No immediate follow up treatment

All cancer is terrible, and kidney cancer is a particularly tough form of it. While often cancer surgeries are followed up with chemotherapy or other treatments designed to knock out any lingering cancer cells, we have learned that these type options have proven to be ineffective in treating metastatic kidney cancer. So now that the kidney and its tumor are out, and the radiation to the skull tumor is complete, this leaves us in a wait and see mode. Full body scans will be done every three months to determine if the cancer has recurred. If the cancer comes back, the primary treatment option is an oral medication that works to slow or eradiacte the progression of the cancer. It's difficult to sit and wait to see if it will crop back up and we wish there was an additional step that would take care of any potentially missed cells. I am mindful though that there is a greater plan in all of this and our proactive treatment will be to continue to rely on everyone's constant prayer that the cancer simply stays away! That would be the best outcome of all. We will remain ever vigilant with my dad in this ongoing fight and watch for signs like loss of appetite, pain, weight loss etc. in addition to the quarterly scans.
Some further news is that the recent MRI of the skull was inconclusive. There is so much inflammation and fluid build up right now around the area that they were unable to get a good read on what's going on with the tumor. We had been worried about all the swelling, so it was good to hear that this is not unusual and that it will eventually subside. Another MRI will be done at a later date once the swelling has gone down.
The life of a cancer patient is filled with Dr. appts and my dad is no exception. In the next few days he has a PET scan (this will be the first repeat full body scan since this all started and will be the basis for the quarterly schedule), and a number of various other appointments that I couldn't begin to remember what they all are. It goes without saying that this is a difficult time for my dad, but please keep my mom in your thoughts and prayers too as she takes back over the role of primary caregiver and strives to be organized and upbeat. Dealing with the emotion of the situation and the task of keeping all the information straight is difficult to say the least. She is a tough solider, but it takes its toll...
Over the years, and especially now, so many people have noted how fortunate it is that I belong to such a close and loving family. I couldn't agree more and while we lean on each other, we are so privileged to have our extended family and friends involved in helping us navigate through this perilous time. Thanks for caring about us. ~ Tami and family