wendyr Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Sorry to hear about the increased pain, BUT...all the more reason to get that second opinion with an oncologist. Primaries are too scared to prescribe adequate pain relief, oncologists know how to handle pain and an anti depressant might be useful at this point too. Good Luck & God Bless wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ztweb Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Peggy, I am so glad you found us, but so sorry you ever had to. Please know there are so, so many options out there. Noone should take face value...as there are many survivors out there to tell the story. I am a firm believer in second opinions. May you know peace, and find hope. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 I sat and had a long talk with my mom tonight and she has agreed to go for a second opinion. I will be calling St. VIncent's in the morning. I wanted to take her to Mayo Clinic, but her insurance is not accepted there. The only thing I am concerned with as she is, the cancer has spread to her liver. She looked bad today. She has lost so much weight. Seemed alot worse from just 5 days ago. I don't know if alot of that is just from sleeping all the time now and most likely also being depressed. She has also increased her pain meds since last week. DId any of you suvivors have the cancer into other organs like the liver, etc. I believe she has had this for awhile. Thank you all so much for helping me. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddyslittlegirl Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 H Peggy, I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I don't have much advice for you as I'm new to this myself and kind of going through the same struggles. My dad does not like going to the doctors so getting him to go for a second opinion is difficult. However, I agree with everyone here, it is very important to at least get her in to see an oncologist. Something I have learned from everyone here is that there IS hope so don't give up. I'll be praying for you and your mom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Peg, Tell your mom they all wrote me off too. I found a doctor who said, I think I can help you. To make it short, the thirteen pound tumor they pulled out of me was dead after the chemo and radiation. I bet she's feeling pain /self medicating for depression because she feels it's a done deal. See if the doctors at the hosp can arrange for her to see a doctor about antidepressants. I would not have gotten through all this without some help... Let her know that statistics are all based on OLD OLD information. Besides, I don't know any of us that are 45% or 74% here -- if you are here it's 100%, and only God knows when you're going home... I hope by now your mom is starting to get her fight back, and get over the initial blow that diagnosis can be. Prayers and strength to you all... XOXOX MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lc46 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Hi-Do they know if your Mom's is small cell or non small cell? If you read my profile you can see that my Mom was on her death bed 6 months ago and now they are giving us even more hope with radiation twice daily. Please please tell your mom to go to the Mayo Clinic. My sil goes there for her Ovarian Cancer from 12 years ago and love them. Your Mom can fight this. Read her the stories on here-that is the only thing that got me through this-having hope and faith. Let me know what I can do for you. Dar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lc46 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Hi Again-sorry I didn't read the part about your Mom's insurance not covering the Mayo Clinic. I'm sure anywhere she goes will be fine just as long as she sees an oncologist right away.. Let us know how it goes. Dar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Hi Peg, I hear your concern and frustration from all your posts. You really cannot know the extent of her LC as she must go to a specialist who can give her all the tests she will need to determine how far along it is. You can see from the posts here that some people were also written off and are even stage IV who are alive and doing fine. They too felt like you mom. Never give up hope!! They have come so far in treatments. Maybe your moms doctor has no clue of that. He is not an Onchologist so he may just not know. I am so glad you mom has agreed to get this checked out by a specialist. I know you will keep us posted on her progress. Hang tough...do not jump to conclusions until you find out how extensive it is. I may just turn out not as dismal as what her doctor told her. Just remember there is so much treatment out there and that will make your mom feel much better. She may just be losing weight and not having an appetite because she heard such a grim diagnosis. I would lose my appitite also if I heard something like that. Everything crossed here for better resutls. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nonni Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Peggy....get your Mom to another doctor asap for a second opinion....soooo many doc's are willing to write you off and then again some are very pro active..good luck and wishing your mom the best... God Bless...PamS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted March 26, 2007 Author Share Posted March 26, 2007 Thanks to all of you again for your support with my mom! She has an appointment in the morning with the cancer center at St. Vincent's. We went today to her primary doctor to pick up her records. As I sit and read them, the only thing that worries me is the fact that liver is 50% mestastatic. We will see what options she has after tomorrow. I will stay in touch! Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myrnalu Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Sending hugs and prayers for You and Your Mom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flowergirlie Posted March 27, 2007 Share Posted March 27, 2007 Please keep us posted. It is important to have a good understanding of what is happening before any decisions are made.Peace and comfort to you and your mom. Flowergirlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lullabelle21302 Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 I just wanted to say that while noone wants to be in these situations you will find tremendous support and lots of info her. Everyone here is wonderful. I will be praying for you and your mother. My mother is 61 was diagnosed in sept. 2006 with sclc mets to liver and they started chemo and she is on her 8th round. Her onc says tumor in lung is appearance of small scar and ones in her liver are shrinking but not gone. There is always hope and there is always treatment out there no matter what the age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted March 30, 2007 Author Share Posted March 30, 2007 Dear Friends, Wanted to write to let you know the latest with my mom and just to talk as I am having a real rough time. I took her to the specialist on Tuesday at St. VIncent's and what a difference. A very nice and compassionate doctor. He said the first thing we needed to do was to do a liver biopsy so he can determine exactly where the cancer started and if it is the lungs, what kind of lung cancer it is. I told him what that primary doctor said about the biopsy being risky and he just couldn't believe it. He said the risk is very minimal. He explained as you all have told me about all the great treatments out now and how chemo is not as bad as it used to be. He did tell her that he could not cure her. That this would eventually take her life but that that could be in 2 months or 2 years. He has no way of knowing. He told her he knows he can help her at least have a better quality of life with whatever time she has left. I felt so much better after leaving there, but she still isn't keen on going on with all of this. She just wants to give up. She woke up this morning in terrible pain in her liver. The biopsy is in the morning and she tells me she doesn't want to go. She says she just wants stronger pain meds and just get this over with (dying that is). She has not eaten much today at all and more vomiting tonight. Seems nothing they give her works. Biospy is tomorrow and then we meet back with the Doctor on Tuesday to hear all the options we have for treatment. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystleshoe Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Peggy, I know the feeling of being helpless. It is so hard to want to do everything you can to "fix" or heal them and hope that it all goes away but unfortunately it just doesnt work like that. I am hoping that you have a good visit with the doctor and you leave there with some good info to fight this. You and your mom are in my prayers tonight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddyslittlegirl Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 Hi Peg, I know this is tough, but you are now on the right path. I think once you meet with the doctor and find out more and get on a game plan, both you and your mom may start to feel a little better. I'm praying so anyway. Hang in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 Just want you to know that I am thinking of you. (((((((PEG)))))) Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Thanks MaryAnne, The last few days have been just terrible. My mom was to go for a live biopsy on Friday morning and when I got up to take her, she wouldn't go. She said she was in too much pain in the liver to do it and wanted me to call and change it for next week. She just still thinks its all a waste of time. I was really angry with her. I did call to reschedule, but she can't get it done now until Wednesday and then we see the doctor on Friday. I just pray each day we are not too late for any treatments. I worry she will be so weak to even start. She can hardly eat and is now taking the max she can on her pain pills thru the day. I will let you know what happens. She has promised she will go on Wednesday. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelley (MLC) Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 Peggy, I am so sorry. Your mom must be feeling so overwhelmed and is obviously in pain. I can understand your anger, as you are just trying to help and you don't want to lose her. I'll keep my fingers crossed and say prayers that she follows through with the next scheduled biopsy. Hang in there. You're sure trying to do the right thing. Shelley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connie B Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Peggy, Please call that wonderful doctor you met with and please tell him about the pain your mom is in. Most pain can be controlled. The doctor can't help with these problems if he/she doesn't know about them. I know you want to help your mom, and you can do that by calling that doctor. I have a strong feeling your mom is not thinking straight these days, and she needs someone who is. Good luck and God Bless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted April 2, 2007 Author Share Posted April 2, 2007 My mother called yesterday evening and said she was vomiting up some blood. I called the onc on call and he told me to have her come to the emergency room. She was admitted there last night. I had just come home for the weekend, but I am on my way back there this morning. Will keep you posted! Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trish2418 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 I hope the docs can figure out and fix what's going on quickly. Take care and do keep us posted. Trish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peg24 Posted May 3, 2007 Author Share Posted May 3, 2007 I wanted to let all of you know that my mother passed away April 24th. She chose no treatments and therefore went downhill fast and passed away 2 months after DX. If that hasn't been tough enough, less than one week after she passed away, my brother is also DX with lung cancer. He is in the hopsital right now, very sick. They did a lung biopsy today and they found a tumor on the right lung. They said it is blocking 90% of his airpassageway. His calcium level in his blood is dangerously high. The doctors are now running more tests, but feel it is inoperable. They say it does not look good. He is only 54, but has smoked for many years. It is hard to believe this is happening to my family again so soon. Please keep up in your prayers. Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyr Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Peg: please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother and prayers that your brother will respond to treatment. Please keep us posted. Good Luck & God Bless wendyr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recce101 Posted May 3, 2007 Share Posted May 3, 2007 Peg, I'm really sorry to hear of your mom's passing. Please know that you did everything you possibly could under very difficult circumstances. I don't think anyone could have done better. I hope you find the peace that you so need, and that your brother responds to treatment. Many people are inoperable, but there are usually other options available. I know it's very taxing for you to change focus so suddenly. Probably no one is looking after your health, so you must. Please do. With much Aloha, Ned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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