My dad is 72 and had what we thought was a benign cyst growing on his back. When it was removed, the doctor thought it looked "odd" and came back as a sarcoma. Then we found out this week it was a UPS. And that the cyst site maybe wasn't the origin and potentially in his shoulder - but we don't know yet. He is getting imaging tomorrow to make sure it hasn't had mets. But I am a nurse, and my mind goes to the worst.
I know he's old but he has still live until 95 before I feel like he's ready to go.
I am thinking it metastasized everywhere, or somewhere, and what that means for surviving even 1 year. 5 years, 10 years. It seems a lot of people on here have had multiple treatments. They indicated radiation, and now chemo if it is elsewhere in his shoulder. But again, I don't know the extent. And I'm sick to my stomach to know.
I have been in the hospice world and stood strong for families on their time of near death and after death, and those families and their pain was so great. It was palpable.
In this situstion, I'm the one who is cracking and hysterical almost at the thought of his death. I don't want to lose him. I'm definitely not ready for his death, and wonder if this is a death sentence if he gets news its Mets and then what? How often do those with UPS die? Often positive and treatable even then? I have no idea what to expect. But my mind is trying to go over every situation of what it could be, where it could be, and treatment for it.
My dad is my hero and I know he's built tough . I am in shock this might be the start of his end and I don't want to think that way.