Hope

28 January 2011

Dear Dad,

I know, I still haven't been to see you. I know you spent the day in Clyde being X rayed, and I know you're going to a vintage tractor rally tomorrow. You're a busy man.

Mum text me today telling me your lymph node biopsy results were back, and on specialist review you've now been diagnosed with Lymphoma rather than the almost always fatal Liver Cancer.

This is fantastic news - there's a chance with lymphoma, there's chemo and radiotherapy and bone marrow transplants. There's a plan of attack. There's a fantastic chance we're not going to watch you waste away. I never thought I'd be so happy to hear my Dad had cancer... but a treatable cancer rather than a creeping tumor.

It was good to talk to you on the phone tonight, you sound happy. Well you sounded happy last night but you sound extra happy now. Relived. You still weren't able to tell me what happens next but the doctor told you to relax, have a beer and enjoy your weekend. Much much better news than when just yesterday he told you to cancel your holiday and settle your affairs.

I'm so relieved. Don't get me wrong, Lymphoma is still Cancer, but it's Cancer that has a lot of treatment options. I hadn't been able to find ONE positive story about Liver Cancer. Not that I'd ever tell you that, but Dad, that shit would have killed you.

I'm so glad to have had good news. I'm so glad something can be done.

Love you Dad, talk to you soon xo