Profile for r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus aka andrew gimetzco is a boy, has been a member since January 21, 2007, has scored 28,824 submissions, giving an average score of 0.72, helping 262 designs get printed.

URL: http://www.gimetzco.com/
AIM: gimetzco

my dad has cancer.

i'm really bummed by it...that's an understatement really.

colon cancer stage 3...moved into 3 lymph nodes...had surgery to get the growth out....now he goes to the oncologist on wed to get more info one what they'll do and when.

ugh.

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Jake Friedman on May 20 '11 at 7:31pm

I'm terribly sorry! I think I can speak for everyone and say that we hope that he'll do better. I wish the best of luck to him and hope that the whole situation ameliorates itself very soon.

*internet hug*

reags on May 20 '11 at 7:32pm

:( So so sorry to hear this news bro, thoughts and prayers headed your family's way from Oz!

Chipmnk on May 20 '11 at 7:34pm

I hope things work. out. Best wishes, bud.

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 20 '11 at 7:37pm

thanks kids..i hope so too. we're planning on visiting them in july...gonna take him to see Cap'n america (cuz he is that to me anyway, we're also gonna buy him a better tv...my parents still have 2 of those tube tvs...blurry pictures too!)...

the czar on May 20 '11 at 7:42pm

Sorry to hear that man. Went through this with my wife in the last couple of years so I understand completely how you're feeling. The medicine is so advanced now that they can really do great things.
All the best.

PICTOMANIAC on May 20 '11 at 7:45pm

Oouuuh, man! Best wishes from me too.

mirona_palcu on May 20 '11 at 7:58pm

Best wishes! Be strong!

Chipmnk on May 20 '11 at 8:03pm

Dang, hook them up with a nice flatscreen!

rodrigobhz on May 20 '11 at 8:04pm

:( Be strong!

BEST WISHES!!!

Khol on May 20 '11 at 8:09pm

That really sucks. And that's an understatement as well.
I'll be keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

squintygirl on May 20 '11 at 8:43pm

That's terrible news, I'm so sorry.

wullagaru on May 20 '11 at 8:47pm

yeah thats super shitty and i hope thing turn out okay

ItsJustaRide on May 20 '11 at 8:52pm

Stay brave!
Hope things work out for the best

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 21 '11 at 12:15am

that's really sad to hear Cazr, i hope your wife is well now.

thanks the rest of you...i'm a rather optimistic fellow (despite what some old schoolers here might think), but this weighs heavily upon my soul. i don't worry very well (i.e. i lose sleep, get wonky britches etc). so you can imagine what it's been like for me lately...and even worse what it's like for my pop, he's constantly positive, he has to be, but silently inside i know he's freaking out. guh!

SJ27 on May 21 '11 at 12:57am

Damn. Hope you're both OK.

the czar on May 21 '11 at 1:10am

It was very dicey at the start for my wife. Numerous complications and multiple surgeries. But now she is doing very well, thank you. It is a hard road. Make sure you talk to others about how it effects you. it is not selfish, this has huge impact on you too. You can help him better if you are in a better frame of mind. If ya ever need to talk about it you can email me at cdmixswap at gmail dot com.

littlem on May 21 '11 at 1:14am

many positive and hopeful thoughts coming your way.
hope he can kick this cancer to the curb!
hugz

bethsobel on May 21 '11 at 1:54am

I'm sorry. I wish you both all the best.

potternerds on May 21 '11 at 2:26am

hope he does fine.

inkdummy on May 21 '11 at 2:41am

So sorry to hear about it. Cancer is a bitch. Has he gone thru chemo yet? One good thing about colon cancer is that it's one of the more common cancer forms, so they have developed quite efficient ways to deal with it.

(a family member is going thru the same thing as your dad atm so this is what I keep telling myself to not freak out too much, maybe it'll help you a little too?)

Braniel on May 21 '11 at 2:52am

I'll keep your Dad you and your family in my thoughts and prayers, I hope it all subsides as soon as possible.

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 21 '11 at 6:30pm

he's not gone through chemo yet...that's the next step i think.

4 days later

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 25 '11 at 8:54pm

My dad had his meeting with the oncologist today...they are putting him through chemo starting in june some time...it will be a preventative chemo...meaning, they could just let him be, and wait for the cancer to either do nothing or grow...which it usually does grow...thus they are putting him through a chemo that will not cause nausea but will make him plenty tired.

the czar on May 25 '11 at 9:01pm

That sounds good. They must be pretty positive they got most of it out and that it has not advanced too far past the initial nodes. Good to still hit it with some chemo though because cancer hides well. Chemo will definitely wear him out. Did they say how many treatments? Could be as few as 8-12 if they are not too worried. . Good luck keep us updated

PogoLightning on May 25 '11 at 9:11pm

all my best to your family! stay strong, you're in my prayers and thoughts.

myteemo on May 25 '11 at 9:16pm

My heart breaks for anyone dealing with cancer. I've recently watched an old friend battle it out and it's rough. My thoughts are with you and your family.

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 25 '11 at 9:23pm

thanks pogo & myteemo...

Czar...he said it won't be the dreaded every day thing...once a week or something like that....or every 2 weeks something...i hope it doesn't wear him out too much...i'm a terrible worrier (i don't eat, sleep light and lose motivation to do any artwork [which is my job]).

alvarejo on May 25 '11 at 9:25pm

Im deeply sorry to hear this. I hope he gets well soon :)

the czar on May 25 '11 at 9:32pm

They will spread it out which is good. Some of the treatments can last a long time because they have to administer some of the drugs very slowly. Longest one for my wife was 6.5 hours. They pretreat to try and prevent reactions to the meds so that adds to the time. With my wife she had an allergic reaction so they pumped her full if benadryl every time which wore her out. Really no way to know how he will react but it is going to sap some of his strength. How old is he?

taz-pie on May 26 '11 at 4:18am

dude, i am so sorry to hear that. good luck for the chemo!

a positive word- my friend was diagnosed with bone cancer last year. after a few months of radiation and chemo, she is in remission. yay! so it is totally doable.

mullmuggins on May 26 '11 at 4:31am

I'm so sorry. Sending positive thoughts to you and your family.

Bramish on May 26 '11 at 4:36am

That's shit. Sorry to hear it. For what it's worth, both my parents spent most of the last 3 or 4 years fighting cancer and my dad just got the all clear after his throat cancer. My mum beat kidney cancer and has pretty much gotten through the worst after a brain tumour - she's on permanent chemo to keep it under control but is generally healthy and happy most of the time and it doesn't prevent her from doing anything. That may all sound unrelated but just wanted to give you some solid hope - chemo is never pleasant, but just try and stay positive.

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 26 '11 at 10:03am

he's 67 TODAY! it's his birthday!

so, bramish, i'm a terrible worrier, i kinda shut down and don't do much of anything...but i rarely worry. this stuff has hit me rather bluntly, how did you deal with the worry about your parents?

ivejustquitsmoking on May 26 '11 at 10:05am

good vibes to you

Bramish on May 26 '11 at 10:58am

Well see, they got it just after my nephew had a brain tumour and cancer of the spinal cord - that was pretty rough so I kept telling myself, and my parents that he was 4-years-old and he beat it. My mum has a tendency to worry about even the most ridiculously small issues so she was spazzing big time but I just got it into my head not to think the worst before it was necessary - I was super optimistic throughout (whilst obviously worried inside). I told my mum she wasn't doing her health any favours by being pessimistic and that kind of perked her up a bit. I guess it helped me in a roundabout way that I was living in a different city for most of it so didn't see what they went through on a daily basis.

canceromega on May 26 '11 at 11:01am

Hang in there, and you and your family have my best wishes.
Speaking from experience, try and remain positive and encourage and support your father. It sounds like a no-brainer, but it gets tough in the worst parts of the process.
Also some words of advice: Dealing with cancer is very mentally draining for all parties involved. It's important that you be there for your father, but be sure you check your own well-being every once in a while.

pyr4lis on May 26 '11 at 11:03am

wow thats got to be tough! I'm glad they're positive for his prognosis though :) The light chemo "just to be sure" etc. Hope all goes well going forward and he gets the all clear!

marblecargirl on May 26 '11 at 11:21am

Oh no, i'm so sorry :( Sending positive thoughts and vibes your way.

tracerbullet on May 26 '11 at 11:33am

as someone who lost a parent to colon cancer, my best advice is to see as many doctors as possible, get as much info as you can, and never ever settle for just one doctor's opinion. even while he's undergoing chemo, you should speak with other doctors about various plans for treatment.

best wishes and luck to you and your family!

0Jim0 on May 26 '11 at 11:52am

They've come a long way with cancer treatment these days. I'll hope for more good news from you in the future.
Best wishes to you and your family!

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on May 26 '11 at 1:27pm

thanks for all the kind words and advice. all is duly noted and appreciated. right now we wait for the chemo regiment to start. we go visit them in about a month.

70 days later

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on Aug 05 '11 at 12:17pm

so i saw my pop on the weekend Cap'n America came out, took him to the movie...he was fine all but for everything about him was slowed down. chemo seems to weight him down...but he's also lost a lot of weight. i ain't gonna lie, it did me in a bit the first day we were there...but he's still optimistic. my mom, however, is overnegative/oversensetive about him. in the sense that she kept saying to me "he's bad, isn't he? [meaning his condition vs when he wasn't sick]" all within earshot of the poor old man. and she refuses to seek out support for herself even though she laments that no one in the town that they know, really cares...(they get support from folks mowing their lawns, but not really anyone there to sit and comfort them). anyway...he's gotta go through this until December.

littlem on Aug 05 '11 at 12:30pm

sorry, man. that's so tough.
your mom definitely needs some support.
try to see if there are any books she can read on the subject.
and tell her to try not to take it personally if her friends/neighbors don't quite know how to react to the situation. cancer's a dick.

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on Aug 05 '11 at 1:45pm

my mom's been through the ringer a few times in various ways...if there was ever a personification of "victim" it's her...and being so, she's gone on to believing it...i mean, the facts are that she's been victimized plenty...but in spite of all of her trying (and she does, she does a lot of civil service stuff with prisons etc) she can't seem to shake the narrow and negative perspective of the abuse that informed her, that is, she's been nurtured to be negative...and it's difficult to shake that habit. as for advising her, i have and she resists, it's not just typical of this kinda situation, it's typical of my relationship with her...i'm still not quite seen as an adult by my parents. their child, sure, but a grown ass man that can have some solid logical advice...but my mom won't abide, she'll hear it, and say thanks, but won't abide.

stubborn lady.

can't force her though.

100 days later

r.o.b.o.t.i.c.octopus on Nov 14 '11 at 10:45am

My dad no longer has any trace of cancer!