My dad was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer in June of this year. He's 64. He went to the doctor because he was having some bloating and "stomach issues." The gastroenterologist did a colonoscopy and found an obstruction (along with polyps). We scheduled resection surgery to remove the part of the colon that was obstructed (along with lymph nodes). The gastroenterologist was positive it was "between Stage II - Stage III." The surgery went well, but the surgeon wasn't able to remove all of the mass and left 2 lymph nodes. Biopsy showed Stage IV colon cancer. (I'm sorry if this is choppy; so much has happened and I'm trying to keep it short).
Recovery after surgery was 6 weeks, then my dad could begin chemotherapy. But after 4 weeks, he developed a severe UTI and blood infection. We had to rush him to the ER. I've never seen my dad in so much pain before.....he's former military and very stereotypical "man's man," but that night in the ER he cried and winced, and it was miserable.
So that set him back another 4 weeks before his body could heal and start chemotherapy. Chemo was every other Monday, followed by bloodwork on Wednesday. After his 3rd session, he was back in the ER for severe stomach pain. A CT scan revealed he had an obstruction near his stomach - the little bit of mass left from surgery had grown to the size of a baseball in 3 months. The hospital suggested emergency surgery, or "his intestine will die along with him." His recovery from that surgery took 3 weeks. He was always nauseous and in pain. He wasn't eating so they hooked him up with an IV that would give him nutrition. He was withering away.
My dad was released from the hospital to a rehab facility a week ago. He seemed to be doing okay once released, except he wasn't eating at all; he was nauseated all the time. But he's been getting worse since in the rehab facility. They don't have IV capability and my dad is throwing up all of his medication. My sister called the rehab and asked that my dad be taken to the hospital (God bless her).
So, at this moment, my dad is in the hospital finally getting the pain medication he needs. But the hospital wants to release him tomorrow.
I'm so lost. And frustrated. The doctors talk about hospice and that chemo is no longer an option.....I feel like my dad never had a chance. He gets hit wave after wave and hasn't had a chance to swim to the surface for air.
It's just my sister and I taking care of my Dad. Both of us are flying by the seat of our pants.
I don't know what to do. Hospice? Try for chemo? I have no idea where my dad stands or what he's thinking - I'm too afraid to ask.
Thank you for reading.