Cancer was found in my dad's tumor... - Cancer Message Board

partlycloudy · 04-15-2009, 06:38 PM

My dad has been having pain in his mouth for about a year, with a sore throat. He thought it was related to his teeth. After getting an old filling taken out and still having pain, he went to his doctor who found a tumor. The tumor was removed last night and it had some cancer in it. His doctor will call him tomorrow after they find the source of the cancer. It is really scaring me. "The source" means that they think there is more cancer. I feel so helpless. He must think it's pretty bad because he told our friends and family, and really doesn't do that unless it's a big deal. Wouldn't they know the extent of it from looking at that area? How can the cancer have a source in some other region? I don't know what all they did last night when they removed it. I'm guessing they took losts of xrays. What's really bad is that he's been fighting this pain for a year but didn't think it was anything. His doctor actually referred him to a surgeon a month ago who said the tumor was nothing.

There were only a few cancerous cells was the good thing, but it just scares me not knowing the extent of the cancer. I don't know what I'm asking for here. I'm just really scared because my dad is everything to me. He's the only person that really cares about me, and I know I've made things worse not being able to get my life together (I have depression and have struggled financially, having to live at home for the past 2 years) which has been a worry for him.

sanjuanboy · 04-16-2009, 05:43 AM

my dad started that way with frequent toothaches, and same thing as your father.

partlycloudy · 04-16-2009, 12:23 PM

How is your dad doing, SanJuan?

Well, they know that it is in his mouth, lymph nodes (neck), or lungs. The doctor is optimistic, says it's highly treatable. I don't think he'd say that if there was a chance of it being a lost cause, but I just don't know. It would be better to have it on the lymph nodes so it could be removed. Lungs would be worse. I've known people with lung cancer, but they were smokers! I wish they'd give us a better idea, like stages. He's in today for more tests.

SallyD · 04-16-2009, 02:32 PM

The doctors will tell him exactly what kind of cancer he has, and they will know the best treatment. My father had Lymphoma, and it was discovered in his mouth. (sore teeth) they thought it was an abcess. He had pain for 6 months prior to going to the dentist.
He also had tumors on his scalp, and his right arm. They did not remove his tumors..(only the one in his mouth that they thought was an abcess.)

He had a six month treatment of chemo. it's been a year and 2 months since his last chemo, and he continues to be cancer free.

I posted alot on the lymphoma board. Once you know what he has, learn everything you can about it. The more you know, the better you understand.

Take care, sally

partlycloudy · 04-17-2009, 02:13 PM

Thank you, Sally.

I really hope that is the case with my dad. I'm trying to stay optimistic. I spoke with a nurse practictioner today who said that even with lung cancer, there are things they can do, like surgery. It's not necessarily a death sentence which is what I figured from reading the stats. My dad isn't or wasn't a smoker and hasn't had asbestos exposure that we know of, and most lung cancer patients are smokers or did have exposure to harmful chemicals. He does have coughing and wheezing which is a symptom of lung cancer in the later stages (lung cancer doesn't usually present symptoms until the later stages). I'm trying not to do internet diagnoses but I feel like I need to be doing something.... I always jump to worst case scenario because I'm a pessimist, but I like to prepare myself for the worst so I'll know how to handle it.