Sabbatical

That word has a bittersweet meaning these days. Dad has decided to retire and go on disability, and go on sabbatical from his teaching jobs. He was waiting on this week's scan results to make a final choice about work and alas, the scan results were not promising.

The gist of it is that the cancer has progressed. Despite six rounds of extremely aggressive chemo and 2 weeks of radiation, those stubborn little bone mets are putting up a good fight. In Dad's terms, at the end of the first period: Cancer 1, Team Dougie 0. The primary tumor in his lung has shrunk but not enough and there are a number of new spots throughout his bones, plus a new soft tissue spot in his lower back and growth in the soft tissue spot in his neck.

We all had a feeling the news would not be good. Dad has experienced increased breakthrough pain and nausea and has spent four out of the last five days receiving hydration, IV pain meds and anti-nausea drugs at the day hospital. We knew this was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

So it's on to Plan B. There are a couple of different "second-line" options that are being considered, and Dad has appointments with lung specialists at three major university hospitals in the next three weeks. Two of his appointments are with doctors who conduct many of the area's clinical trials, so it is good to establish relationships with these docs in order to have a trial as an option. Really though, we're talking in terms of buying time, in months rather than years.

I'm glad that I came home.