I received some bad news yesterday from my grandfather that I was expecting but still unprepared for. Last Friday, he had a CAT scan to determine the cause of a speech problem he has had. When last I visited, he had been suffering from laryngitis. When I talked to him before then, he sounded like a frog. He had an appointment to see his doctor the following week.
After visiting his doctor, he was referred to an otolaryngologist to determine the cause of his problem. He detected that there was something obstructing one side of his larynx, so a CAT scan was ordered for last Friday. The results came in on Tuesday.
The CAT scan revealed there is a tumor in the upper part of my grandfather’s left lung, and the tumor is pressing on his larynx, causing the laryngitis-like symptoms. He has a doctor’s appointment today to discuss his treatment further. According to him, they are planning radiation treatment to destroy the tumor, and I presume they will also include some element of chemotherapy after the radiation treatments.
My grandfather seemed pretty upbeat considering the diagnosis. According to him, the doctor seems confident that they have diagnosed the cancer early. On one level, I am not surprised by the diagnosis. My grandfather smoked for most of my lifetime, finally quitting cold turkey last year. He has also been a heavy drinker, and he still has the occasional drink from time to time. On another level, though, I am a little scared of the diagnosis. My grandfather is certainly not getting any younger, and he will be 78 this year. Additionally, I would think that the likelihood of the cancer spreading is pretty high, considering that the tumor in question is pressing against his larynx. Also, I do not care what he says, I just do not think he gets the quality of care living on the Eastern Shore that he would get if he were here in Baltimore.
He has played the part of a surrogate father to me, and it would deeply sadden me to lose him. Certainly, that is part of life, but at the same time I would miss our chats and what he has done for me through the years.
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The diagnosis sucks. I really hope things go as well as your grandfather thinks they will. If it’s any consolation, my great-aunt had thyroid cancer and got a few more years in after the treatment, and that was 10 years ago.
I’m so sorry to hear about your grandfather. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.
acw: Indeed, I am thinking the same thing. Tackle it and hang on for a little while longer.
Carol: Thanks for the offer. I’ll be alright, but it was both a little startling to hear the news I thought I was possibly coming.
I’m so sorry to hear of your grandfather’s diagnosis. I hope that the treatment goes well.
I’m really sorry to hear that news. I know it’s hard, especially when you have a close relationship like that. I’m going through something very similar w/ my grandmother and the cancer diagnosis she got in June. I hope for the best for you and your grandfather.
Jason,
I’m sorry I’m late on commenting on this…I haven’t really been online. Obviously, I know how it is to have a relative deal with cancer. I’m here for you, honey.
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