What's going on with my mom?

fatmomma
fatmomma Member Posts: 95
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Mom was doing ok up until about three weeks ago. She has been on Erbitux (only) for about 9 weeks. Her right side started hurting her and ct scan showed tumor on her colon. The PET scan did not show that about 6 weeks ago. Went to the surgeon Wednesday and he's gonna get with other surgeons to see if surgery is an option. Now her left side (back) was hurting her really bad. Nurse called in different pain medication. She hasn't had a bowel movement since Tuesday. Can somebody tell me what's going on? I am very worried about her.
Thanks. FM

Comments

  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #2
    PET
    Alone it can miss a tumor in the colon (one of the reasons it is not used for early dx).

    The more modern PET/CT (both scans in one machine) might catch it, but a straight CT is probably the best way to see inside. I was originally dx'ed after a virtual colonoscopy via CT scan.

    If she has not had a BM by tomorrow morning she should probably call her doctor, or just go to the ER. There could be blockage, and it is always better to err on the safe side.

    Hope she feels better soon,

    Blake
  • marqimark
    marqimark Member Posts: 242 Member
    #3
    Back
    I get cramps in my lower back when I am constipated. Maybe the back isreacting to the inability to....poo.

    Mark
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #4
    marqimark said:

    Back
    I get cramps in my lower back when I am constipated. Maybe the back isreacting to the inability to....poo.

    Mark

    thanks guys
    She said if she had not done anything by tomorrow she would go to the ER.
    Thanks. FM
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #5
    marqimark said:

    Back
    I get cramps in my lower back when I am constipated. Maybe the back isreacting to the inability to....poo.

    Mark

    thanks.

    thanks.
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #6
    fatmomma said:

    thanks guys
    She said if she had not done anything by tomorrow she would go to the ER.
    Thanks. FM

    Mom went to ER today
    Mom finally went to the ER today. The scan showed that she has a kidney stone. I guess that's better news than what we have been getting. Someone please answer this question for me. If they aren't able to do surgery on the tumor on her colon and she can't tolerate chemo what's the next step? I now the doctor is going to keep her on Erbitux. I'm not gonna stop until we find a solution. I'm from Arkansas.....Go Razorbacks!!!!
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #7
    fatmomma said:

    Mom went to ER today
    Mom finally went to the ER today. The scan showed that she has a kidney stone. I guess that's better news than what we have been getting. Someone please answer this question for me. If they aren't able to do surgery on the tumor on her colon and she can't tolerate chemo what's the next step? I now the doctor is going to keep her on Erbitux. I'm not gonna stop until we find a solution. I'm from Arkansas.....Go Razorbacks!!!!

    Miracle
    We need a miracle!!!God help us.
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #8
    fatmomma said:

    Mom went to ER today
    Mom finally went to the ER today. The scan showed that she has a kidney stone. I guess that's better news than what we have been getting. Someone please answer this question for me. If they aren't able to do surgery on the tumor on her colon and she can't tolerate chemo what's the next step? I now the doctor is going to keep her on Erbitux. I'm not gonna stop until we find a solution. I'm from Arkansas.....Go Razorbacks!!!!

    IF the Tumor
    in the colon is not causing blockage, pain or excessive bleeding they will might choose to leave it alone. I know that was the case with my rectal tumor, until the pain got so bad we cut it out.

    The reasoning is, for Stage IV patients, that the primary tumor is not in an organ that is likely to cause death, and the history of removing them is not shown to increase life expectancy. The other issue is that the surgery has its own complications and affects quality of life.

    Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint (credit to Craig), and the appearance of another tumor, or the growth of existing metastasis in between scans is not the end of the world. Mom is going to be here for a while yet.
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #9
    Buckwirth said:

    IF the Tumor
    in the colon is not causing blockage, pain or excessive bleeding they will might choose to leave it alone. I know that was the case with my rectal tumor, until the pain got so bad we cut it out.

    The reasoning is, for Stage IV patients, that the primary tumor is not in an organ that is likely to cause death, and the history of removing them is not shown to increase life expectancy. The other issue is that the surgery has its own complications and affects quality of life.

    Remember, this is a marathon, not a sprint (credit to Craig), and the appearance of another tumor, or the growth of existing metastasis in between scans is not the end of the world. Mom is going to be here for a while yet.

    Thank Buck
    Thanks for answering my question. I'm afraid she is gonna give up the fight. Seems like it's never good news anymore.
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #10
    fatmomma said:

    Thank Buck
    Thanks for answering my question. I'm afraid she is gonna give up the fight. Seems like it's never good news anymore.

    pain on mom's left side
    The pain on mom's left side is a kidney stone....hopefully she'll pass it before her next treatment this Thursday.
  • Buckwirth
    Buckwirth Member Posts: 1,258 Member
    #11
    fatmomma said:

    pain on mom's left side
    The pain on mom's left side is a kidney stone....hopefully she'll pass it before her next treatment this Thursday.

    Think of the kidney stone
    as good news (as in it is not cancer).

    Treatment may have hastened the onset of the stones (I doubt it caused them, not enough time) as we are likely to get dehydrated, and our electrolyte levels can get pretty low. I know you guys are not with her every day, but make sure she has plenty of fluids, and maybe stock up on Gatorade or another drink that adds electrolytes.

    BTW, good news with this disease is hard to come by. I often refer to the news as bad and less bad, with less bad always being good. For instance, on my last scan, the news was less bad. Tumors still in my lymph nodes, but they were smaller, and I still have no spread to major organs.

    Some do get to a point of NED, but it is rare, and in some cases can be fleeting. The good news is that in the last decade the five year survival rate has more than doubled (real numbers!), and there are quite a few promising new drugs that are in phase III trials, so there is every reason to have hope.

    If I remember correctly, she is getting weekly treatments. It may be too soon, but you might want to discuss bumping up the dosage and moving the treatment to every other week. It will give your mom a little more time between treatments to live some semblance of a normal life. I know I did this, and it really helped with my mental state.

    Blake
  • fatmomma
    fatmomma Member Posts: 95
    #12
    Buckwirth said:

    Think of the kidney stone
    as good news (as in it is not cancer).

    Treatment may have hastened the onset of the stones (I doubt it caused them, not enough time) as we are likely to get dehydrated, and our electrolyte levels can get pretty low. I know you guys are not with her every day, but make sure she has plenty of fluids, and maybe stock up on Gatorade or another drink that adds electrolytes.

    BTW, good news with this disease is hard to come by. I often refer to the news as bad and less bad, with less bad always being good. For instance, on my last scan, the news was less bad. Tumors still in my lymph nodes, but they were smaller, and I still have no spread to major organs.

    Some do get to a point of NED, but it is rare, and in some cases can be fleeting. The good news is that in the last decade the five year survival rate has more than doubled (real numbers!), and there are quite a few promising new drugs that are in phase III trials, so there is every reason to have hope.

    If I remember correctly, she is getting weekly treatments. It may be too soon, but you might want to discuss bumping up the dosage and moving the treatment to every other week. It will give your mom a little more time between treatments to live some semblance of a normal life. I know I did this, and it really helped with my mental state.

    Blake

    Treatments
    I wished they would but they said every week. Don't know the difference between weekly and every other week since they could increase the dosage. Maybe someday they will.
    Thank again Buck.

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