SusanRice

I’m 32 years old, happily married, living in Toronto, Canada for the last 17 years. American by birth, grew up in England, my Family settled in Toronto when I was 15 and I’ve been here ever since. I work in advertising and communications and enjoy playing sports, going to the movies and helping my Dad conquer this beast we all know too well, cancer.

My Dad is my hero. Life would be too plain and ordinary without him in it. I am who I am because he’s pushed me my whole life.

I can drive a golf ball 250+ yards. And i owe that to him for putting a club in my hand when i was 2 years old.

Our Story:

Dad was first (mis)diagnosed back in October of 2006 as a lump appeared on his head. After years of sunburns, playing golf with no hat (he’s been bald since an early age), he had been having sun spots removed from his head pretty frequently by a laid back derm here in Toronto. When the lump appeared, they told him, oh it’s just basal cell and we’ll remove it. We went to Florida that Christmas, and all found it hard to believe that a lump that size was ‘nothing’.

In January 2007, he had surgery to remove the lump and they proceeded to tell us it was Melanoma. Deep melanoma. And he could have in fact had it for YEARS. At the same time, his younger brother was given a stage IV lung cancer diagnosis and people said the normal, well, it’s only skin cancer, at least you don’t have a death sentence like your brother.

In June we lost his brother to the big C, when diagnosed he was given 6 months, and in 6 months he died. Shortly after, beginning of July, he then underwent 16 weeks of Radiation therapy. A gruelling experience for a very active 70 year old. He had to stop playing golf. His life went from being busy and active to mentally preparing for the ‘mask’. Once a confident man, he mourned the loss of his wee bro and the fact that this could now be his life.

But then he was given the all clear – for the next 3 years, scans every 6 months, he was told that he was a model patient. In fact, so good that they doubted that they would ever need to see him again. NED, his head was as clean and smooth as a wee baby’s skin. In October of 2009 we were elated to find out that Dad was in great shape and cancer-free, 1 month after his 72nd birthday.

never say ever, nurses. In november 2009, a lump appeared in his arm. Oh it’s probably nothing. In December, he had a biopsy, it was Melanoma. In January, a scan confirmed the cancer was in his lungs and liver. Stage IV. We went from ‘you’ll probably never have to come back in’ to ‘you have 6 months to live’. January 18th, 2009, our lives changed forever.

Mum and Dad were thinking of going to FLA for a few months, but the results put a damper on those plans. Drs told him he should just go – but i feel fine, shouldn’t i start treatment? you won’t feel fine. it’s a matter of time. treatment is only 0-12% effective, it’s up to you.

He started Dacarbazine in February. FLA was put on the back burner. He also started to see a Chinese Medicine Woman (CMW) and was getting Vitamin C infusions weekly. That, partnered with the Chemo was helping us all keep a positive mental attitude (PMA) – the newly appointed family motto. In July, he pulled himself off the treatment. It was too harsh. He couldn’t function, his life revolved around chemo. But then we found out the lesions were shrinking, so Drs advised before we say no to more chemo, know that it ‘might’ be working.

In September, we found out they had shrunk even more. Chemo was put back on the table as a potential option.

In October 2010, I organized a golf tournament (The MelanOpen) in his honour. 54 golfers all came out to fight the fight with us and Dad. to show him that even though he has to live through it, he doesn’t have to live through it alone. We raised more than $13,000 for Sunnybrook Hospital, every little bit helps.

In November, he went back on the chemo and continues to get it every 4 weeks. He no longer sees the CMW. He’s been having issues with his digestive system, his urine is s ometimes very cloudy and orange, and he has intense pains. He does have gallstones. But tough to think it’s gallstone related and not the cancer. He goes for an ERCP next week to rule out gallstones (having already had an MRI and countless other tests!)

We continue to remain optimistic. They gave him 6 months, and one year later he’s still kicking. Still working. He even golfed in The MelanOpen in October. He’s a tough old man. And we hope he’s lucky enough to be in the 12%.