Hoping For Many More Birthdays

Cancer reared its ugly head this summer.  In June, my 84-year-old father was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus.  His first clue came during a Christmas dinner of beef tenderlion--Dad had some trouble enjoying one of his favorite dinners after noticing that he had some trouble swallowing.  He just figured maybe he should have cut the meat down a bit and didn't give it much thought.

By Memorial Day weekend, he could no longer ignore the symptoms.  He was having serious trouble swallowing food and his appetite was gone.  During a casual conversation, he finally mentioned it to a few of us.  I was blunt with my response, because the first thing that came to my mind was that dreaded "C" word.

"Yeah, I know, I'm thinking the same thing," was his reply.  He put up no argument at the idea that it was time to head to the doctor and get it checked out.

The summer has been filled with doctor appointments and regular visits to the West Michigan Cancer center.  I went with him on one visit and was surprised at all the homey touches that the cancer center put forth.  In one corner, there was a massage therapist offering complimentary massages. The waiting room was bright and airy; on a serving cart set aside, there were snacks and drinks.  A bookcase was filled with books to read as well as current magazines on the tables.  In a large tank, fish swam lazily among the colorful coral.  There were tables with half-completed puzzles beckoning for someone to join in and complete them.  The environment alone was a serene one, the friendly staff made the place welcoming.

Dad is now in his fourth week of treatment and the outcome isn't yet clear.  He has several more treatments to go before a PET scan will reveal if the treatments are working and if he'll be able to eat again.  Right now, he's still struggling to eat and has lost quite a bit of weight.  He has an amazingly upbeat attitude and is determined to knock the cancer out of the way. 

I am hoping that we'll get some good news in the upcoming weeks and that Dad will be able to celebrate his birthday in December with a juicy steak once he can eat again.

And I'm hoping for many more, cancer-free birthdays after that.

When Karen Putz isn't spending time up in Michigan, she blogs at A Deaf Mom Shares Her World.  This is part of the American Cancer Society's More Birthdays celebration.