time to panic? scared...

Mum had a recurrance, Some spots in stomach after having a clear scan (NED) at end of last year. She is scheduled to start chemo tomorrow but I found out tonight she is having pain relief at nights because of pain in the tummy. This doesnt sound good... Im really worried as I am meant to be heading overseas for 4 weeks ...leaving two weeks today.
Dont know whats going on?? What could be causing this pain?
When the oncologist told her about the spots he said they were really small... about the size of a pinky fingernail...could they ahve spiralled out of control already?
Anyone have any words of wisdom?

Comments

  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    Get clear info
    The challenge we all face when we get part of the story is our minds run away often down the worst of paths. 'Spots on stomach', 'pain relief at night', 'back on chemo' could mean all sorts of possibilities but your mind will of course be thinking the worst. The best thing you can do is try to get all the picture by talking to your mums team and discussing your trip. In all likelihood whilst it is never good news to have indications of a recurrence it doesn't mean that anything major will happen over the next few weeks and you ned to not alow this illness to rule both your mums and your life.

    Keep your thinking processes in check, talk to your mum and talk to her team.

    My thoughts arewithyou both,
    Steve
  • steved said:

    Get clear info
    The challenge we all face when we get part of the story is our minds run away often down the worst of paths. 'Spots on stomach', 'pain relief at night', 'back on chemo' could mean all sorts of possibilities but your mind will of course be thinking the worst. The best thing you can do is try to get all the picture by talking to your mums team and discussing your trip. In all likelihood whilst it is never good news to have indications of a recurrence it doesn't mean that anything major will happen over the next few weeks and you ned to not alow this illness to rule both your mums and your life.

    Keep your thinking processes in check, talk to your mum and talk to her team.

    My thoughts arewithyou both,
    Steve

    Thanks for your reply Steve,
    Thanks for your reply Steve, you are always there when i cry out in silly distress!
    Today mum has had chemo and so far so good... she is currently attached to her bag o chemo and doing ok... long may it last
  • Sonia32
    Sonia32 Member Posts: 1,071 Member
    Hugs
    All I can say is take each day as it comes. Sending good vibes, prayers your way.
  • Doc_Hawk
    Doc_Hawk Member Posts: 685
    Speed bumps
    I look at the recurrences and set backs as speed bumps that just show up in the middle of nowhere. A little while ago my CEA started an upward trend which caused a lot of concern. My onc ordered a PET scan (which is when we found out I had pneumonia), but there was good news. Apparently the elevated CEA over a month and a half was due to a lot of cancer cells being killed off. There are only three tumors in my liver now. One of them (the largest) is now a ring with healthy tissue in the middle as the liver repairs itself. The second is beginning to do the same thing and the third is too small to do so.

    As to what's going on with your mom, the pain in her stomach my be unrelated to cancer. Does she have a history of acid reflux or any other upper GI problems? It may be something as simple as H. pylori or ulcers. Both are easily treated with antibiotics.

    I'll pray that her pain is simple and easily resolved.

    Ray/Doc
  • Sonia32 said:

    Hugs
    All I can say is take each day as it comes. Sending good vibes, prayers your way.

    Thanks Sonia, Deff doing the
    Thanks Sonia, Deff doing the one day at a time thing
    she has had chemo infusion and the bag on for two days now and is doing well... I think she will get it off tomorroqw. I hope it all goes well but sometimes i worry does less side effects mean chemo isnt working as well????
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member

    Thanks Sonia, Deff doing the
    Thanks Sonia, Deff doing the one day at a time thing
    she has had chemo infusion and the bag on for two days now and is doing well... I think she will get it off tomorroqw. I hope it all goes well but sometimes i worry does less side effects mean chemo isnt working as well????

    Does less side effects mean chemo not working
    NO!!!!!

    steve
  • steved said:

    Does less side effects mean chemo not working
    NO!!!!!

    steve

    thats what i needed to hear
    thats what i needed to hear :)
    thanks again Steve!
  • Psalm37bl
    Psalm37bl Member Posts: 25
    Doc_Hawk said:

    Speed bumps
    I look at the recurrences and set backs as speed bumps that just show up in the middle of nowhere. A little while ago my CEA started an upward trend which caused a lot of concern. My onc ordered a PET scan (which is when we found out I had pneumonia), but there was good news. Apparently the elevated CEA over a month and a half was due to a lot of cancer cells being killed off. There are only three tumors in my liver now. One of them (the largest) is now a ring with healthy tissue in the middle as the liver repairs itself. The second is beginning to do the same thing and the third is too small to do so.

    As to what's going on with your mom, the pain in her stomach my be unrelated to cancer. Does she have a history of acid reflux or any other upper GI problems? It may be something as simple as H. pylori or ulcers. Both are easily treated with antibiotics.

    I'll pray that her pain is simple and easily resolved.

    Ray/Doc

    Glad to hear the wonderful
    Glad to hear the wonderful news about your liver!