Well we can forget my mission to have a campaign for the cancer of question marks. My dad met with the oncologist today and got a definitive diagnosis. Cholangiocarcinoma - aka - cancer of the bile ducts - aka silent killer. There are 1-2 cases per 100,000 or about 2,000 - 4,000 per year. This is what is known about this kind of cancer. Cholangiocarcinoma is considered to be an incurable and rapidly lethal disease unless all of its tumors can be fully resected (cut out surgically). There is no potentially curative treatment except surgery, but unfortunately most patients have advanced and inoperable disease at the time of diagnosis. So reading that is a total DOWNER. On a POSITIVE NOTE - Chemo has been shown however to extend survival and improve quality of life so that's a good thing. Look at me looking at the bright side. Who would have thought I'd be an optimist?
So here's to focusing on the positive my friends. Chemo starts tomorrow! And my dad is having his "pregnant" belly drained too. Both, the doc said, will provide him with relief! Also, tomorrow my mom and dad celebrate 39 years of marriage. That's a LONG TIME. Hell, I usually can't make it past 39 days with a guy! But given my recent choices, perhaps that's a good thing!
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