Worst day of my life

Welcome to the club that no one wants to join.  First, stay off of Dr. Google.  I don't know if you live close to you mom, it is goo to have another set of ears at the appointments.  There are others with the same cancer as your mom and I know that they will post.  I have squamous cell.  Even though different cancer, treatment is much the same.  Read the Superthread, at the top of the topics, it will give you an idea of what will happen pre, during and post treatment.  So glad to hear mom is a believer, I found radiation treatment was a good time to pray.  This is a very encouraging, supportive site.  Stay in touch, as Bill says, we are open 24/7, usually someone here to respond.

sorry you are going through this. We went through the same.  For almost 5 months the ENT kept saying it was a sinus infection. We only found out it was scc once my husband's sinus surgery was stopped by the anestesiologist who said there was something wrong. Our entire ordeal started in August last year and treatment ended in February. Dima spend almos 2 months in the hospital, we had tons of ER visits, ended up in ICU a couple of times, etc, etc, etc. So we had a horrible ride. Though, we still consider the week we found out the diagnosis the worse week of the entire experience. I hope it makes you feel better to know that you are going through the hardest part of all of this. It gets better. Yes, treatment is hard but we found that the hardest part was the waiting and waiting and waiting for doctors to come in a give us the bad news. Every doctor that we saw that week just kept piling up the bad stuff. I could not eat, sleep, function that week. So all I did was PRAY and that helped a lot. Once we knew how bad it was and had a plan, it was easier because we could actually do something.

Thank God everyday for your mom. What an amazing witness. God honors our faith. In Psalms it says "He shows Himself faithful to those who are faithful"  He will honor your mom's faith. I prayed a lot saying God, inspite of all that I see and hear in the natural, I choose to believe. I will remain faithful and trust that you will save Dima. I know you will show your self faithful and honor this. AND HE DID. AND HE CAN DO THE SAME FOR YOUR MOM. Trust, belief, and know that we are here to support you.

I am a 4 yr. survivor of adenoid cystic carcinoma.  Mine was dx'd in 2011. (submandiblar gland w/perineural invasion)  I'm going to give you a site to investigate, they have the most accurate information for your Mother's dx.  (also treatment options to share w/her onc's)

www.accoi.org and their sister site www.accrf.org  Don't feel alone ever.  There are quite a few of us on this site with ACC.  I'm so sorry you all have to endure this walk.  But there is hope out here !  Yes, most tx's and surgeries are similar to any H/N dx's, but as you will find out chemo has little to no effect on ACC.  (as of this date)  But this usually is a slow moving cancer.  If you have any questions I can help you with or if I can help direct your family to any and all resources please let me know.  Our site here is awesome, the people who have walked down this road will help you all through the rough times.  Sending my best to your Mother.  She sounds like a strong, loving woman.  Katie

Hi,

My husband was diagnosed with ACC may 2015. He's currently going through treatment, has 4 weeks left.

I completely understand how you felt... grieving is normal.  My husband is 42 yo, we have 2 young children 10 and 6 yo.  So my world was upside down, inside out when we got the diagnose.  I'm also in medical field, a physiican assistant in family practice.  We have some commonality.

Most important step you need to do at this time is get as much opinion as you can.  We saw 3 different groups, local INOVA, Hopkins, and UVA.  We ended up at SLOAN per recommendation of both rad onc at Hopkins & UVA to get proton therapy treatment. 

If you have any question, please donot hesitate to ask.  I also find great support at this site.

Kathy

Hondo said:

Hi Mek32

 

Welcome to the family

Your mother is right, worrying will not help it will only make you sick, faith is walking ahead with both eyes closed knowing that if you fall God will help you get back up. We have very good doctors but they don’t have the finial word, they can help us to get better when we are sick but only God can extend life. I am 9 years passed the time my doctors gave me to live, they don’t know why or how I am still going, but I know. I will keep both you and your Mom in my prayers.

 

God Bless

Tim

Sorry your family has to make this journey. You have found a good spot for comfort and support.  You didn't mention your Mom's age.  She already has the perfect mindset by putting this in the Lord's hands.  You maybe familiar with the poem "Footprints in the Sand". if not, I encourage you to read it. I sometimes feel the journey is harder on the family and caregivers than the patient. You have to take care of yourself to be there for your Mom. Try to avoid Google. That can be time better spent with your Mom.

God Bless,

Candi