Cancer won- but not without a fight

mom passed away today at 1:45 PM. She was comfortable and without pain.

Cancer might have won, but mom put up a hell of a fight!!!

Some Bad News- Hospice

Quite a few things have changed in just a week. She has declined considerably. She has become very weak and has a lot of pain, sometimes uncontrollable.

This morning she was very weak and was unable to get up out off the couch to go to the bathroom, therefore i had to lift her a couple times. She was also unable to walk, because her legs would not support her, therefore her radiation appointment was cancelled. The doctor was called and some results were discussed.

(about a week and 1/2 ago- back story) She had been having radiation to the brain and thyroid because the cancer were in those areas. We were also told that the tumor in her uterus had grown a bit. Also a tumor on her side had surfaced and was increasing in size.

Today we were told that the radiation was not helping and that her tumors were increasing in size and that it was growing rapidly. Today, we were told that they were stopping all treatment because it is not helping.

The decision was made to have mom start hospice home care. There main goal is to keep her comfortable and reduce the pain. This is the most important thing! There will be a nurse that comes into the home everyday. This person will help with lifting and general care. They will deal with all of the medications and anything that revolves around her. We are meeting the nurse and aid tomorrow and will be discussing the schedule and what they plan on doing.

Mom started this battle with a fight and will continue to fight because she is full of courage, determination, love, humor, and support. Keep her in your thoughts!!!

Unitl i know more...

Love, Jess

CANCER Stinks!!!!

About two weeks ago mom started to have a cough- when it got worse she headed in to see the doctor. Her thyroid had enlarged and was very firm and was intruding into her air way- that was the reason for the cough. Also during this time she started to just eat liquid and soft foods because it is to difficult to eat. Then wednesday she had an apt with a surgeon to look at her thyroid. During her apt they did a needle biopsy of her thyroid and of two lymph nodes on her neck.

Today she had an apt with her oncologist and he gave the results of the thyroid. Her thyroid is cancerous- but is a metastasis from the other cancer that is in her body. This makes the cancer secondary (meaning that the cancer has spread to her thyroid from another area in her body).

We found in our appointment today that Chemo will stop. The chemo treatments are not helping Mom reduce the cancer in her body. There were small amounts of cancer cells that did conform to the chemo treatments, but the cancer has increased in several areas including her lungs. The radiation treatments to the brain have been a success- and we very thankful for that.

She has been scheduled for radiation treatments for the next 16 days to her neck area. New CAT and PET scans are to be scheduled to see how fast the cancer is growing, or if there has been a positive change in some of the cancer areas.

She is scheduled for a bone tap on Wednesday to see if the cancer has spread to the bone marrow. The reason for the bone tap is because of the long time it take for the blood counts to return after the chemo treatments.

Dr. Aronson will consult with Dana Farber Center in Boston for suggestions. We may need to go to Boston for a consult before the next suggestion of treatments.
Dr. Aronson said...It doesn't look good Honey. Rosemary responded, I haven't given up, I hope you haven't either!

All i have to say is - You Suck Cancer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until i know more!

Love Jess