I think I am ready to share...

So we went to the doctor's last Tuesday and I have been trying to figure out if I could even update dad's blog...I've cried, gotten angry, and cried some more...but I keep that from dad, I don't want him to see me upset.  Billy had class in Charlotte last Tuesday through Saturday so I called in for help and my wonderful stepmom came to help.  She took such good care of my dad...we hated to see her go home yesterday. 

Tuesday we went to Dr. Nichol's, one of dad's oncologist, and got the results from his latest MRI.  The 4 original spots in dad's brain have not stopped growing.  Since Melanoma is one of the only cancer's that doesn't take to radiation and chemo, the treatments seem to just piss off the cancer and the cancer grows.  He also has a new spot on the "balance" part of his brain...which really makes since with all his falling. 

They started "Whole Brain" radiation last Wednesday.  Dr. Nichol's says that this is a much "softer" dose of radiation than dad has had before.  We have been told that it will not help any of the spots that are already there, it may even kill some of the parts that have already been radiated, but the hope is that it will keep any new spots from growing.  Dad is having 5 days of radiation, but that could change to 10 days depending on what the doctor decides.  His headaches are coming back, but with the help of Tylenol, they are being contained. and the tiredness is also coming back.  These are too be expected with the radiation. 

They have raised dad's steriod from 2 times a day to 4 times a day.  This is to help the swelling in his brain.  I told the doctor I was doing good to get 2 in him a day but dad has done a great job making sure he takes the other 2...plus Billy told him he would put Gracie's, our dogs, shock collar on him if he didn't...lol.  We have to make jokes and laugh are we would cry all the time. 

Please keep dad in your thoughts and prayers...