Mom's treatment and I will be asking zillions of questions.

jbohemian

I can't find the thread I started about the frustration after her colon surgery and the surgeon being a yo-yo and telling us that there wasn't any hope, so I decided to start a new one. I wanted to let all you nice people know how she is making out.
My mother had gone to her regular doctor at the beginning of March for dizziness and nausea which she thought was do to blood pressure problems. After bloodwork and CT scans she found out she had colon cancer. She had her colonoscopy, and then a bowel resection when the surgeon tells us there wasn't any hope for her. Wasn't even going to send her to the oncologist. We demanded the oncologist after talking on here to you nice people.
Because her incision from her bowel resection still hasn't healed her chemo has to be delayed. She will be using Avastin and will be doing FOLFOX.
Her last PET scan shown that there was only cancer on the liver and wasn't any indication of anymore in the colon. I know not to put my hopes on one single scan but to hear that only on the liver and not thru the whole body, I was happy to hear that.
The oncologist has been excellent with her (he was way excellent with me) and his office has been doing everything they possibly could to make her comfortable. She was complaining about the nutritional supplement she was started on but the doctor's office found another supplement that can be used with the original and she likes this other supplement.
I would like to ask lots of questions to help her get thru this. I have two SUPER critical sisters that are putting down EVERYTHING I have been trying to do to help. So I dont want to blow anything.
Sometimes the stress is a little too much, so I have come on here to talk. Unfortunately, I got booted off today and couldn't get back in. Frankly I wasn't half as anxious with my own cancer as I am trying to take care of my mother. I will be sure to keep everyone informed and to do a lot of inquiring. Thank you all. Jackie

msccolon

glad to hear it!
Glad to hear your mother is doing better and that you have found a doctor willing to offer hope; so important in this battle, as you know! I can't believe your sisters are being critical of what you are trying to do to HELP your mother! GAHHHH!!!! Are they trying to help as well? Anyway, you have your plate full, I just wanted to let you know how wonderful it is to hear you fighting for your mother the way you are; we would all be so lucky to have you in our court!
mary

geotina

Jackie
Welcome again to the board and you are most welcome. Any questions, just start another discussion. Like I told you in a pm, nothing is too big or too small to ask. If you don't know the terminology, don't worry, we will know what you are referring to. At one point none of us knew the terminology.

Folfox can be a tough chemo but like you will read, most of the people on here have been on it and it is very doable. Just watch for any side effects, come on and ask and you will quickly learn what is normal.

Tina

idlehunters

geotina said:

Jackie
Welcome again to the board and you are most welcome. Any questions, just start another discussion. Like I told you in a pm, nothing is too big or too small to ask. If you don't know the terminology, don't worry, we will know what you are referring to. At one point none of us knew the terminology.

Folfox can be a tough chemo but like you will read, most of the people on here have been on it and it is very doable. Just watch for any side effects, come on and ask and you will quickly learn what is normal.

Tina

Hi Jackie
I agree........ ask anything you can think of.....Tina is right....NOTHING is too big or too small. The information and experience you will find here is THE BEST.. Everyone will share their own experiences and that is what it is all about. Others that have DONE or DOING what may be something your Mom needs to know about. I never would have got thru my cancer and now NED without this SUPPORT. I love each and every one of these caring...sharing people.

Jennie

Jaylo969

Welcome Jackie
and I am glad to hear you have better news about your Mother. I think you are a good, caring daughter and maybe the sisters are a little jealous? Whatever, turn a deaf ear to the criticism and do what your heart tells you to do.

My daughter left college and drove 7 hours to be with me for my surgery and stayed 2 wks. She got 'permission' from college officials AFTER she got here.I'll never forget the things my daughter did for me, up to and including washing my butt because apparently the nurses in my hospital don't do baths anymore and after 13 days well....phew!

Anyway,it always touches my heartstrings when I see a child of a cancer patient come onto this site seeking help for their parent.That is what I call love.

Ask a lot of questions. I really do not believe there is such a thing as a dumb question.
No one is a doctor here ( that I know of ) but we do have experience and to top that off we CARE!

Best wishes!
-Pat

AnneCan

Hello Jackie,
It sounds like
Hello Jackie,

It sounds like you are taking good care of your Mom + things are looking better. She is lucky to have you; we all need an advocate or two! I am glad you went to the oncologist. Keep up the good work + I hope your Mom continues to improve.

karguy

Glad
Glad your mother is doing better,don't let your sisters get to you.You are doing the right thing by taking care of your mother.I'm glad your going to the doctors with your mother,it helps if you write down all the questions you want to ask.Feel free to come and vent here anytime,you have to release the stress somehow.

Stefi

karguy said:

Glad
Glad your mother is doing better,don't let your sisters get to you.You are doing the right thing by taking care of your mother.I'm glad your going to the doctors with your mother,it helps if you write down all the questions you want to ask.Feel free to come and vent here anytime,you have to release the stress somehow.

I hear ya!
My mother was just diagnosed with rectal cancer and goes in for her first surgery Wednesday. I too will be posting tons of questions as this fight of her life begins. On the same note, my brothers are not much of a part of my moms life, and she has yet to even tell them about her cancer. It is such a hard thing and it sounds like you are as close to your mom as I am mine...she is not only my mom, but my best friend. I have been to every appointment with my parents and plan on being there for her every day and night through this battle. Dont let your sisters get to you, as we both know you are doing the right thing. When my brothers find out about the cancer, I will not let them be negative in any way. Negative thoughts are the last thing out mothers need at this time in their life. We have to keep our heads up and be strong and positive and help them fight. You are doing the right thing and you mother is so lucky to have you on her side through this.

tootsie1

Good daughter
Jackie,

It sounds like you're feeling much more hopeful about your mom now. I'm glad you're being such an advocate for her.

*hugs*
Gail

pluckey

Jackie- you've come to the
Jackie- you've come to the right place for support and answers.

Maybe you and your sisters can have a conversation about dividing and conquering the care for your mother. Instead of all three wighing in and trying to get a concensus on things let each of your "skills' dictate what you all handle- one of you deal with doctors/oncs/getting answers/keeping record;m one does home things etc....then each of you can feel your doing a part in helping your mom.

And screw that Doctor who said there was no hope- there are a bunch of us here with mets to Liver, and we are still going strong and fighting the fight

((HUGSS)

Peggy

vhtqm1

wonder why?
that is strange they wouldn't refer you to an oncologist right away until you pressured them? when i was initially diagnosed my prognosis was very dim and i didn't like what the doctors were telling me so i went elsewhere for treatment and care ( Mayo Clinic ). now, they never promised me anything but they also didn't give me an expiration date either. initially i was told 30 days and get your affairs in order and that was November 07. here i still am and have even experienced NED for about 8 months until a re-currence at the liver of two lesions. well, i look at it as i beat it before i'm going to beat it again!! there is still hope so keep pursuing what feels comfortable and give it your best shot!!

ed