply of money to send them on date after date for the next few months!!! I want them to play their hearts out. This time will be a gift for them in that they can live it up knowing their time together is growing shorter than they ever wanted it to be. Im going to attach some links in the comments section to some sites that might help explain Dads diagnosis and prognosis. Love you , Mom & Dad. xo.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 18:44:20 +0000
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