Hi all... I am so glad I found this place. It will be nice to talk to people who are going thru the same things... we can lean on each other.
Where do I begin? This has all happened so fast. On 6/5/07, my mom's dr sent her to the ER, thinking appendicitis? She was having trouble taking a BM, and feeling pain in her mid section. Round of tests reveal mass on her right lower lobe and adrenal gland and liver. Sent home PET scan ordered. Scanned Friday, Results on 6/11/07. Results are hypercell activity in masses, consistent with malignancy. Dr. set her up with cancer center. We spend the next 2-3 days getting her signed up for everything, doc says off work for 6 wks at least. But I have the feeling she's not going back ever.
Appt set for 6/22 @ Cancer center, but mom heard this doc was bad so she wanted the other doc, and first avail. appt. was 6/28.
Then, on 6/13 @ 11p she calls me...I rush her back to the ER with almost heart attack symptoms (she had one around 4 yrs ago)... more tests, and they admit her so she can get the care she needs. She has no insurance, and now no income.
More tests, and now small spot on left lung noted also. Also dx w/ emphysema. Still wants a cigarette. She might get to come home tomorrow...if she does, she'll be sent home w/ oxygen therapy, for one week, b/c she has to stop plavix b4 they can do biopsy. Cant biopsy lung for fear they will puncture it. So they are going to biopsy the liver to get the official dx.
I am scared. I am not ready for this. I had a feeling eventually this would come- she never follows up w/ tests, etc... but now she is... I think she is terrified...but what I can't figure out is why in the world she still wants to smoke. We are taking things one day at a time, and as a family we are dealing with this. No one is giving us a time frame, although it sounds pretty bad. No idea if mom wants chemo/radiation, or if she just wants to manage the pain until she passes. I hate waiting for results. They did a cat scan with barium last night to see why she is having trouble with bm's...i hope there aren't more masses.
At any rate...glad I found this place. Seems very supportive, and I so need that right now.
Thanks!
