Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Ceazar....Welcome to OCF. Please begin your own posts instead of adding onto another persons posting. This way we can properly focus on what your post is about and not take away from the original post, Karen's. (Sorry Karen)
Ceazar, Im a former smoker. Quitting is not an easy thing to do but this is his wake up call. He needs to conquer the addiction and throw away the cigs and get serious about beating this. Upon diagnosis I was so shocked that I did not quit immediately. It took me about 2 weeks to wrap my head around the idea that I was sick and might not be around to raise my children. I was horrified and couldnt handle one more thing until I better understood the situation. Once I got a handle on it, I threw the cigs away and never smoked again. Please encourage your father to understand that he might not get another chance to quit. I hope you understand Im not beating you up about this, Im trying to help you to help your father. David is also trying to help in the above post.
If you dont think you are hearing the whole story, go with him to his appointments. Nobody should be going alone. They should take someone along to be their 'secretary' and write things down and have a list of questions ready. If he wont let you go, then have him tape record it and write down a list of questions. Most doctors do not mind being taped as they know it is helpful to their patients.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive |