June 6, 1930 to September 11, 2011
Sometimes life has a way of making decisions for you. In early August my dad's oncologist told him that he was responding very well to the chemotherapy. Then his oncologist talked my dad into having full brain radiation. My dad had no brain tumors, but his doctor told him it was to prevent them. I did not agree with the therapy, but I was my dad's decision.
After the second week of full brain radiation, my dad became weak, tired and dehydrated. My sister took him to the hospital where he was re-hydrated with IV therapy. After five days he went home, just to return to the hospital with dehydration again. All the time my dad was becoming much weaker.
Our family made the decision to take my dad to my oncologist near my home. After transferring my dad to the local hospital, he did well the first few days, but developed an infection and once again dehydrated.
He never got to see my oncologists as he passed away Sunday, September 11, 2011. If your doctor suggests such a radical and seeming unnecessary treatment, get a second opinion. When my dad was diagnosed in April 2011, we were told possible nine to twelve months. We got less than six months.
I feel badly that I took him so far from his home. I believed he would at least have gotten to go home again. As I said, life has a way of making decisions for you.
September 11, 2011
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