my father was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer last week that has spread to his lung. His diagnosis is really eating me up inside because I do not know what to expect at all-especially when it comes to how long he will live. I am a 4th year pharmacy student and have one more year to go. I will be done in May 2017.
I have studied the treatment for bladder cancer and I am expecting the worse..vomiting, thrombocytopenia, mucositis, secondary malignancy..etc..I think it makes it harder for me to cope daily knowing the side effects and also that I am currently 500 miles away from my father. I do realize that it may be the last time I see him healthy before I head back to school for good in June.
I guess my real question is, can I expect to see my father again 1 year from now given the current therapies? Also, I know all drugs have side effects but not all people experience them the same. Can someone tell me the most common side effects that may occur in a 72 year old male patient given MVAC?
The 5 year survival rate is 15%, but has that improved any with all of the recent clinical trials?
I just want to get some advice on what to expect as I will not be with my father for a full year as I finish my studies.
