On Monday, mom began a her new chemo treatment. We spent about 6 hours at the cancer center learning about her new treatment while she received her first dose.
Mom's new chemo treatment will always begin at the cancer center with 2 chemo drugs given simultaneously over 2 hours. Then, a home care nurse will come to hook up a pump with the remaining chemo drugs that will be administered over 46 hours. After the 46 hours, the home care nurse will go to unhook the pump in the comfort of my mom's home. Mom's chemo treatments will take place every other week now. The doctor is planning to have another CT scan done once she's had about 4 cycles of this new treatment.
Everything seemed to go well with her first treatment; however, mom has experienced some nausea. She did go to the cancer center today for another treatment to help with the fluid retention, so she was able to get a prescription for 2 new nausea medications. Hopefully those medications will help. We are really glad that the doctors decided to treat her fluid retention twice a week now. She will go on Mondays and Thursdays for a 2 hour treatment on a regular basis.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Updates
Sorry it's been so long since an update. Here a few....
Mom ended up having another paracentesis to have more fluid drained from her abdomen on December 31st. She had to wait a week before the procedure could be preformed due to her INR or blood clotting factor. The procedure went really well and they were able to remove 20 pounds. Mom felt very week and sore after she was back in her room. The doctors gave her some more fluids and protein before releasing her. We learned that the fluid being taken out of her abdomen is protein, so when that much is removed she needs to have a supplement.
The week after her paracentesis, she was unable to get chemo due to her white blood cell count, being a little dehydrated, and her blood pressure had also dropped a lot. She's been taken off of her blood pressure medicine now and her blood pressure has been going up. Since she didn't get the chemo, her doctor decided to have her get a CT scan. Due to her dehydration, she had to get a total of 7 hours of fluid along with the scan. She had to get an hour before and six hours after. It was a long day.
On Monday of this week, mom got the results from the CT scan. The scan showed that the cancer has grown. It has not spread to any other organs, but has increased in size. The doctor decided to stop her current chemo treatment, because it's not working. He briefly mentioned a few options and set up an appointment to discuss the options in more detail on Friday. Mom did have some more fluid built up in her abdomen, so the doctor scheduled her for another paracentsis on Thursday. She had the paracentsis on Thursday and everything went well. The doctors only removed 10 pounds from her this time. She felt great.
Today, Friday, we met with the doctor to discuss some options. We are planning to have her start another chemo treatment this coming Monday. This treatment will involve receiving chemo and then being on a pump for 48 hours after chemo. Since she'll have to bring the pump home, we are going to be assigned a home health care person as well. We are scheduled to have a chemo teach on the day of her appointment to learn some more about the drug and possible side effects. We already know that this drug will make her very sensitive to cold. She is not looking forward to that.
Please continue to pray for my mom and our family as we continue to battle this cancer. We pray that mom responds well to this new treatment. Many thanks.
Mom ended up having another paracentesis to have more fluid drained from her abdomen on December 31st. She had to wait a week before the procedure could be preformed due to her INR or blood clotting factor. The procedure went really well and they were able to remove 20 pounds. Mom felt very week and sore after she was back in her room. The doctors gave her some more fluids and protein before releasing her. We learned that the fluid being taken out of her abdomen is protein, so when that much is removed she needs to have a supplement.
The week after her paracentesis, she was unable to get chemo due to her white blood cell count, being a little dehydrated, and her blood pressure had also dropped a lot. She's been taken off of her blood pressure medicine now and her blood pressure has been going up. Since she didn't get the chemo, her doctor decided to have her get a CT scan. Due to her dehydration, she had to get a total of 7 hours of fluid along with the scan. She had to get an hour before and six hours after. It was a long day.
On Monday of this week, mom got the results from the CT scan. The scan showed that the cancer has grown. It has not spread to any other organs, but has increased in size. The doctor decided to stop her current chemo treatment, because it's not working. He briefly mentioned a few options and set up an appointment to discuss the options in more detail on Friday. Mom did have some more fluid built up in her abdomen, so the doctor scheduled her for another paracentsis on Thursday. She had the paracentsis on Thursday and everything went well. The doctors only removed 10 pounds from her this time. She felt great.
Today, Friday, we met with the doctor to discuss some options. We are planning to have her start another chemo treatment this coming Monday. This treatment will involve receiving chemo and then being on a pump for 48 hours after chemo. Since she'll have to bring the pump home, we are going to be assigned a home health care person as well. We are scheduled to have a chemo teach on the day of her appointment to learn some more about the drug and possible side effects. We already know that this drug will make her very sensitive to cold. She is not looking forward to that.
Please continue to pray for my mom and our family as we continue to battle this cancer. We pray that mom responds well to this new treatment. Many thanks.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Holiday and Treatment Updates
This holiday season was filled with love. My mom has always been blessed by her co-workers and close friends. She got to experience more of the blessings of their love and friendship through their generous gifts to her this holiday season. Many thanks from my family and especially my mom.
Mom also got to spend a lot of time with family. We celebrated my brother's birthday by going to Dave and Buster's. Mom enjoyed playing a few games and watching all of us as well. Mom even ventured to the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping. My parents hosted Christmas at their house this year. We enjoyed a great meal and time together.
Mom's had some regular appointments to the Cancer Center. At her last chemo treatment, she was put on blood thinners. In order to make sure her blood reaches the right level, she's had to go have her blood checked at least twice a week. Thankfully, today at her regular chemo appointment, her blood reached a high enough level that she could stop the injections. Yeah....as mom said!!! The only negative, regarding her high blood level now, is that she was unable to have any fluid drained from her abdomen today. Over the holidays, mom's abdomen began filling with fluid again. It's been very uncomfortable. She's been short of breathe and unable to eat very much. The doctors did make an appointment for her to come back this Wednesday to see if she can have the fluid drained then. Please be praying that she'll be able to have the procedure done.
Mom also got to spend a lot of time with family. We celebrated my brother's birthday by going to Dave and Buster's. Mom enjoyed playing a few games and watching all of us as well. Mom even ventured to the mall to do some last minute Christmas shopping. My parents hosted Christmas at their house this year. We enjoyed a great meal and time together.
Mom's had some regular appointments to the Cancer Center. At her last chemo treatment, she was put on blood thinners. In order to make sure her blood reaches the right level, she's had to go have her blood checked at least twice a week. Thankfully, today at her regular chemo appointment, her blood reached a high enough level that she could stop the injections. Yeah....as mom said!!! The only negative, regarding her high blood level now, is that she was unable to have any fluid drained from her abdomen today. Over the holidays, mom's abdomen began filling with fluid again. It's been very uncomfortable. She's been short of breathe and unable to eat very much. The doctors did make an appointment for her to come back this Wednesday to see if she can have the fluid drained then. Please be praying that she'll be able to have the procedure done.
Monday, December 7, 2009
12 pounds
After mom's blood transfusion last Tuesday, she began to experience some swelling in her stomach. The swelling caused mom a lot of discomfort. After a call in to her oncologist, she was scheduled to have an ultrasound on Friday. The ultra sound confirmed that there was fluid in her abdomen. The fluid is a common occurrence for patients with the type of cancer mom has. The doctors went ahead and scheduled to have the fluid removed. Once they inserted a small needle into her abdomen, the fluid just poured out. They were able to remove 12 pounds of fluid. Amazing, huh? Mom had immediate relief. She was able to move, bend, and even able to sleep on her side for the first time in months. The doctors said that the fluid will return again. Mom is supposed to call when she begins to experience discomfort again. She was encouraged to not wait as long as she did this time.
Today, mom had her regular chemo appointment. She was feeling great. In fact, she's felt wonderful all weekend long. Yea!! Having the fluid removed, increased her energy and appetite. She even ate some steak this weekend. Mom was able to have chemo today. Her blood work came back fine. Her red blood cell count was way up. The only complaint mom had today was some leg pain. A few days ago, she began experiencing some discomfort in her calf. The doctor was a little concerned and decided to send her for an ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed that it was the beginnings of a blood clot. Thankfully we caught it early. The blood clot is located right behind her knee and causing her calf to hurt because it's cutting off the blood flow. The doctor has now put mom on blood thinners to help get rid of the clot. She has to take a pill and also give herself a shot everyday. They will continue to monitor her blood and increase/decrease the medication as needed.
Today, mom had her regular chemo appointment. She was feeling great. In fact, she's felt wonderful all weekend long. Yea!! Having the fluid removed, increased her energy and appetite. She even ate some steak this weekend. Mom was able to have chemo today. Her blood work came back fine. Her red blood cell count was way up. The only complaint mom had today was some leg pain. A few days ago, she began experiencing some discomfort in her calf. The doctor was a little concerned and decided to send her for an ultrasound. The ultrasound confirmed that it was the beginnings of a blood clot. Thankfully we caught it early. The blood clot is located right behind her knee and causing her calf to hurt because it's cutting off the blood flow. The doctor has now put mom on blood thinners to help get rid of the clot. She has to take a pill and also give herself a shot everyday. They will continue to monitor her blood and increase/decrease the medication as needed.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Update
The holiday weekend flew by. On Thursday, mom enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal at my house along with my husband's family. Then, on Saturday, we gathered with my dad's family for desserts and a movie. It was fun getting together with so many family members. Mom really enjoyed herself. We were a little worried that she wouldn't be up for all the festivities, because she'd been feeling a little weak. Since she began her new chemo cycles, she hasn't had much of an appetite and her energy level has been low.
Thankfully we found out the reason for her loss of energy yesterday when she went in for a chemo treatment. The nurses ran her blood work and her red blood cell count came back really low. They've been watching her blood count for some time now, but this was the first time it fell below 8.0. We were told before that she'd have to have a blood transfusion if it fell below 8.0. Her blood cell count was 7.1. So, that explained her loss of appetite and especially her loss of energy. The nurses canceled her chemo and scheduled a blood transfusion.
Today, mom went in for her blood transfusion. They gave her two bags of blood. Each bag took 3 hours. They were able to give her the blood through her port as well. Everything went well. She didn't have any immediate reactions to the new blood. The nurses noted that her hands and face were a little pink after the transfusion, which I guess is a good thing. Mom went home after the transfusion and rested. So far, she's been feeling fine. She is scheduled to receive her next chemo treatment on Monday.
Please be praying that her body continues to respond well to the blood transfusion and that her energy level increases.
Thankfully we found out the reason for her loss of energy yesterday when she went in for a chemo treatment. The nurses ran her blood work and her red blood cell count came back really low. They've been watching her blood count for some time now, but this was the first time it fell below 8.0. We were told before that she'd have to have a blood transfusion if it fell below 8.0. Her blood cell count was 7.1. So, that explained her loss of appetite and especially her loss of energy. The nurses canceled her chemo and scheduled a blood transfusion.
Today, mom went in for her blood transfusion. They gave her two bags of blood. Each bag took 3 hours. They were able to give her the blood through her port as well. Everything went well. She didn't have any immediate reactions to the new blood. The nurses noted that her hands and face were a little pink after the transfusion, which I guess is a good thing. Mom went home after the transfusion and rested. So far, she's been feeling fine. She is scheduled to receive her next chemo treatment on Monday.
Please be praying that her body continues to respond well to the blood transfusion and that her energy level increases.
Monday, November 16, 2009
The New Cycle Begins...
Today mom started her new treatment regiment. She is now only receiving 1 chemo drug with each visit to Community North. The morning and early afternoon flew by. The time she was required to be there has been cut in half with the treatment changes. Also, with all the changes, she now gets to decrease the amount of medications that she's been taking. Mom gets to cut out some of her nausea medicine, since she's no longer on the more aggressive chemo drug.
Her doctors continue to be very positive about mom's response to the treatments. They plan to continue to monitor her regularly. For now, she will receive chemo treatments every week. We are not sure yet about when or if she'll get to take another break from treatments.
Last week, mom really enjoyed the time off. She was able to spend a lot of time with friends. She got to go out to eat and even do a little shopping. As the week came to a close, she was able to join the family in an early Thanksgiving celebration.
Her doctors continue to be very positive about mom's response to the treatments. They plan to continue to monitor her regularly. For now, she will receive chemo treatments every week. We are not sure yet about when or if she'll get to take another break from treatments.
Last week, mom really enjoyed the time off. She was able to spend a lot of time with friends. She got to go out to eat and even do a little shopping. As the week came to a close, she was able to join the family in an early Thanksgiving celebration.
Monday, November 2, 2009
6th Cycle Complete....Yea!!
Last week we got some good news. We got the results from another CT scan. The cancer is still stable. Yea!! We continue to give praise. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Today mom finished up her 6th cycle of chemo. Another yea!! We are so glad that everything has gone so well with these treatments.
Next week Mom gets an entire week off. And yet another yea!! She has no blood tests, CT scans, or chemo treatments. It's been a long time since she's had an entire week without any appointments. She's really looking forward to that time off to rest and spend time with family/friends.
Her oncologist is still planning to have her continue chemo treatments beginning on November 16. These treatments will be slightly different that the first round she completed today. Her previous treatments included two chemo drugs. This new round only includes one. And yet again another yea!! This is a yea, because the treatment days have gone from 6 hours long to 3. We are not yet sure how many cycles this round will include yet. She will continue to get regular CT scans again once this round has started.
Today mom finished up her 6th cycle of chemo. Another yea!! We are so glad that everything has gone so well with these treatments.
Next week Mom gets an entire week off. And yet another yea!! She has no blood tests, CT scans, or chemo treatments. It's been a long time since she's had an entire week without any appointments. She's really looking forward to that time off to rest and spend time with family/friends.
Her oncologist is still planning to have her continue chemo treatments beginning on November 16. These treatments will be slightly different that the first round she completed today. Her previous treatments included two chemo drugs. This new round only includes one. And yet again another yea!! This is a yea, because the treatment days have gone from 6 hours long to 3. We are not yet sure how many cycles this round will include yet. She will continue to get regular CT scans again once this round has started.
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