Post by poetsunshine on Mar 24, 2010 9:11:12 GMT -6
Hi Everyone -
I write this with a very heavy heart this morning. Mom has been having 'tummy' issues for a couple of weeks. Not real pain, per se, but gnawing & moving. She mentioned it to her oncologist & he wanted to treat her for heartburn (but that wasn't the symptom) or pain killer. Mom did NOT like that idea! So, she saw her family dr. He thought maybe the antibiotics were aggrevating her stomach, so mylanta 3x/day. That seemed to work....but the symptoms did not completely go away & she wasn't feeling great.
She has had issues with her stoma on & off & thought it'd be best to see her surgeon. After a thorough exam (lots of questions, too), the surgeon found another tumor. Not the one that the CT found. A different one, in a different location, under her stoma. He indicated that because of how the intesting loops & moves, sometimes it is tricky for tumors to be spotted by CT.
After much discussion with him...Mom will still see the oncologist for the clinical trial at Karmanos (Thursday, April 1). Several factors will determine if Mom stays there. The surgeon also mentioned that there is a specific type of radiation that could be used. Extra care needs to be taken because of her iliostomy/stoma. He recommened Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic, and would make a few phone calls to Cleveland this week before he leaves on vacation Saturday.
Needless to say, we are all devestated & still reelling from this news. Mom still has fight in her, but it's a little shakey as you can imagine. She told me this morning that she has prayed for guidance from God all week, and has received it: getting in to see the surgeon before his vacation, dad also being seen for a colonoscopy before he leaves, and a few other things. She knows God is answering her/our prayers...but it sure isn't the answer we were praying & hoping for.
We covet your thoughts & prayers as we go through this next phase.
Thank you -
Beth
I write this with a very heavy heart this morning. Mom has been having 'tummy' issues for a couple of weeks. Not real pain, per se, but gnawing & moving. She mentioned it to her oncologist & he wanted to treat her for heartburn (but that wasn't the symptom) or pain killer. Mom did NOT like that idea! So, she saw her family dr. He thought maybe the antibiotics were aggrevating her stomach, so mylanta 3x/day. That seemed to work....but the symptoms did not completely go away & she wasn't feeling great.
She has had issues with her stoma on & off & thought it'd be best to see her surgeon. After a thorough exam (lots of questions, too), the surgeon found another tumor. Not the one that the CT found. A different one, in a different location, under her stoma. He indicated that because of how the intesting loops & moves, sometimes it is tricky for tumors to be spotted by CT.
After much discussion with him...Mom will still see the oncologist for the clinical trial at Karmanos (Thursday, April 1). Several factors will determine if Mom stays there. The surgeon also mentioned that there is a specific type of radiation that could be used. Extra care needs to be taken because of her iliostomy/stoma. He recommened Cleveland Clinic or Mayo Clinic, and would make a few phone calls to Cleveland this week before he leaves on vacation Saturday.
Needless to say, we are all devestated & still reelling from this news. Mom still has fight in her, but it's a little shakey as you can imagine. She told me this morning that she has prayed for guidance from God all week, and has received it: getting in to see the surgeon before his vacation, dad also being seen for a colonoscopy before he leaves, and a few other things. She knows God is answering her/our prayers...but it sure isn't the answer we were praying & hoping for.
We covet your thoughts & prayers as we go through this next phase.
Thank you -
Beth
