My Dad\'s Cancer Treatment.. and Recovery!!!

For those of you who don\'t already know, my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer this past October, and I have made this page in hopes of raising money to help pay for his cancer treatments. It came as quite a shock to all of us as he has always been one of the healthiest people I know, but through this process I think we\'ve all come to realize that no matter how well you take care of yourself, no one is invincible..and sometimes despite your best efforts, and for reasons you will never understand, the hardest things often happen to the greatest people you know.

Although prostate cancer is one of the \"best\" cancers you can have as far as survival rates, they had no choice but to be pretty aggressive with their treatments as the cancer had already progressed further than we had expected, making this road to recovery a long one. He had a prostatectomy at UCSF in late October which removed his prostate and some of the areas around it, but after receiving news that they were unable to get all of the cancer cells he has been undergoing further treatment. Currently he is on hormone therapy and receiving radiation treatments through St. Joe\'s five days a week which has definitely taken its toll.

Since his diagnosis he has spent an incredible amount of time researching everything he can about prostate cancer, treatment options, alternative health care, and where to get the best care he can. He has been amazing at making adjustments to every aspect of his life that may affect his response to this disease, and is doing everything he can to make sure he beats this thing, which has given us all confidence that he will.

As you can imagine the costs for all these procedures have been great and they are still coming in every day. And while I know most of you may not feel like you have a ton of money to give these days, it would mean the world to me and my family if there was anything you\'d be willing to give. Even if it\'s just $5 or $10... (I figured it out and even a $5 donation from all of my friends on facebook would cover $2,520 of his treatment.. which is a pretty decent amount when you think of it as each person giving the equivalent of a what you may spend on a coffee!)  So it may not feel like much but every little bit helps and I\'m grateful for whatever you can give!

For all of you that have experienced cancer in your families you already know how devastating the process can be and I am constantly in awe by his continuous positive outlook throughout this whole process. It\'s amazing how much he has helped the rest of us cope through his own positivity and I know if it's possible to beat this my dad will be the man to do it. He is a role model to me in so many different ways and it's been extremely hard feeling helpless in what is happening to him. Your help makes me feel like there is something tangible that I can help him with and although I know $5,000 won\'t be close to covering their costs, I\'d love to take away some of the financial stress they\'re feeling as he is already experiencing so much physically and emotionally. Radiation is a constant attack on your body and he feels it all day every day, yet still I come home and see him with a smile on his face and no complaints. I feel blessed to have been able to be home and close to both him and my mom through this process and it warms my heart thinking of how much this will mean to them.

To those of you who have already reached out and helped us I can\'t thank you enough. You sent cards, emails, notes just to let us know your love was there and meals when it felt like too much to cook. The outpouring of love from you was part of what held our family together when it felt like everything was suddenly falling apart and that will be something none of us will ever forget.   

Thanks for taking the time to read this: and my love and appreciation goes out to those of you who do decide to give. I will forever be a better person because of who he has been as a father, a husband, and a friend and I\'m excited to see what we can accomplish together!

Much love to you all. xoxo  - Brittany

P.S- He ends his radiation May 12th and we are all hoping that's the end of it.. so send up a little cheer for him on that day as I know it will come as a great relief :)

- And for all you men out there please please PLEASE remember to get yourself checked for prostate cancer once you turn 40!!