Kiwijaz, this is a hard time for anyone to try to accept. It is particularly worse when you are so far away.
My dad had bowel cancer several years ago, and fortunately he survived it only to have a fall last year in Spetember and this resulted in his passing away.
Myself and the wife were on our way home from Cape York when we received the news that he had been admitted to hospital, but unfortunately we couldn't get back to SA in time.
So please try to get see your dad as often as possible while you have him.
We are thinking of you, and we hope you can spend some quality time with him.
Geoff and Jean