Mom diagnosed with cervical cancer

ren12

shasta34 said:

I hate to hear about the

I hate to hear about the infection, your poor mom!!  I hope they get it cleared up soon!  My mom had her first PET scan today, the doctor should be calling by the end of the week with the results, still praying it's nothing more than they thought.  This discussion board has been wonderful, I read my mom story after story of the survivors and the fighters, her attitude is slowly getting better.  She's been positive but just really scared of what we don't know yet, but these stories give her hope so I keep reading them to her!  Like you, I would be lost without my mom also.  She is my best friend, we go everywhere together, I call her for everything, I have 2 small kids ( 6 &11 months) and her advice is priceless.  But we will overcome this, I have given her no choice but to beat it!  I would love to keep in touch with you!  It's good to know we are not alone in this battle.  My best to you nd your mom, praying for the both of you!

The not knowing is the

The not knowing is the worse!! I'm glad she is staying positive. That is how my mom is. She's so much more stronger than I am. Good luck to You and your mom today. Please let me know how it goes

NoTimeForCancer

ren12 said:

Thank you for your kind

Thank you for your kind words. I would be lost without her. How are you doing NoTimeForCancer?

I am great

I just had a follow up with my gyn/onc today.  We laugh now when I visit and I am amazed when I think back to how it was when I first met him. 

I always pick the last appointment for the day (315 pm) and he never makes in to my room until 420 pm.  I don't get upset about waiting though because I remember how much time he spent with me explaining my surgery and how much more he would have given me if I needed it.

Everyone at work comes to me for medical advice now and the best thing I learned and share with them is to TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.  Don't get ahead of yourself, do what you have to do today, tomorrow will come and you can do that when it arrives.  Work the plan and be ready to adjust when there is a hiccup.  I think we all surprise ourselves to see what we are really made of when having to walk this journey, but our loved ones are critical to our success.  

ren12

NoTimeForCancer said:

I am great

I just had a follow up with my gyn/onc today.  We laugh now when I visit and I am amazed when I think back to how it was when I first met him. 

I always pick the last appointment for the day (315 pm) and he never makes in to my room until 420 pm.  I don't get upset about waiting though because I remember how much time he spent with me explaining my surgery and how much more he would have given me if I needed it.

Everyone at work comes to me for medical advice now and the best thing I learned and share with them is to TAKE IT ONE STEP AT A TIME.  Don't get ahead of yourself, do what you have to do today, tomorrow will come and you can do that when it arrives.  Work the plan and be ready to adjust when there is a hiccup.  I think we all surprise ourselves to see what we are really made of when having to walk this journey, but our loved ones are critical to our success.  

Wonderful words of advice!!

Wonderful words of advice!! Thanks for sharing )

shasta34

ren12 said:

Wonderful words of advice!!

Wonderful words of advice!! Thanks for sharing )

So we got my moms PET scan

So we got my moms PET scan results today, other than the cervical cancer, they saw the lymph nodes in the area were involved and said there was a small suspicious spot in her breast (under 1 cm) and a suspicious lymph node under her arm.  Now, we see the radiologist next wednesday to go over the radiation plan, and a new doctor for the suspicious breast spot on Thursday.  I know suspicious doesn't for sure mean more cancer but this has me very worried now!!  I hope your mom is improving and doing well!!!!!

ccfighter

shasta34 said:

So we got my moms PET scan

So we got my moms PET scan results today, other than the cervical cancer, they saw the lymph nodes in the area were involved and said there was a small suspicious spot in her breast (under 1 cm) and a suspicious lymph node under her arm.  Now, we see the radiologist next wednesday to go over the radiation plan, and a new doctor for the suspicious breast spot on Thursday.  I know suspicious doesn't for sure mean more cancer but this has me very worried now!!  I hope your mom is improving and doing well!!!!!

Shasta,
I am sorry for all

Shasta,

I am sorry for all the questions he pet/ct brought up.  If she has a second primary (breast), it sounds like it was caught early.  She will do fine with the chemo/radiation.  It's a tough road but doable.  Anti nausea meds are a life saver with the cisplatin.  Please know I am hoping for the best outcome for your mom, and a smooth journey.  I hope you guys have answers to all your questions soon.  Hugs.

shasta34

ccfighter said:

Shasta,
I am sorry for all

Shasta,

I am sorry for all the questions he pet/ct brought up.  If she has a second primary (breast), it sounds like it was caught early.  She will do fine with the chemo/radiation.  It's a tough road but doable.  Anti nausea meds are a life saver with the cisplatin.  Please know I am hoping for the best outcome for your mom, and a smooth journey.  I hope you guys have answers to all your questions soon.  Hugs.

Thank you ccfighter!  I have

Thank you ccfighter!  I have read your stories, and I must say, you are one tough lady whom I admire very much!!  My mom isn't too worried about the breast spots, which makes me feel better!  How are you?  I have read my mom a lot of your posts, you are an inspiration   I'll post when we know more, right now just playing the waiting game again!  Your in my thoughts and prayers!!

ren12

shasta34 said:

Thank you ccfighter!  I have

Thank you ccfighter!  I have read your stories, and I must say, you are one tough lady whom I admire very much!!  My mom isn't too worried about the breast spots, which makes me feel better!  How are you?  I have read my mom a lot of your posts, you are an inspiration   I'll post when we know more, right now just playing the waiting game again!  Your in my thoughts and prayers!!

I'm sorry to hear that. I

I'm sorry to hear that. I have finally told myself that when anything new pops up, which seems to always do, I just need to think OK lets just do the next step to fix that. My mom should start radiation soon. Nov 5th will be 6 weeks since her surgery. I just hate that she had to wait so long to start it. Please let me know what you find out about your mom. You have Prayer Warriors on your side!!

ccfighter

shasta34 said:

Thank you ccfighter!  I have

Thank you ccfighter!  I have read your stories, and I must say, you are one tough lady whom I admire very much!!  My mom isn't too worried about the breast spots, which makes me feel better!  How are you?  I have read my mom a lot of your posts, you are an inspiration   I'll post when we know more, right now just playing the waiting game again!  Your in my thoughts and prayers!!

One day at a time, but I am

One day at a time, but I am doing well Right now.  I hope that everything works out well for your mom.  She is very lucky to have you.  Hugs, prayers and positive energy your way.  Let us know how things are going.

ren12

ccfighter said:

One day at a time, but I am

One day at a time, but I am doing well Right now.  I hope that everything works out well for your mom.  She is very lucky to have you.  Hugs, prayers and positive energy your way.  Let us know how things are going.

Mom should start radiation a

Mom should start radiation a week from Monday 5 days a week with chemo just on Mondays. Chemo takes 6 hours?? WOW I had no idea. She said "Well, guess I better take a good book."  )

NoTimeForCancer

ren12 said:

Mom should start radiation a

Mom should start radiation a week from Monday 5 days a week with chemo just on Mondays. Chemo takes 6 hours?? WOW I had no idea. She said "Well, guess I better take a good book."  )

I had no idea it would take so long either!

I am glad to hear you know how long it is going in.  I had had it all spelled out by my chemo nurse but on my last chemo day the woman in the next bed had just started and had no idea it would last so long.  Your mother will find that she has to use the restroom alot as they are pumping fluid in something has to come out. 

shasta34

ren12 said:

Mom should start radiation a

Mom should start radiation a week from Monday 5 days a week with chemo just on Mondays. Chemo takes 6 hours?? WOW I had no idea. She said "Well, guess I better take a good book."  )

Wow, I had no idea chemo took

Wow, I had no idea chemo took so long either!!  We have finlly met with the radiologist, and things are more involved than we thought.  Some of her para aortic lymph nodes are involved.  The radiologists is going to do 7-8 weeks chemoradiation including whole pelvic radiation, radiation to the abdomen to target the paraaortic nodes, internal radiation and cisplatin chemo once a week.  He told us he is giving a 50/50 chance at curablity.  My mom is trying to stay positive but I could tell after we left the radiologist office, she was not as hopeful as before.  I would of course, rather have heard a higher percantage but 50% isn't all that bad!  I am an optimistic person and I see this situation as "the glass is half full", I just hope I can get my mom on the same thinking track!!  Pleaase keep me updated on your moms progress! Continued prayers for all the wonderful ladies...

ren12

shasta34 said:

Wow, I had no idea chemo took

Wow, I had no idea chemo took so long either!!  We have finlly met with the radiologist, and things are more involved than we thought.  Some of her para aortic lymph nodes are involved.  The radiologists is going to do 7-8 weeks chemoradiation including whole pelvic radiation, radiation to the abdomen to target the paraaortic nodes, internal radiation and cisplatin chemo once a week.  He told us he is giving a 50/50 chance at curablity.  My mom is trying to stay positive but I could tell after we left the radiologist office, she was not as hopeful as before.  I would of course, rather have heard a higher percantage but 50% isn't all that bad!  I am an optimistic person and I see this situation as "the glass is half full", I just hope I can get my mom on the same thinking track!!  Pleaase keep me updated on your moms progress! Continued prayers for all the wonderful ladies...

Sorry to hear that. Your mom

Sorry to hear that. Your mom has all of us Prayer Warriors on her side tho!! When does she start or has she already?

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Mom should start radiation a

Mom should start radiation a week from Monday 5 days a week with chemo just on Mondays. Chemo takes 6 hours?? WOW I had no idea. She said "Well, guess I better take a good book."  )

If your mom is doing the low

If your mom is doing the low dose cisplatin I don't think it will take as long as 6 hours.  That is how long carbo/taxol takes.  The cisplatin infusion itself takes about an hour.  The premeds and fluids take about an hour and then the extra fluids after infusion would be about an hour.  Make sure she wears something comfortable and easy to go to the bathroom in.  With cisplatin they give you a medicine that makes you pee a lot, like every 10 minutes.  It's very annoying but helps protect the kidneys.  Good luck.  She will do great!  Hugs.

shasta34

ccfighter said:

If your mom is doing the low

If your mom is doing the low dose cisplatin I don't think it will take as long as 6 hours.  That is how long carbo/taxol takes.  The cisplatin infusion itself takes about an hour.  The premeds and fluids take about an hour and then the extra fluids after infusion would be about an hour.  Make sure she wears something comfortable and easy to go to the bathroom in.  With cisplatin they give you a medicine that makes you pee a lot, like every 10 minutes.  It's very annoying but helps protect the kidneys.  Good luck.  She will do great!  Hugs.

She will be on cisplatin,

She will be on cisplatin, thanks for the info!!  That is more than the doctors have told us!   She begins radiation Thursday.  I am glad she is finally starting it, ready to fight this horrible creature! Her attitude is getting more positive, I think she is getting over the shock of the diagnosis and now  just ready to get it over with.  I know she can beat this, 50/50 isn't the best odds, but it's not the worst either. I am so glad I have found this board, you ladies have given me so much hope and for that I thank every one of you!!

ppaseka

shasta34 said:

She will be on cisplatin,

She will be on cisplatin, thanks for the info!!  That is more than the doctors have told us!   She begins radiation Thursday.  I am glad she is finally starting it, ready to fight this horrible creature! Her attitude is getting more positive, I think she is getting over the shock of the diagnosis and now  just ready to get it over with.  I know she can beat this, 50/50 isn't the best odds, but it's not the worst either. I am so glad I have found this board, you ladies have given me so much hope and for that I thank every one of you!!

Cisplatin

My wife was in the chair for aprox. 6-7 hours. It was considered "low dose".

ren12

ppaseka said:

Cisplatin

My wife was in the chair for aprox. 6-7 hours. It was considered "low dose".

confused

Mom went for her ct scan to start radiation next week. She has been in horrible pain for a while so she got an exam as well. She has had to sleep (what little she can) in a recliner and has burn marks on her back from using a heating pad so much. This is how much pain she has been in. She is also still not able to urinate without self catherization and that is causing bleeding. So she now has the catheter again. They gave her pain meds which is barely helping. What I'm confused about is during her exam he thought he felt something and said he thought her tumor was growing back. Why so quick?? I thought this was a very slow growing cancer. It's only been 6 weeks since her surgery when they said they had gotten it all except some cancer cells which were in 4 lymph nodes. This is another reason why I hate that she had to wait to start radiation/chemo. Anyone have any advice on this? Thank you in advance

ccfighter

ren12 said:

confused

Mom went for her ct scan to start radiation next week. She has been in horrible pain for a while so she got an exam as well. She has had to sleep (what little she can) in a recliner and has burn marks on her back from using a heating pad so much. This is how much pain she has been in. She is also still not able to urinate without self catherization and that is causing bleeding. So she now has the catheter again. They gave her pain meds which is barely helping. What I'm confused about is during her exam he thought he felt something and said he thought her tumor was growing back. Why so quick?? I thought this was a very slow growing cancer. It's only been 6 weeks since her surgery when they said they had gotten it all except some cancer cells which were in 4 lymph nodes. This is another reason why I hate that she had to wait to start radiation/chemo. Anyone have any advice on this? Thank you in advance

I'm so sorry that your mom is

I'm so sorry that your mom is experiencing so much pain.  Have they done another ct to determine the cause?  She should have a ct scan for radiation simulation to map treatment plan.  Perhaps that will shed some light on what is going on with her.  It is unlikely that a tumor has grown back so quickly though I have heard stories of women who have gone for their 3 month checks only to find the tumor has recurred and spread.  Some are quite aggressive.  The need to wait for radiation is valid as the healing process from surgery takes take and radiation would interfere causing even more problems.  Chemo does not need to be withheld though, she can start on that right away.  If there is potentially a recurrence I would speak with your oncologist about starting chemo ahead of radiation.  This will also provide greater radio sensitizing to the tumor cells.  Hopefully the pain is caused by a benign condition, a surgically related healing pain an not a cancer related pain.  I hope she finds some relief soon.  Hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

I'm so sorry that your mom is

I'm so sorry that your mom is experiencing so much pain.  Have they done another ct to determine the cause?  She should have a ct scan for radiation simulation to map treatment plan.  Perhaps that will shed some light on what is going on with her.  It is unlikely that a tumor has grown back so quickly though I have heard stories of women who have gone for their 3 month checks only to find the tumor has recurred and spread.  Some are quite aggressive.  The need to wait for radiation is valid as the healing process from surgery takes take and radiation would interfere causing even more problems.  Chemo does not need to be withheld though, she can start on that right away.  If there is potentially a recurrence I would speak with your oncologist about starting chemo ahead of radiation.  This will also provide greater radio sensitizing to the tumor cells.  Hopefully the pain is caused by a benign condition, a surgically related healing pain an not a cancer related pain.  I hope she finds some relief soon.  Hugs.

I'm really hoping that pain

I'm really hoping that pain is caused by that too!!. She had a ct scan Tuesday but she still hasnt heard any results from it. And that was to begin treatment for radiation/chemo hopefully for next week. Wondering why they didnt start the chemo earlier. I have been praying that her doctors are making the right decisions so hopefully they are. Also, wondering if she should have a second opinion. As always, thank you so much for the advice!!

ccfighter

ren12 said:

I'm really hoping that pain

I'm really hoping that pain is caused by that too!!. She had a ct scan Tuesday but she still hasnt heard any results from it. And that was to begin treatment for radiation/chemo hopefully for next week. Wondering why they didnt start the chemo earlier. I have been praying that her doctors are making the right decisions so hopefully they are. Also, wondering if she should have a second opinion. As always, thank you so much for the advice!!

Second opinions never hurt.

Second opinions never hurt.  Where is she being treated?  Do you trust her doctors.  Does she trust her doctors?  If she's willing, a little maryjane might take the edge off The pain.  Hopefully, you will have answers soon.  Take good care of your mama.  You are a great daughter.  Prayers for healing sent your way.  Hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

Second opinions never hurt.

Second opinions never hurt.  Where is she being treated?  Do you trust her doctors.  Does she trust her doctors?  If she's willing, a little maryjane might take the edge off The pain.  Hopefully, you will have answers soon.  Take good care of your mama.  You are a great daughter.  Prayers for healing sent your way.  Hugs.

Found out today mom starts

Found out today mom starts radiation/chemo Tuesday!! I am so excited. I hated the waiting. She will be getting cisplatin and linear. I am told this is small dose with little side effects