Extra Prayers Please...

My dad was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer two years ago this coming November. Fourteen years before that, at the age of 49, he suffered a massive stroke, leaving him paralyzed on his left side. Shortly after that he was diagnosed with diabetes. He in insulin dependent. Needless to say, he is a very sick man.

When we were given the cancer diagnosis, we were told he would most likely be dead within 3-6 months. We went to Sloan Kettering and found an amazing surgeon that said it was operable, and after a grueling 9-10 hours of surgery, he was able to remove the tumor. The recovery was long and painful. He had many complications, in and out of the hospital for 6 months or so after the surgery. But he was cancer free. A follow up course with chemo would have been ideal, but he isn't strong or healthy enough to withstand the chemo, it would most likely kill him.

He returns to the doc every few months for bloodwork. They do what's called a CA19-9 (or something like that) blood test. Elevated levels in this test indicate pancreatic cancer, although it should not be used as a diagnostic tool, if the levels are elevated, the doc follows up with a MRI or a PET scan. My dads levels remained steady for the first year after the surgery and for the last year they have been creeping up. Over the summer the levels were in the 300s but the MRI was clean. While at his regular MD about 3 weeks ago he asked for this test again. The levels were through the roof. 1900. So we took him back to Sloan, thinking it was a mistake, and he was retested on Monday. Yesterday we found out his levels are over 3000. Not a good sign. They are going to get him in for an MRI later this week or early next week. he is frightened, and depressed. He told my mom Monday night that he was so weak and tired. I am afraid for him. So if anyone can spare an extra prayer for my Dad today, it would be greatly appreciated.

Peace.