| Author |
|
tweetybird
Regular
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject: my best friend!! |
 |
|
hello to everyone...i am new on this forum..but have been reading posts for a few weeks!!! Decided i would like to share my story....
Last February my mom (age 46) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which initially at first they thought it was her gallbladder. Some of the symptoms she had were stomach pains feeling like gas, and nausea, and major weight loss over time. Her gastro doctor referred her to Duke University. She did some chemo and radiation everday for 7 weeks. After that was completed they discussed surgery. The doctors couldnt guarantee that it would be removable but they would go through her navel first to see if it was removable before cutting all the way open. The doctors sent word to us they had done the laproscopy and thought they could remove it so they were going to continue with the operatioin, the family was so relieved. Well 2 hours later the doctor called the family up, mom was doing great, but the news was it was inoperable. It was inoperable because its wrapped around major arteries leading from the pancreas to the liver. They didnt want to take that chance.
She recovered from the surgery very quickly, was upset but she said she knew the chances before going in. Since the time of diagnosis with all this she has gone from a size 14 to a size 6. my mom has never been that small. They started her on gemzar (through IV) and tarceva. her first can scan with these drugs showed that the tumor was still the same had not grown or gotten smaller. she had another cat scan last week and will recieve the results tomorrow. Im so scared as to what the results hold, because of the change in my mother. The chemos dont really make her sick at all which is good and havent since she started, but lately she wants to just lay on the couch and sleep, and she is very nauseous a lot of the time. i pray that its just the chemo and not the cancer.
My mother is very optimistic and looks at the positive in every situation possible. And through all this she has never asked "why me". And shes accepted the fact that she may die from this, but says she cant be selfish if this is Gods will for her. But in the meantime my stepdad and I cant help but to be selfish. I am her only child at the age of 21 and with hopes to get married soon to my boyfriend of 3 years and have children someday in the future. I want her to be here to see me take the next step in life.
Mom is my best friend, and im scared for her, but i know all i can do is be here and support her decisions to the fullest.
Thanks to all who read this and reply back if you choose.
Sorry its so long, just havent shared my story with anyone outside of family before, but it feels good to vent.
Thank you everyone who has posted on here before about your stories, its helped me see things in different perspectives, through different situatoins!!!
Heather |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Chief Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4290
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:24 pm Post subject: Re: my best friend!! |
|
|
Heather, I am very sorry about your mother's cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the worst cancers to treat effectively. Do you remember what stage it is? That would be helpful information in order to understand her prognosis and which treatment option are the best for her. Will they be able to do surgery?
You and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/
Last edited by brainman on Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
tweetybird
Regular
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: Re: my best friend!! |
|
|
| no i have not heard anyone say anything about a stage...but i will ask today when we go to the doctor...we go to get results from her latest ct scan...please pray for her today that we can get some good news!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
cindylou
New User
Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Posts: 9
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: my best friend!! |
|
|
| I am thinking and praying for you and your Mom. Both of you are so young to be dealing with this. My Mom's story is the same as you Mom's, they couldn't operate because of artery involvement. My Mom has been on gencitabine for 8 months and has been tolerating it well so far, she gets nauseated 24 hours after chemo but they give her an anti nausea pill that really helps. There are medications that can help with your Mom's nausea. I so wish I could give you some comfort, some hope. Thinking of you.......Cindy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Chief Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4290
Location: Tennessee
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
tweetybird
Regular
Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: Re: my best friend!! |
|
|
| first and foremost thank you for all your prayers!! I can definitely say God is watching over this family. The doctors appt. went really well. they want my mother to do 3 more weeks of IV chemo, but continue to take her oral chemo until they say otherwise...then in 6 weeks they want to do a PET scan, and depending on the results from that they would like to try operating again. Which I took that news to be great!! I guess the only thing i didnt and still dont understand is if they couldnt remove it before b/c of the artery involvement how can they now? Although i am very thankful that surgery may still be in the question. but he did say that even if they tried operating again theres still a chance they cant remove it, just depending on the size at this moment, but the tumor hasnt grown or gotten smaller in months, so the chemo is doing something!!!! My mom is very encouraged by the news, but doesnt want to set her hopes to high, and shes also very thankful.....so ill be posting with updates on whats going on!!! again i thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
brainman
Chief Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 4290
Location: Tennessee
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:24 pm Post subject: Re: my best friend!! |
|
|
Heather, maybe the doctors expect that the chemotherapy will kill the cancer that is involving the artery... that is the only thing I can think of but it is a good question for you to ask her medical team before going into surgery.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
Search 
Email Digests
Register to post
Profile 
Check private messages 
Log in
What is this ?
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here. All content and posts are copyright.
