Heather32 Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Hello all, Just thought I'd let you know how the appointment at Dana Farber went. They told us that the Doctor's in New Hampshire are doing the same thing they would do if she went to Boston for treatment. They did tell me that the original tumor in Mom's lung is pretty much gone. What is left may be just scar tissue. There is a "pocket" on the scan of where it used to be. Most of the tumors in her brain have shrunk except one has grone because of dead cells. Instead of the 3 to 6 months one doctor in New Hampshire gave me Boston said many, many, many months maybe years if everything stays the same. In my opinion nothing ever stays the same so all I heard was bad news. Mom will go in for another scan in 2 weeks to check the tumors in her head and to see if more treatment is needed. Why does this feel like we are living appointment to appointment. Hope all are well tonight. You are all in my prayers. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Heather, Look at it this way, your moms news this time was better than the last time, and who knows,,, with treatment??? I think all in all this was GOOD news, not bad... try to look at it that way! Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Heather, I do understand how you feel. I remember when my husband's largest brain tumor shrunk 30% after WBR and I sat and cried in the oncologist's office. It really took him by surprise, but he was very kind and understanding. I cried because I wanted it to be totally gone. I wanted them all to be totally gone! I didn't understand then what I do now - SHRINKAGE IS GOOD! SHRINKAGE IS VERY, VERY GOOD! I would now love to get a report like your mom got and to hear that something is gone! I know it's easy to get depressed because we so badly want there to just be absolutely nothing. Maybe the next time that will be the case for your mom. I will pray that it will be so. In the meantime, try as hard as you can to be excited about this and transfer that excitement and hope to your mom. Much love and prayers coming your way, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Heather, Your mom really did get good news. I remember one of the best things someone told me early on was. "We are all going to die and no doctor can ever tell you when." I have met several Stage IV survivors who are doing well several years out. Every day brings new hope. Do you have a Cancer Survivors' Park near you? If so, pay it a visit - you may leave with a renewed hope yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betplace Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 I just wanted to tell you I am praying for you and your Mom. Take it one day at a time. Each dawn is avictory. Blessings Betty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Hi Heather, Sounds like very good news to me. Dana Farber is an excellent hospital and your doctor's sound like they are on top of things. Think positive vibes. Take it one step and one day at a time. My thoughts and prayers are with you guys. Peace, take care and God bless. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Sounds like good news to me, too. And, yes, you do live from appointment to appointment, test to test, result to result. That is the way it is on this road. Best to you. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnodel Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Glad to hear that she's doing so well -- and that the doctors have given you some hope for a change. I thought about going to Dana Farber when Len was first diagnosed, and discussed it with a number of people, but was told, by our pcp and by a number of other physicians we know that the local doctors would be following identical protocols and that they were excellent. Turns out they ARE excellent and it's much easier on Len than having to traipse the two h ours by Amtrak to Boston (or, the alternative, two h ours by Amtrak to NY for Sloane Kettering). So I'm glad we made that decision. But you do need a back up, particularly with such a bleak time frame -- now that can be put into perspective. Keep us posted on her progress. Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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