Well, we officially got the news today that moms PET scan showed that her cancer was decreasing in size/number. Mom went in yesterday for her second PET scan to look and see at where her cancer was at after five chemo treatments and she met today with the doctors to discuss the results. Natalie was able to be at the appointment with mom and hear the great news for herself. Natalie said that the nurse, Pam, who reguarly works with Dr.Ward, came in the room and said, "so are you ready to do the Happy Dance," boy are we! These have been some tough five weeks, not only dealing with all the side effects the chemo causes, but also mentally not knowing if the chemo was even helping to get rid of the cancer.
Mom of course was so happy, just like the rest of us. She is making so much progress in the past month. Her weight is trying to stabilize and she is making more effort to eat by mouth and use her feeding tube less and less. She is looking better also. Her hair hasn't fallen out and from what the nurses are telling us it most likely won't with her type of chemo treatments, it just gets really thin.
We wanted to thank all of the family and friends who have been able to come by and visit mom during the past five weeks. Her brother Allen has been able to fly out twice to spend time with her...and it has been so nice for mom to have family and get some more support.
Lets keep up the progress.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Hopeful News
Hello All,
Well Mom has been in for a total of four chemo treatments and has battled through all of them. As with most Cancer patients who are under-going chemo treatments she fights with the unwanted side effects..the nausea, vomitting and diarrhea that are never ending for a good 4-5 days after the session. Mom is doing well and has even started eating a little more, even though it is a battle many times to get her to eat (she has lost nearly 40 lbs now), but the tube feedings have been a saving grace for her.
Mom was able to have a port device surgically placed a few weeks ago which is how she will receive her chemo treatments from her on out. Her last visit to the doctors showed her blood lab values were so good that the physician extended her PET scan for another 8 weeks and said that her chemo treatments were now going to go for another 6 months. I know that mom was not very happy about having chemo treatments for so long, but very optimistic that the physician said 'it looks like you are reacting well to the chemo and making progress.' We too were excited to hear the news that she was doing well.
I know that more chemo sessions isn't something that sounds fun, but if the chemo is killing the cancer and your body is dealing with it well and you are able to gain more years of your life then the trade off is minimal. Mom is still fighting and will continue throught the summer, we just hope she will continue to get well enough to get out and going on some trips with us.
Tiers
Well Mom has been in for a total of four chemo treatments and has battled through all of them. As with most Cancer patients who are under-going chemo treatments she fights with the unwanted side effects..the nausea, vomitting and diarrhea that are never ending for a good 4-5 days after the session. Mom is doing well and has even started eating a little more, even though it is a battle many times to get her to eat (she has lost nearly 40 lbs now), but the tube feedings have been a saving grace for her.
Mom was able to have a port device surgically placed a few weeks ago which is how she will receive her chemo treatments from her on out. Her last visit to the doctors showed her blood lab values were so good that the physician extended her PET scan for another 8 weeks and said that her chemo treatments were now going to go for another 6 months. I know that mom was not very happy about having chemo treatments for so long, but very optimistic that the physician said 'it looks like you are reacting well to the chemo and making progress.' We too were excited to hear the news that she was doing well.
I know that more chemo sessions isn't something that sounds fun, but if the chemo is killing the cancer and your body is dealing with it well and you are able to gain more years of your life then the trade off is minimal. Mom is still fighting and will continue throught the summer, we just hope she will continue to get well enough to get out and going on some trips with us.
Tiers
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