Steve,
I am just catching up on this post.
My prayers go out to your father and your family.
My mother had breast cancer back in the early 80's.
She went ten years after surgery and then had treatment(s) due to new developments (cancer).
Here we are 20+ years later and she is still kicking a$$ on the golf course in her 80's!
My Father had prostate cancer 1 1/2 years ago. He has a clean bill of health now.
A word of advice for you guy's: get those 'psa' tests done if you are in your forties. It could save your life down the road.