moms surgery

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

thank you for the response Reb and thank you Lucinda for your prayers -They just told mom yesterday that after several tests on the Liver that the cancer they removed there was now in fact metasticised from the original colon cancer(Brainman was right all along) so altho I belonged on the liver cancer forum for a time..I still am here since the beginning. This is just as confusing as the disease.
Mom has a really rough time with any of the treatments so far-To the point where she reacts more than average and twice not even full doses have almost did her in. Her body is supersensitive to the drugs(which makes it harder to fight the cancer)
should she survive this surgery-the hard decision will be what can she take next and what will her body tolorate-so far almost everything Ive heard on this forum has been tried to some point..quickly running out of options..plus I have a feeling they see more than the one tumor because altho its true...they never really know untill they are in there-I felt the doctor said it as a warning to be prepared.
and whats scaring me most is the same cancer still and telling me that in her case theres a 23% survival rate up to 4-5years. hello....we are at the 4-1/2 year mark. Crying or Very sad

-BUT on the brighter side-she was one of the 1% that had a really bad reaction to the port soooooo maybe she will be the less than 23% that will push past the 5 year marker! Very Happy

she has bloodwork tomorrow-cross match pre-op blood work fri drink that crap on Suday and they havent told us the time yet ,but surgery will be Monday morning. thanks again for being there all of you. Smile

star · Senior User Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Location: Ohio

HI Shiela,
Life can be so tough, but you and your mom have to keep going, will be praying for your mom and yourself in coming days and monday.
Hold your mom and keep telling her you love her and not to give up.
Life is so precious and take one day at a time ..

Prayers and Best Wishes ....Rob

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

star-thank you so much! were trying Smile

topazil · Senior User Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 108

I know it's rough going and there are so many questions and not enough answers it seems. Your mom, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers and I hope the surgery might give you a better idea of what exactly is to be faced and how it can be fought.

(((((((((hugs)))))))) Just bcause.
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass felt in colon during surgery.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Colectomy Sep 2008
Stage IV Colon Cancer metastasized to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2)
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09
Latest chemotherapy session: 11/09/09 - Folfox 6 = Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, Leucovorine with
Avastine.
Started CEA Level when first diagnosed = 10
Highest CEA Level so far 409 on 9/21/09
Most recent CEA Level = 113 on 11/09/09

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

Topazil-thanks oh we'll know alright -I soo hope her bodys strong enough to handle another (major)operation . she so wants to be around for awhile yet. And-we want her around just as much.
all I can add to this is we have faith in God,faith in our surgeon, faith in moms strenghth -we have a hate to give up mom snd we have as close loving supportive family...If thats not enough-then if its truly her time-none of that will matter. If she doesnt make it-at least she can go find the other j
half of our family and be wherever her mom my dad and her brothers and sisters are-and Ill be ok with that in knowing shes not alone. soo enough of that positive thinking a must! Prayers and faith a must-knowing you all care is a major plus and know that my thoughts and prayers are too with you and yours. Thank you for being there Smile

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

moms surgery is at 10:30 this morning -were all meeting at the hospital at 8. thanks for being there Ill post the outcome tonight or tomorrow when I get home.

topazil · Senior User Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Posts: 108

Good thoughts and prayers are with you all this day (((((((((((((hugs)))))))))))
_________________
Total hysterectomy July 23 2008, mass felt in colon during surgery.
Colonoscopy Aug 2008
Colectomy Sep 2008
Stage IV Colon Cancer metastasized to lungs and liver. (T3,N2,M1,G2)
Started chemotherapy: 09/14/09
Latest chemotherapy session: 11/09/09 - Folfox 6 = Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, Leucovorine with
Avastine.
Started CEA Level when first diagnosed = 10
Highest CEA Level so far 409 on 9/21/09
Most recent CEA Level = 113 on 11/09/09

REB · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: Re: moms surgery

Prayers that all goes well.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil), leucovorin & oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
04-09-08 Finished Chemo, 04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 1 Tumor on outside of colon & 2 in the adipose tissue - same cancer- SUV 5
06-23-09 FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
08-18-09 Tumors have shrunk. SUV 1
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI - Jan 2011 Finish ERBITUX?
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:42

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

its almost 8pm-we got back about an hour ago-her surgery went better than expected -they removed 2 growths and patched a hole in her colon-they said it was probably a weakening from the radiation-which she had more than once.
there was no blood loss that was not expected this time. she went from recovery to a room on oncology-thay suggested more chemo but they told us not her yet that she would not benefit from ny more surgery shes going to be sqeaking by with the colon that was left and she may have absorption problems for nutrition. we have to wait and see how that goes. Should however any signs(which there will be) of cancer return-no more quick fix left..hers usually returns between 4-6 mo. but thats providing she gets strong enough to go on after this operation.
She was veerrry heavily pain medicated she has a pain pump a artery pic,and the usual ng tube and oxegen- she knew we were all there but couldnt stay alert or even open her eyes at this early of her recovery.
Im relieved she made it, sad itts not a fix, but one day at a time

DulcimerGal · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:33 pm Post subject: Re: moms surgery

Sheila

so glad to hear your Mom got through the surgery - that is terrific news.
I barely remember the first few days after my surgeries...probably a good thing she has good pain meds, that way she will not remember too much about how bad she must be feeling. She has been through a lot.

How are you doing? I know you must be relieved that this hurdle is over.
Cheers
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left!

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

Dulcimer Gal-thanks for asking about me-oh ...Im..mixed emotions-very thrilled that she made it again,yet I dread how mom will feel when her doctors tell her-no more surgeries. not good. yet today she was slowly eating her ice chips, and slightly sitting up in bed -kindof in her fiesty mode(which I never thpought Id say it-its actually wonderfull) Right now she thinks that everyone isnt telling her the truth. I told her as long as she is capable in sound mind they wont not tell her anything. Unless she says I dont want to know.
she was upset because she claims they had to give her some blood this morning-I have to talk to my brother-he was there she may have just been hallucinating from the morphine. She told me every time she opens her eyes its all fuzzy and when she closes them she keeps seeing tons of jigsaw puzzle peices that need put in holes all layered up. and while we were there she even saw big ones all swelled up like water was spilled on them.
Her oncologist came in to talk to her-they looked at each other and he said-we have to stop meeting like this. she said she told him-I dont even want to talk to you now. he walked out and said-see you tomorrow.
were still waiting on bowel sounds and hoping she wont get any clots(shes prone to them-more so than average)
after that it will be -to chemo or not to chemo-her decision.Dont know if she could or even should try to handle more. not much of a choice. oh glad to see you back on ! Hope things are going good if not passable for you as well. thanks for caring : Smile

DulcimerGal · Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: moms surgery

You know Sheila - once she gets through all the pain meds and can process facts and details again - you may be surprised at how she handles things.

I think all of us with cancer or who are surviving - even when we think/hope/have tests that say it is gone - we're all kind of wondering when the other shoe is going to drop and we hear the words ' it has returned' - or - as in your Mom's case - no more surgeries.....make a choice about chemo etc.

She has faith, and you have a great family with faith - so you will all come to terms with her decision once she is in a place where she can make her choices known.

Meanwhile - how wonderful that you are all there taking care of her and staying with her after the surgery. It is through ordeals like this that we all become more fit to help, console, relieve and care for each other.

God Bless
DulcimerGal
_________________
Rectal Cancer diagnosed Valentines Day 2008
Finished 6 weeks of radiation and chemo 4/23/08
Surgery to remove tumor - June 18th 2008
Colostomy Reversal August 20th 2008
Five rounds of Xeloda (chemo) to ZAP anything left!

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

Thanks DulcimerGal-your truly a warm kindhearted person-it shines brightly though your words-you made me smile.
know your in my prayers as well.

sheila · Senior User Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 265

today I was awoken by moms nurse saying dont panic-were having her moved to the cardiac unit for some scans-she had some palpitations 4 this morning they called me at 6:30. I didnt need to come in they gave her something and it went away. so I checked later and they claimed she was doing a bit better,,,,she didnt want me to come in..ok so my youngest brother got in at 2pm said she was ok just still really nauseated and still talking goofy from the drugs-she is now graduated from every hour morphine infusion to dilauted infusion to injections now they gave her cardiosom for the palpitations and dextrose. and has been feeding nutrients iv drio and the normal potasium/saline.
then my other younger brother finished work at 2:30- came at 3 so .the first one went back to work .
mom at that time went for a leg dopler and achest scan to check for possible clots. we wont know untill tomorrow. (IM worried)....when me and my husband got there-she was tired she talked to us about 20 min then fell asleep we just sat there waiting. she woke us and threw up bile(alot)-guess the ng tube may have been removed too early-They said if she barfs again the tube has to go back in(I hope not).
she made us charge her cell phone so its ready when she is -she hasnt let anyone except us 5 know shes in the hospital-noe ever knew she had the liver surgery either.
She has a right to secrecy, but it sure is hard not to tell close relatives the truth. I just refuse to answer my phone anymore-its too hard for me to lie to them. mom can do all the stories she wants...(she does this avoidance for 3 reasons-1-she doesnt want neighbors shes not fond of knowing her business,2-she doesnt want to upset her sisters in arizona or her older brother which all have alot of their own problems. and 3-altho she knows concern is real she doesnt want to discuss cancer every time she talks to them. cant blame her. makes it hard for us tho.
oh rambling-Im sorry- so we left around 8 we usually stay till 9-10. but she had a big day....tomorrow will give us some answers.(praying they arent bad)..thanks for letting me vent.

REB · Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:55 am Post subject: Re: moms surgery

[quote="DulcimerGal"]I think all of us with cancer or who are surviving - even when we think/hope/have tests that say it is gone - we're all kind of wondering when the other shoe is going to drop and we hear the words ' it has returned' - or - as in your Mom's case - no more surgeries.....make a choice about chemo etc. [/quote]

We may free ourselves from cancer, but I don't think we can ever escape it.

I have resolved whatever happens , happens. I'll do what I can, but my fate is really out of my hands. Whenever God is ready to take me, he will, and there is nothing I can do about it. And I am okay with that. I trust his judgment. I have faith in him. I just ask him to let me live long enough to be their for my kids until they become adults.

I am not going to let cancer bully me any more. I am not going to live in fear of it...that is not living. I am going to enjoy whatever time I have left in this world.
_________________
10/01/07 - Removal of Stage III Colon Cancer Tumor & Temporary Colostomy
11-07-07 - FOLFOX regimen - 5-FU (5 Flurouracil), leucovorin & oxaliplatin. Also Avastin
04-09-08 Finished Chemo, 04-28-08 Colostomy Reversal
06-02-09 1 Tumor on outside of colon & 2 in the adipose tissue - same cancer- SUV 5
06-23-09 FOLFIRI and ERBITUX chemo.
08-18-09 Tumors have shrunk. SUV 1
10-26-09 Tumors gone.
11-25-09 Finish FOLFIRI - Jan 2011 Finish ERBITUX?
Age Diagnosed 40. Current Age:42

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