Mom diagnosed with cervical cancer

ccfighter

ren12 said:

2013 has been the worst year

2013 has been the worst year by far for my family. With the power of prayer 2014 WILL be better!!! I am asking for prayer warriors once again. Mom will go to have her stint put in her urinary tract tube on the 2nd. This will be the last time they can try it. I wish health and happiness to all of you for 2014 and many more years to come.

Prayers and positive energy

Prayers and positive energy for you mother.  Hang in there.  And many many well wishes for health, happiness and love in 2014.  Let us know how it goes.  Hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

Prayers and positive energy

Prayers and positive energy for you mother.  Hang in there.  And many many well wishes for health, happiness and love in 2014.  Let us know how it goes.  Hugs.

Praise the Lord!! The stint

Praise the Lord!! The stint went in!! Thank you so much for the prayers! They are working. She has last chemo treatment tomorrow 

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Praise the Lord!! The stint

Praise the Lord!! The stint went in!! Thank you so much for the prayers! They are working. She has last chemo treatment tomorrow 

Wonderful news!  2014 off to

Wonderful news!  2014 off to a great start.  Hugs!

NoTimeForCancer

ren12 said:

Praise the Lord!! The stint

Praise the Lord!! The stint went in!! Thank you so much for the prayers! They are working. She has last chemo treatment tomorrow 

Allelulia!

Never underestimate the power of prayer!!!  We all celebrate for your mother!!!  She is so blessed to have such a loving daughter. 

ren12

NoTimeForCancer said:

Allelulia!

Never underestimate the power of prayer!!!  We all celebrate for your mother!!!  She is so blessed to have such a loving daughter. 

Received the worst news yet!! Mom found two knots on her left side. Cancer has spread again and is incurable. Dr said do you have a year? maybe. Do you have months? probably. He is adding something to her chemo but this will only prolong life. She will get this once every 3 weeks. She broke down and was a mess for about 5 minutes. Then she said I have my boxing gloves on and I am still going to fight and beat this. She said she has too many little grandkids that she is not ready to leave. We are working on her getting a second oponion. Of course I'm a mess but think if she is still going to be positive and fight this I will do the same.

So crazy that she went from its microscopic and 90% survival right to now this

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Received the worst news yet!! Mom found two knots on her left side. Cancer has spread again and is incurable. Dr said do you have a year? maybe. Do you have months? probably. He is adding something to her chemo but this will only prolong life. She will get this once every 3 weeks. She broke down and was a mess for about 5 minutes. Then she said I have my boxing gloves on and I am still going to fight and beat this. She said she has too many little grandkids that she is not ready to leave. We are working on her getting a second oponion. Of course I'm a mess but think if she is still going to be positive and fight this I will do the same.

So crazy that she went from its microscopic and 90% survival right to now this

Oh no!  Not the news we

Oh no!  Not the news we wanted to hear.  Did they biopsy or do pet/ct?  Are they sure these "knots". Are cancer?  Prayers for you and your mom.  Hope lives on.  Avastin added?  Doctors don't know everything.  Please get a second opinion and look into clinical trials.  Warm gentle hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

Oh no!  Not the news we

Oh no!  Not the news we wanted to hear.  Did they biopsy or do pet/ct?  Are they sure these "knots". Are cancer?  Prayers for you and your mom.  Hope lives on.  Avastin added?  Doctors don't know everything.  Please get a second opinion and look into clinical trials.  Warm gentle hugs.

Thank you ccfighter!! They

Thank you ccfighter!! They did biopsy on them, but he said it will just confirm what he already knows. She has also been having a lot of pain from she thought was from a hemmroid. He tried to exam her there but had to stop because it was too painful. He said he would guess that was cancer too. The knots are pretty big on her side. She had me feel them before we left yesterday. My brother in law is gathering all her records erywhere she has been since being diagnosed. And my brother  will be here today and he is going to research the top cancer places in Illinois. (She has medicaid card, so not sure we can go out of state with that). My brother in law is going to put all her records in a pdf and email them to that place. This will all be done today since we do not have time on our hands. I am a teacher and my first day back to work since Christmas break and I am dreading it. I just want to be with my mom

ren12

ren12 said:

Thank you ccfighter!! They

Thank you ccfighter!! They did biopsy on them, but he said it will just confirm what he already knows. She has also been having a lot of pain from she thought was from a hemmroid. He tried to exam her there but had to stop because it was too painful. He said he would guess that was cancer too. The knots are pretty big on her side. She had me feel them before we left yesterday. My brother in law is gathering all her records erywhere she has been since being diagnosed. And my brother  will be here today and he is going to research the top cancer places in Illinois. (She has medicaid card, so not sure we can go out of state with that). My brother in law is going to put all her records in a pdf and email them to that place. This will all be done today since we do not have time on our hands. I am a teacher and my first day back to work since Christmas break and I am dreading it. I just want to be with my mom

Also he said he will add

Also he said he will add Avastin if needed but wanted to wait until last minute because it has some pretty bad side effects. Has anyone used it?

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Also he said he will add

Also he said he will add Avastin if needed but wanted to wait until last minute because it has some pretty bad side effects. Has anyone used it?

I know of ladies who have had

I know of ladies who have had avastin and experienced very little side efts from it.  The most dangerous possibility I believe is the increased chance of bleeding since it is designed to stop blood vessels from forming.  I have never had it.  Also check out clinicaltrials.gov and search cervical cancer or solid tumors for any clinical trials that may appeal to you.  I have had my eye on the adxs11-001 listeria vaccine trial.  Gog is doing a study on it.  I am glad that you will be seeking a second opinion.  I hope that your mother is comfortable.  Hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

I know of ladies who have had

I know of ladies who have had avastin and experienced very little side efts from it.  The most dangerous possibility I believe is the increased chance of bleeding since it is designed to stop blood vessels from forming.  I have never had it.  Also check out clinicaltrials.gov and search cervical cancer or solid tumors for any clinical trials that may appeal to you.  I have had my eye on the adxs11-001 listeria vaccine trial.  Gog is doing a study on it.  I am glad that you will be seeking a second opinion.  I hope that your mother is comfortable.  Hugs.

I will check into that!!

I will check into that!! Thank you

NoTimeForCancer

ren12 said:

Received the worst news yet!! Mom found two knots on her left side. Cancer has spread again and is incurable. Dr said do you have a year? maybe. Do you have months? probably. He is adding something to her chemo but this will only prolong life. She will get this once every 3 weeks. She broke down and was a mess for about 5 minutes. Then she said I have my boxing gloves on and I am still going to fight and beat this. She said she has too many little grandkids that she is not ready to leave. We are working on her getting a second oponion. Of course I'm a mess but think if she is still going to be positive and fight this I will do the same.

So crazy that she went from its microscopic and 90% survival right to now this

Your mother sounds incredible

"Going to fight and beat this".  Wow.  Continue to support your mother as you are and know that there are many out here praying for you.

ren12

NoTimeForCancer said:

Your mother sounds incredible

"Going to fight and beat this".  Wow.  Continue to support your mother as you are and know that there are many out here praying for you.

Dr did not get enough tissue

Dr did not get enough tissue for biopsy. She goes on Thursday for scan. We have her going to Jewish Barns Hospital in St Louis MO. They are supposed to get back with us Monday. Even her DR thought going there was a great idea. He said up to the date technology and lots of clinical trials there. 

I hear miracle stories all the time so I figure why cant she be one of them? She is not ready to give up at all. Thank you for all the prayers!! I know we have God on our side!! 

teg

ren12 said:

Dr did not get enough tissue

Dr did not get enough tissue for biopsy. She goes on Thursday for scan. We have her going to Jewish Barns Hospital in St Louis MO. They are supposed to get back with us Monday. Even her DR thought going there was a great idea. He said up to the date technology and lots of clinical trials there. 

I hear miracle stories all the time so I figure why cant she be one of them? She is not ready to give up at all. Thank you for all the prayers!! I know we have God on our side!! 

The latest review of top rated gynecologic oncologists by US News has a list of physicians in Illonois. I don't know if it will be helpful, but I hope your mom finds a cure soon. You and your mom are in my prayers.

ren12

teg said:

The latest review of top rated gynecologic oncologists by US News has a list of physicians in Illonois. I don't know if it will be helpful, but I hope your mom finds a cure soon. You and your mom are in my prayers.

Thank you!! I will check

Thank you!! I will check those out!

ren12

ren12 said:

Thank you!! I will check

Thank you!! I will check those out!

Mom went for biopsy today and

Mom went for biopsy today and the DR that did it said he wasnt 100% sure but since those knots are on her incision marks from her radical hysterectomy, he thought maybe they were scar tissue. Dont want to get my hopes up, but at the same time I cant help it!! Anyone else have this happen to them? And did it turn out to be scar tissue?  She meets with her Dr on Tuesday so its the waiting game again.

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Mom went for biopsy today and

Mom went for biopsy today and the DR that did it said he wasnt 100% sure but since those knots are on her incision marks from her radical hysterectomy, he thought maybe they were scar tissue. Dont want to get my hopes up, but at the same time I cant help it!! Anyone else have this happen to them? And did it turn out to be scar tissue?  She meets with her Dr on Tuesday so its the waiting game again.

I hope the biopsy results are

I hope the biopsy results are benign.  Lots of people develop scar tissue.  It can cause lots of problems including adhesions.  I do not have any noticeable lumps around my incisions.  I did have a recurrence in the central pelvis that was smack dab in the middle of my original incision, and when resected was two centimeters.  I could not feel it externally.  Actually, it gave me no symptoms Except for a brief fever and vomiting with abdominal tenderness that resolved after a few days.  i am told the tumor spread by blood to my abdominal muscle but I'm not sure really.  Too coincidental it was located in my muscle at the origonial incision.  It had grown into my small bowel and so part of that was resected too.  

sometimes there are internal sutures from surgery that are left and can be felt as small little bumps, about the size of a pea.  Did your mom have a ct?  Instead of biopsies why not a pet/ct?  It seems they would have a more concrete and broader idea of the extent of her disease With a pet/ct.  Just a thought.  I hope your mom is resting comfortably.  Hugs.

ren12

ccfighter said:

I hope the biopsy results are

I hope the biopsy results are benign.  Lots of people develop scar tissue.  It can cause lots of problems including adhesions.  I do not have any noticeable lumps around my incisions.  I did have a recurrence in the central pelvis that was smack dab in the middle of my original incision, and when resected was two centimeters.  I could not feel it externally.  Actually, it gave me no symptoms Except for a brief fever and vomiting with abdominal tenderness that resolved after a few days.  i am told the tumor spread by blood to my abdominal muscle but I'm not sure really.  Too coincidental it was located in my muscle at the origonial incision.  It had grown into my small bowel and so part of that was resected too.  

sometimes there are internal sutures from surgery that are left and can be felt as small little bumps, about the size of a pea.  Did your mom have a ct?  Instead of biopsies why not a pet/ct?  It seems they would have a more concrete and broader idea of the extent of her disease With a pet/ct.  Just a thought.  I hope your mom is resting comfortably.  Hugs.

We were wondering the same

We were wondering the same thing about why she wasnt getting a scan. Actually thats what we thought she was getting yesterday. We are going to find out on Tuesday when she sees her regular doc. Her lumps are pretty big, much bigger than pea sized.

Her appointment with Jewish Barns Hospital in MO is the 29th. It cannont come soon enough!! Especially since her radiation is done and we have to wait for chemo again until results of biopsy. Which should be Tuesday. Theres just nothing figting this right now. 

ren12

ren12 said:

We were wondering the same

We were wondering the same thing about why she wasnt getting a scan. Actually thats what we thought she was getting yesterday. We are going to find out on Tuesday when she sees her regular doc. Her lumps are pretty big, much bigger than pea sized.

Her appointment with Jewish Barns Hospital in MO is the 29th. It cannont come soon enough!! Especially since her radiation is done and we have to wait for chemo again until results of biopsy. Which should be Tuesday. Theres just nothing figting this right now. 

Biopsy confirmed that lumps

Biopsy confirmed that lumps on belly are cancer. She had blood work and as long as it comes back ok she will start carbo/taxol on Thursday. He said side effects are flulike symptons, nauseau, fatigue and hair loss. She sleeps so much now I couldnt imagine how much more fatigue she can get. He said her hair will probably start falling out in about 17 days. My sister is wanting to cut hers off to make into a wig, but having a hard time finding a place to do that. Plenty of places to buy one but cant find a place to cut hers and make one. Any advice on the side effects? Thank you!

ccfighter

ren12 said:

Biopsy confirmed that lumps

Biopsy confirmed that lumps on belly are cancer. She had blood work and as long as it comes back ok she will start carbo/taxol on Thursday. He said side effects are flulike symptons, nauseau, fatigue and hair loss. She sleeps so much now I couldnt imagine how much more fatigue she can get. He said her hair will probably start falling out in about 17 days. My sister is wanting to cut hers off to make into a wig, but having a hard time finding a place to do that. Plenty of places to buy one but cant find a place to cut hers and make one. Any advice on the side effects? Thank you!

Oh, I'm sorry.  Not the news

Oh, I'm sorry.  Not the news we were hoping for.  I can't help with the hair into wig thing.  I had long hair, curly, down to the middle of my lower back.  I cut it off and sent it to locks of love in Florida.  I hated to think it would go to waste.  I never got a wig.  I just did hats and scarfs.   I expected my hair to fall out, my husband gave me a buzz cut.  I had three week cycles of carbo/taxol, and my hair was out before my sencnod infusion, so 17 days is about right.  Nobody told me though, that your hair falling out actually hurts.  My scalp was super sore before the hair was finally gone.  Once it was out, then my head was fine, but my scalp was really sore before the hair came out, which I was not expecting.  Taxol can cause some bone pain.  I found it pretty painful on. He first infusion.  They told my Tylenol or Advil would take care of it bur it didn't.  Not even percocets.  That lasted from the third to the sixth day after infusion and then was gone.  I brought it up with the chemo nurses and they told me to take L-Glutamine powder starting on day one through day 6.  I did this for the next cycle and had little pain.  I didn't even need tylenol or anything.  Other than that, I would describe the week of infusion as blah.  Constipation from all the meds is a huge problem and I strongly recommend staying on a stool softener beginning a day or so before infusion and for a week after.  I was always hungry, but eventually the carboplatin/cisplatin made things taste weird and I became very picky.  Finding something I enjoyed drinking was the hardest.  Water tastes just awful.  Hydration is important.  Drink anything and everything you can find that works for you.  I will say that I had anticipated my chemo experience to be much worse than it was.  I never vomited, I really wasn't even nauseous.  I was far more nauseated with cisplatin than carbo/taxol.  Don't worry too much if the white blood cells and Platlets fall.  Carboplatin is real good at that.  Many need neupogen or neulasta to keep the white blood cell count up.  That has it's own bizzar side effects, at least for me, although some are not phased by them.  The second week I was a little fatigued but mostly felt like my old self, and the third week I was my old self, full of energy and enjoying every moment.  Your mom will do great and the chemo will kick this cancers butt to the curb.  

 

Also, so,I don't know exactly where your mothers tumor are.  You say near the incision.  You may ask her oncologist about radiation for these tumors.  If they are more superficial, either cutaneous, muscle or peritoneum, then there are options for radiation that does not penetrate deep, I think called electron radiation.  I had this done in the area of my abdominal wall tumor (which looks like it was also in my incision) that was in my pelvis in an already irradiated area.  My original radiation was targeted to deeper tissue or my lymph node bed and vaginal cuff, and tissues surrounding where my uterus had been.  I was able to have additional radiation with electron radiation that only penetrated to the depth of my peritoneal lining, so the muscle, fat and skin was what was receiving the radiiation and not the deeper already radiatied tissue.  My resected tumor only had a clean margin of 1mm and I insisted on more radiation or further surgery for a wider margin.  My radiation was only for five days for this, not five weeks as I had previously.  No side effects.  Just a thought.

 

hugs to you and your mom.  I will continue to pray for healing, and a cure for this awful disease.  There is always hope.

ren12

ccfighter said:

Oh, I'm sorry.  Not the news

Oh, I'm sorry.  Not the news we were hoping for.  I can't help with the hair into wig thing.  I had long hair, curly, down to the middle of my lower back.  I cut it off and sent it to locks of love in Florida.  I hated to think it would go to waste.  I never got a wig.  I just did hats and scarfs.   I expected my hair to fall out, my husband gave me a buzz cut.  I had three week cycles of carbo/taxol, and my hair was out before my sencnod infusion, so 17 days is about right.  Nobody told me though, that your hair falling out actually hurts.  My scalp was super sore before the hair was finally gone.  Once it was out, then my head was fine, but my scalp was really sore before the hair came out, which I was not expecting.  Taxol can cause some bone pain.  I found it pretty painful on. He first infusion.  They told my Tylenol or Advil would take care of it bur it didn't.  Not even percocets.  That lasted from the third to the sixth day after infusion and then was gone.  I brought it up with the chemo nurses and they told me to take L-Glutamine powder starting on day one through day 6.  I did this for the next cycle and had little pain.  I didn't even need tylenol or anything.  Other than that, I would describe the week of infusion as blah.  Constipation from all the meds is a huge problem and I strongly recommend staying on a stool softener beginning a day or so before infusion and for a week after.  I was always hungry, but eventually the carboplatin/cisplatin made things taste weird and I became very picky.  Finding something I enjoyed drinking was the hardest.  Water tastes just awful.  Hydration is important.  Drink anything and everything you can find that works for you.  I will say that I had anticipated my chemo experience to be much worse than it was.  I never vomited, I really wasn't even nauseous.  I was far more nauseated with cisplatin than carbo/taxol.  Don't worry too much if the white blood cells and Platlets fall.  Carboplatin is real good at that.  Many need neupogen or neulasta to keep the white blood cell count up.  That has it's own bizzar side effects, at least for me, although some are not phased by them.  The second week I was a little fatigued but mostly felt like my old self, and the third week I was my old self, full of energy and enjoying every moment.  Your mom will do great and the chemo will kick this cancers butt to the curb.  

 

Also, so,I don't know exactly where your mothers tumor are.  You say near the incision.  You may ask her oncologist about radiation for these tumors.  If they are more superficial, either cutaneous, muscle or peritoneum, then there are options for radiation that does not penetrate deep, I think called electron radiation.  I had this done in the area of my abdominal wall tumor (which looks like it was also in my incision) that was in my pelvis in an already irradiated area.  My original radiation was targeted to deeper tissue or my lymph node bed and vaginal cuff, and tissues surrounding where my uterus had been.  I was able to have additional radiation with electron radiation that only penetrated to the depth of my peritoneal lining, so the muscle, fat and skin was what was receiving the radiiation and not the deeper already radiatied tissue.  My resected tumor only had a clean margin of 1mm and I insisted on more radiation or further surgery for a wider margin.  My radiation was only for five days for this, not five weeks as I had previously.  No side effects.  Just a thought.

 

hugs to you and your mom.  I will continue to pray for healing, and a cure for this awful disease.  There is always hope.

I printed this off and gave

I printed this off and gave it to her. Made her feel so much better! Once again, thank u so much!!