Mom diagnosed with UPSC

arunirma
arunirma Member Posts: 7

Hello everyone, 

I have been a passive follower of this forum for about 3 months now. I have decided to post about my mother's fight against the disease. A little bit about myself and my family. I was born and raised in India and I am currently in the US doing my Pediatrics residency training. I will be graduating this year to be a Pediatrician myself. All the feat that I have achieved so far is because of my mother who is battling this cancer now who currently is in India and so far away from me. She never really had any symptoms until the day after Christmas and D&C showed UPSC. She was evaluated with PET/CT which showed extensive lymphnode invovlement and she was advised to go for Chemotherapy prior to surgery. She had involvement of nodes above the diaphragm which is concerning. I left right away to India to be with her for a month for her 1st 2 cycles of Carbo/Taxol. She had her 3rd cycle after I came back. She is currently being evaluated with a repeat Imaging and see the response to chemo and then consider surgery. 

 

I have been talking to oncologist and gyn/onc here in my hospital where I work. They did review the results and agreed with the plan. I now pray that the scan turns out to be ok and she could have surgery. My mom absolutely hates chemo which makes her tired and weak. It has been a tough few months for my family. My mom is everything to me in this world and as someone who sees patients fight cancer (especially kids), it is really hard for me NOT to worry about the worst. I am taking one day at a time.

I admire all you wonderful human beings for putting up a brave fight. I would pray for you all when I do for my mother. 

 

 

Comments

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    Ahh Arunirma

    So sorry about your mom and what you are all going through- it's hard being close and must be just so awful being so far away! 

    It's wonderful that you are becoming a Peditrician and I am sure your family is very proud of you.  It's great that you can ask people close to you what their thoughts are regarding treatment.  Sounds like you are doing everything you possibly can.

    Your mom has to know how very much she means to you- keep telling her and showing her but most importantly keep living your life- she wants the very best for you and you bring her joy in the things you accomplish and the life you choose to live.  Make your days count and keep taking them one at a time because we never know how long each of us have- just because we have cancer doesn't mean we'll be out of time before someone we know and love- cherish each day- look for the gifts and blessings that each day brings- say one more time that you love those you do.  Most importantly, use everything you learn to help you empathize with your patients and their loved ones- you will have a very unique perspective and it will always be more than a job to you if you remember how you and your family feel during this time.

    Please come back and share with us how your mom is doing, share anything new you learn, let us know how you are, ask questions... we are here  (((HUGS)))

  • arunirma
    arunirma Member Posts: 7
    Thank you Nellasing.

    Thank you for the message. Yes, it has been really difficult to be so far away from her. I am trying to do the best I can to talk to her every day and tell her that we will fight this together. I am fortunate enough to have an older brother who is there with her who is trying to do the best he can to take care of her. Sometimes I feel like I should have stayed back in my country but having said that I know for sure that she is proud of me and that gives me little comfort.  One thing for sure, as someone who works with kids I try to be humble but this experience made me realize how much I should go above and beyond to help not only the patient but also the whole family. I will try to do all my best I can to be able to help every single patient and their family in every way possible.

    She is currently waiting for her results from the repeat imaging after three rounds. I am hoping and praying for the results to be positive. I will keep you all updated.

  • Lou Ann M
    Lou Ann M Member Posts: 996 Member
    edited March 2017 #4
    So very sorry

    about your mother.  It is always hard, but being away from her has to make it even harder.  Sending hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

  • arunirma
    arunirma Member Posts: 7
    Thank you Louann.

    Your journey is truly inspirational. I wish you the best. Hugs

  • TeddyandBears_Mom
    TeddyandBears_Mom Member Posts: 1,811 Member
    edited March 2017 #6
    Arunima, So sorry to hear

    Arunima, So sorry to hear about your Mom.  Wanted to say welcome and please feel free to ask us anything. It sounds like you have read a lot on here so you are aware that nothing is off limits. Thank you for being such a strong support for your Mom. That will mean so much to her and will help her during the treatments. I hope she has had good results with the chemo and can get her surgery behind her.

    Take care and please come back and let us know how she is doing.

    Love and Hugs,

    Cindi

  • arunirma
    arunirma Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #7
    Thanks Cindi!

    You all are so kind and helpful. I have read a lot of information about UPSC in the medical journals/articles after my mom's diagnosis but I always liked to come and read the information here because it gives me lot of hope. I seriously wish my mom could come and post here and get to know these wonderful people out here but I will try to keep updating her about everything I learn here.

  • Soup52
    Soup52 Member Posts: 908 Member
    Arunirma, I'm so sorry about

    Arunirma, I'm so sorry about your mother. I have two daughters who live many miles away though not as far as you are from your mother. They each visited once during my treatment, but they were also a constant support through phone calls etc. I did not want them to stop their lives for me and I'm sure your mother feels the same. You are a great support being in the medical profession and I'm sure she feels the same and is lucky to have you. Keep us informed of her progress. Best wishes!

  • CheeseQueen57
    CheeseQueen57 Member Posts: 933 Member
    edited March 2017 #9
    Welcome!

    I too am sorry to hear your dear mother is going through this. As a doctor, you'll have access to all the medical details to help your mother but please feel free to turn to us for some of the patient details for survival. This forum was and is a godsend to me and will provide you with some very practical information that you can hopefully share with your mother to make her life a little easier while she fights and beyond. 

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    Arunirma, I am so sorry to

    Arunirma, I am so sorry to hear of your mother's diagnosis. Please stay hopeful for her. It may be the best medicine you can give to her at this moment. Kim

  • arunirma
    arunirma Member Posts: 7
    Thank you all.

    This forum is a Godsend to all of us definitely.  Thank you all for sharing your journey. I will be posting about my mother as often as I can if it could inspire someone in the future.

  • debbie000
    debbie000 Member Posts: 6
    hugs and p[rayers for mom

    hugs and p[rayers for mom

  • NoTimeForCancer
    NoTimeForCancer Member Posts: 3,352 Member
    edited March 2017 #13
    arunirma, I am so sorry to

    arunirma, I am so sorry to hear about your mom.  My heart cries for you not to be able to be at your mother's side, and yet she knows what your studies mean to you.  I hope she responds well to the treatment and you can get to her again soon.

  • arunirma
    arunirma Member Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #14
    Update on my mom's imaging.

    Update on my mom's imaging. She had a repeat PET after 3 rounds of chemo, which showed a good response of the primary tumor and no increased uptake in the uterus. The few nodes above the diaphragm still show some activity which makes the oncologist question if they are malignant or non-specific nodes versus some sort of inflammation/infection. She underwent a Fine needle biopsy and awaiting results. If it turns out to be negative she would have surgery which we are all praying for.

    Please wish my mom luck ! Thank you again everyone. 

  • Kvdyson
    Kvdyson Member Posts: 789
    edited March 2017 #15
    arunirma said:

    Update on my mom's imaging.

    Update on my mom's imaging. She had a repeat PET after 3 rounds of chemo, which showed a good response of the primary tumor and no increased uptake in the uterus. The few nodes above the diaphragm still show some activity which makes the oncologist question if they are malignant or non-specific nodes versus some sort of inflammation/infection. She underwent a Fine needle biopsy and awaiting results. If it turns out to be negative she would have surgery which we are all praying for.

    Please wish my mom luck ! Thank you again everyone. 

    That is great news on the PET

    That is great news on the PET results. Hoping for the same good news on the biopsy results, too. Best wishes to her (and you)!

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    Arunirma that is GOOD news!

    We take each piece of good news and celebrate it and let what may come wait.  So grateful for this wonderful result and sending you all the most positive wishes for more good news soon.   (((HUGS)))