Bones...

lisaonthenet
lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
So we learned yesterday that Kelly has a hairline fracture in her left hip. No wonder she's in so much pain. I wish she could catch a break and not literally like she has. I wish the cancer would give her/us some kind of break. Her primary oncologist from the CT scan believes it's a pathological break, probably from the tumor that was in her SI joint to which she just finished 15 radiation treatments.

I hate seeing her in so much pain...

I think we're still in shock from all this, the constant spread...

Lisa

Comments

  • pipwe1
    pipwe1 Member Posts: 53
    lisa
    What are they going to do? Where are you Lisa? I can't remember if you told me already...You always seem to post so early in the morning... or are you just awake early.. Im in New York
  • lisaonthenet
    lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
    pipwe1 said:

    lisa
    What are they going to do? Where are you Lisa? I can't remember if you told me already...You always seem to post so early in the morning... or are you just awake early.. Im in New York

    Plan...
    Hi Wendy,
    Yes I remember you're in NY. Kelly and I are in Ohio. Up early today because Kelly works and she needs my help getting ready and I drive her to and from work. This will continue for some time I'm sure. During the week I'm up early because we both work and she needs my help for a lot of things and I drive her. I can get up early and go to bed late which is kind of a curse but I've always been this way. Often have trouble sleeping so can be up through the night too.

    To answer your question: Kelly has an appt. with radiation oncology (where she just finished her 15 treatments to the left SI joint in her hip) to talk about this Monday. Her primary oncologist, who we saw last night, said she needs radiation for this. So, they must determine whether the previous 15 radiation treatments were to the same area or not; this is because they say you can only have 15 radiation treatments to areas otherwise the radiation can hurt the bone. We talked to her oncologist about nerve blockers, etc. some kind of pain relief besides the pain meds that don't do much and she said she needs radiation but preferably, if the radiation folks concur, 10 or less treatments because she needs to get back on her chemo regimen which is scheduled for next Friday, depending now on radiation.

    Also next week Kelly has an appt. with an oncology orthopedist to evaluate her right leg and knee because the CT scan shows uptake in that region. Someone needs to determine whether this is swelling, scar tissue, etc. or cancer; she broke her right femur in Sept. 2007. If it's cancer she'll need radiation or surgery. Her oncologist last night mentioned that she's in support of surgery but also not. This would be a hard surgery and recovery and they'd need to make that determination at the time. Kelly and I are always scared they're going to give up and tell her there's nothing more they can do, or there's no point in surgery, etc. because she only has X months left.

    When I asked if Kelly needs a different chemo or additional, her oncologist said her current chemo should take care of it. So then I asked why it's not and she said this can happen. Scares us that the cancer keeps coming and has now attacked her bone in several areas. When will it end?

    Ok...

    Thanks for your post.

    How are you doing this weekend?

    Lisa
  • pipwe1
    pipwe1 Member Posts: 53

    Plan...
    Hi Wendy,
    Yes I remember you're in NY. Kelly and I are in Ohio. Up early today because Kelly works and she needs my help getting ready and I drive her to and from work. This will continue for some time I'm sure. During the week I'm up early because we both work and she needs my help for a lot of things and I drive her. I can get up early and go to bed late which is kind of a curse but I've always been this way. Often have trouble sleeping so can be up through the night too.

    To answer your question: Kelly has an appt. with radiation oncology (where she just finished her 15 treatments to the left SI joint in her hip) to talk about this Monday. Her primary oncologist, who we saw last night, said she needs radiation for this. So, they must determine whether the previous 15 radiation treatments were to the same area or not; this is because they say you can only have 15 radiation treatments to areas otherwise the radiation can hurt the bone. We talked to her oncologist about nerve blockers, etc. some kind of pain relief besides the pain meds that don't do much and she said she needs radiation but preferably, if the radiation folks concur, 10 or less treatments because she needs to get back on her chemo regimen which is scheduled for next Friday, depending now on radiation.

    Also next week Kelly has an appt. with an oncology orthopedist to evaluate her right leg and knee because the CT scan shows uptake in that region. Someone needs to determine whether this is swelling, scar tissue, etc. or cancer; she broke her right femur in Sept. 2007. If it's cancer she'll need radiation or surgery. Her oncologist last night mentioned that she's in support of surgery but also not. This would be a hard surgery and recovery and they'd need to make that determination at the time. Kelly and I are always scared they're going to give up and tell her there's nothing more they can do, or there's no point in surgery, etc. because she only has X months left.

    When I asked if Kelly needs a different chemo or additional, her oncologist said her current chemo should take care of it. So then I asked why it's not and she said this can happen. Scares us that the cancer keeps coming and has now attacked her bone in several areas. When will it end?

    Ok...

    Thanks for your post.

    How are you doing this weekend?

    Lisa

    Lisa
    The doctors never actually told us that Regina has x months to live.. over the last year she was on clinical trails and in November last year they said the one she was on was no longer working.. but another would come up so they were giving her a 'break' from treatment until a new one came up. We went on 3 weekly visits for blood work etc ... They asked during the last few visits if we wanted the help of hospice and I was horrified.. I said no.. why would we need hospice.. her last apt was July 27th when again we were asked about hospice and this time because of lack of sleep I agreed for them to come to just advise us on meds and get us someone to help during the day. Hospice came the following day and an aide started the day after that. Kate the social worker that I still see now came 3 times in that last week and the day before Regina died she got me someone to spend the night with us as she could see that I was exhausted.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you both this week.... let me know how things go

    Wendy
  • lisaonthenet
    lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
    pipwe1 said:

    Lisa
    The doctors never actually told us that Regina has x months to live.. over the last year she was on clinical trails and in November last year they said the one she was on was no longer working.. but another would come up so they were giving her a 'break' from treatment until a new one came up. We went on 3 weekly visits for blood work etc ... They asked during the last few visits if we wanted the help of hospice and I was horrified.. I said no.. why would we need hospice.. her last apt was July 27th when again we were asked about hospice and this time because of lack of sleep I agreed for them to come to just advise us on meds and get us someone to help during the day. Hospice came the following day and an aide started the day after that. Kate the social worker that I still see now came 3 times in that last week and the day before Regina died she got me someone to spend the night with us as she could see that I was exhausted.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you both this week.... let me know how things go

    Wendy

    Ortho oncologist
    Wendy,

    Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

    Kelly's appt with an ortho oncologist last week revealed that the cancer has destroyed much of her right femur and knee. The hardware in there from her femur break in 2007 would eventually need to be replaced. The dr. recommends a knee and femur tip replacement if Kelly wants to not be wheelchair bound. We were more than shocked to hear this. Today we see another ortho oncologist for another opinion but he'll probably say the same thing. So, it looks like Kelly has a major and risky surgery in her near future. Today we also see someone for her severe and excruciating left hip pain from the pathological hairline fracture. She's in so much pain and the pain meds barely touch it. It's so hard to see her in so much pain. I'm so hopeful the dr can help but fearful they cannot.

    Lisa
  • pipwe1
    pipwe1 Member Posts: 53

    Ortho oncologist
    Wendy,

    Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

    Kelly's appt with an ortho oncologist last week revealed that the cancer has destroyed much of her right femur and knee. The hardware in there from her femur break in 2007 would eventually need to be replaced. The dr. recommends a knee and femur tip replacement if Kelly wants to not be wheelchair bound. We were more than shocked to hear this. Today we see another ortho oncologist for another opinion but he'll probably say the same thing. So, it looks like Kelly has a major and risky surgery in her near future. Today we also see someone for her severe and excruciating left hip pain from the pathological hairline fracture. She's in so much pain and the pain meds barely touch it. It's so hard to see her in so much pain. I'm so hopeful the dr can help but fearful they cannot.

    Lisa

    lisa
    any news lisa?
  • lisaonthenet
    lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
    pipwe1 said:

    lisa
    any news lisa?

    Wendy,

    Thanks for asking.

    Saw another ortho oncologist about her right knee/femur and he believes Kelly needs to have her right knee/femur replaced so we've scheduled this big surgery. The night before the embolize the tumor to remove some of the risk for bleeding. Thyroid tumors are very vascular so there's always that concern. We were told the current hardware would need to be replaced anyway because all that's holding the top and lower part of her femur together right now is a plate. The tumor has destroyed much of the bone. We're terrified but hopeful Kelly will be able to walk again and put weight on her right leg which would in turn decrease the weight on the left hip. Kelly's worried though that in building up her right leg she'll need to use her left hip/leg some in recovery and PT and it hurts her so much it's excruciating.

    As for the pain in her left hip due to the pathological fracture and tumor there was nothing immediate they could do to help, unfortunately, but we're looking into possibly changing pain meds and dosages and possibly adding a pain pump into the mix in the future. We'll see. This is all so frustrating. It seems like the radiation that was supposed to help didn't help or maybe it's just the fracture hurting. So many unknowns. Seeing her in so much pain is so difficult.

    Lisa
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655

    Wendy,

    Thanks for asking.

    Saw another ortho oncologist about her right knee/femur and he believes Kelly needs to have her right knee/femur replaced so we've scheduled this big surgery. The night before the embolize the tumor to remove some of the risk for bleeding. Thyroid tumors are very vascular so there's always that concern. We were told the current hardware would need to be replaced anyway because all that's holding the top and lower part of her femur together right now is a plate. The tumor has destroyed much of the bone. We're terrified but hopeful Kelly will be able to walk again and put weight on her right leg which would in turn decrease the weight on the left hip. Kelly's worried though that in building up her right leg she'll need to use her left hip/leg some in recovery and PT and it hurts her so much it's excruciating.

    As for the pain in her left hip due to the pathological fracture and tumor there was nothing immediate they could do to help, unfortunately, but we're looking into possibly changing pain meds and dosages and possibly adding a pain pump into the mix in the future. We'll see. This is all so frustrating. It seems like the radiation that was supposed to help didn't help or maybe it's just the fracture hurting. So many unknowns. Seeing her in so much pain is so difficult.

    Lisa

    Lisa
    Please know that you

    Lisa
    Please know that you and Kelly are in my prayers daily. I wish that there was somthing that I could say that would make this road that the two of you travel, but there isn't. I can tell you however that there are those besides me that pray, send possitive thoughts your way.
    tj
  • lisaonthenet
    lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
    tjhay said:

    Lisa
    Please know that you

    Lisa
    Please know that you and Kelly are in my prayers daily. I wish that there was somthing that I could say that would make this road that the two of you travel, but there isn't. I can tell you however that there are those besides me that pray, send possitive thoughts your way.
    tj

    Thanks tj
    tj,

    Thanks for your prayers. Please know it is appreciated very much.

    How are you doing?

    Lisa
  • tjhay
    tjhay Member Posts: 655

    Thanks tj
    tj,

    Thanks for your prayers. Please know it is appreciated very much.

    How are you doing?

    Lisa

    Hi Lisa thank you for
    Hi Lisa thank you for asking, I am going pretty good lately, a little more energy, which is always a good thing, my pain issue have seemed to have hit a stable level which makes it easier to adapt and deal with.
    Take care
    tj
  • lisaonthenet
    lisaonthenet Member Posts: 69
    tjhay said:

    Hi Lisa thank you for
    Hi Lisa thank you for asking, I am going pretty good lately, a little more energy, which is always a good thing, my pain issue have seemed to have hit a stable level which makes it easier to adapt and deal with.
    Take care
    tj

    More energy
    Hi tj,

    Glad things are pretty good lately for you. More energy is always a good thing and having pain under control better is a definite plus! So glad to hear.

    Lisa