Kathy and I started working on sewing mom a new robe on Wednesday night and finally finished it around 7pm and I brought it up to mom. The robe, along with the new Blitzen Polar Crocs I bought her made her week!! She LOVES her robe and shoes.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Something Special for Mom
3/2/12 - Friday
Kathy and I started working on sewing mom a new robe on Wednesday night and finally finished it around 7pm and I brought it up to mom. The robe, along with the new Blitzen Polar Crocs I bought her made her week!! She LOVES her robe and shoes.
Kathy and I started working on sewing mom a new robe on Wednesday night and finally finished it around 7pm and I brought it up to mom. The robe, along with the new Blitzen Polar Crocs I bought her made her week!! She LOVES her robe and shoes.
Chemo Day 1 (or so we thought)
3/12/12 - Monday
Mom's in surgery to have Chemoimobilization (direct inject chemo into the tumor).
Procedure was to last between 1-2 hours.
The Doctor was unable to get the catheter into her tumor because it is pressing on the vein and he couldn't get into the tumor.
Dr advises us to start radiation & chemo to help shrink the tumor. He is hopeful that he can still do the procedure later.
Mom was visibly upset as well as being in some pretty bad pain.
Mom's in surgery to have Chemoimobilization (direct inject chemo into the tumor).
Procedure was to last between 1-2 hours.
The Doctor was unable to get the catheter into her tumor because it is pressing on the vein and he couldn't get into the tumor.
Dr advises us to start radiation & chemo to help shrink the tumor. He is hopeful that he can still do the procedure later.
Mom was visibly upset as well as being in some pretty bad pain.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Awesome News!
3/11/12 - Sunday
So I'm a little behind schedule posting this info, but here it is.
On Friday we spoke to Dr Satya, a chemo doctor at JPS. He showed us a quick sketch as to where Mom's tumor is and what his plan is. He wants to inject chemo directly into her tumor by accessing it through the femoral artery in her leg. Once he fills the tumor to capacity with chemo (cisplatin and gemzar) he will plug the vein with particles and wait 30 days for a new CT. There may be a chance thy he will have to repeat the treatment a few times, but the goal is to reduce the tumor so that it can be surgically removed. Dr says there is an 80% chance he can shrink it and remove it.
Mom and I were both overjoyed to hear this news as this is the most optimistic anyone has been.
I course this isn't any easy surgery, nor is it going to be easy on Mom. It's quite possible that mom could have severe pain following the surgery and flu like symptoms for 2 weeks.
All risks mom is willing to take to fight this. I'm so proud of my mom. She's a true inspiration to anyone that knows her.
So I'm a little behind schedule posting this info, but here it is.
On Friday we spoke to Dr Satya, a chemo doctor at JPS. He showed us a quick sketch as to where Mom's tumor is and what his plan is. He wants to inject chemo directly into her tumor by accessing it through the femoral artery in her leg. Once he fills the tumor to capacity with chemo (cisplatin and gemzar) he will plug the vein with particles and wait 30 days for a new CT. There may be a chance thy he will have to repeat the treatment a few times, but the goal is to reduce the tumor so that it can be surgically removed. Dr says there is an 80% chance he can shrink it and remove it.
Mom and I were both overjoyed to hear this news as this is the most optimistic anyone has been.
I course this isn't any easy surgery, nor is it going to be easy on Mom. It's quite possible that mom could have severe pain following the surgery and flu like symptoms for 2 weeks.
All risks mom is willing to take to fight this. I'm so proud of my mom. She's a true inspiration to anyone that knows her.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Surgery Day
3/5/12 - Monday
Mom had surgery today to install a drain, again. They also unclogged her existing stent and put in a new one as well. So now she has stents in both ducts.
When they remove the drain, they will install a stent at the junction of the 2 bile ducts.
Mom has been in quite a bit of pain since surgery. Wednesday is the first day she's felt well enough to move around on her own.
Kathy and I are making her a new robe and I've ordered her some new Croc fuzzy slippers! She'll be excited to get them both tomorrow.
Mom had surgery today to install a drain, again. They also unclogged her existing stent and put in a new one as well. So now she has stents in both ducts.
When they remove the drain, they will install a stent at the junction of the 2 bile ducts.
Mom has been in quite a bit of pain since surgery. Wednesday is the first day she's felt well enough to move around on her own.
Kathy and I are making her a new robe and I've ordered her some new Croc fuzzy slippers! She'll be excited to get them both tomorrow.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Back to the Hospital
2/28/12 - Tuesday
So we got home at 5pm and mom started repacking for her trip to the hospital. Kent went to get something for them to eat for dinner and they were at the hospital by 8pm.
2/29/12 - Wednesday
Mom finally got into a room on the fifth floor around 6:30 am. Around 7:30 they did a sonogram on her abdomen and then later on her legs. They found she had a small blood clot in her left leg.
The sonogram on her abdomen also showed the problem with her stent.
They will be moving her to the 7th floor, oncology, when a bed is available.
So we got home at 5pm and mom started repacking for her trip to the hospital. Kent went to get something for them to eat for dinner and they were at the hospital by 8pm.
2/29/12 - Wednesday
Mom finally got into a room on the fifth floor around 6:30 am. Around 7:30 they did a sonogram on her abdomen and then later on her legs. They found she had a small blood clot in her left leg.
The sonogram on her abdomen also showed the problem with her stent.
They will be moving her to the 7th floor, oncology, when a bed is available.
A Little Fun!
2/28/12 - Tuesday
Mom and I decided to stop and have a little fun on the way home from San Antonio. Of all things to do or see, WE decided to go to Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown. Before we could go spelunking, we had to wait for the school groups to finish their tours. So mom decided she wanted pizza for lunch and we went to CiCi's.
Our tour started at 12:30 and took about an hour and a half to make the full 3/4 mile trek in and out.
She was tired afterwards but said she had a great time and had always wanted to go there.
We made it home around 5pm.
Mom and I decided to stop and have a little fun on the way home from San Antonio. Of all things to do or see, WE decided to go to Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown. Before we could go spelunking, we had to wait for the school groups to finish their tours. So mom decided she wanted pizza for lunch and we went to CiCi's.
Our tour started at 12:30 and took about an hour and a half to make the full 3/4 mile trek in and out.
She was tired afterwards but said she had a great time and had always wanted to go there.
We made it home around 5pm.
Monday, February 27, 2012
2/27/12 - UT San Antonio - Cancer Therapy & Research Center
6am - picked up Mom and we are on the road to San Antonio!!
It's a dreary, cloudy day, at least we won't have to fight the bright sun.
We made it to San Antonio at 11am and ate lunch at Denny's. Mom ate well, but doesn't feel well today. Her jaundice is back and she's a yellow smurf again.
At our appt now. They just took her vitals and blood samples for a CBC.
More to come as we meet with the dr's.
Update: so we met with 2 doctor's. They did a through hands on exam and completely reviewed her scans. There was a surgeon reviewing scans and he consulted with the doctors and confirmed that the tumor is inoperable. The reason for this is that the cancer probably started in the left bile duct and then traveled up to her liver (where the tumor is). It's completely covering the entire left lobe of her liver. To remove it they would have to cut the bike ducts (both of them) just below the junction of the 2 and then resect the left lobe. There wouldn't be any bike duct to reconnect to the right side. Ugh
So, the doctor did say that his course of treatment would be much the same as what St John's had proposed.
Mom is all yellow again from the bilirubin. UTSA dr said she needed to be admitted to resolve the issue with her bile ducts and the stents.
I got a copy of the blood labs they did and a picture of mom and I emailed it to Dr Isa's nurse, Michelle. Michelle called at 8am 2/28/12 and said she received the info and pic and that Dr Isa wants her in the ER when we get home. She also asked about the 2 opinions outcome and their treatment plan. I read her the chemo drug names and she said she will review these with the doctor and we will start treatment soon.
2/28/12 - we are on our way home! Left SA at 9 am.
It's a dreary, cloudy day, at least we won't have to fight the bright sun.
We made it to San Antonio at 11am and ate lunch at Denny's. Mom ate well, but doesn't feel well today. Her jaundice is back and she's a yellow smurf again.
At our appt now. They just took her vitals and blood samples for a CBC.
More to come as we meet with the dr's.
Update: so we met with 2 doctor's. They did a through hands on exam and completely reviewed her scans. There was a surgeon reviewing scans and he consulted with the doctors and confirmed that the tumor is inoperable. The reason for this is that the cancer probably started in the left bile duct and then traveled up to her liver (where the tumor is). It's completely covering the entire left lobe of her liver. To remove it they would have to cut the bike ducts (both of them) just below the junction of the 2 and then resect the left lobe. There wouldn't be any bike duct to reconnect to the right side. Ugh
So, the doctor did say that his course of treatment would be much the same as what St John's had proposed.
Mom is all yellow again from the bilirubin. UTSA dr said she needed to be admitted to resolve the issue with her bile ducts and the stents.
I got a copy of the blood labs they did and a picture of mom and I emailed it to Dr Isa's nurse, Michelle. Michelle called at 8am 2/28/12 and said she received the info and pic and that Dr Isa wants her in the ER when we get home. She also asked about the 2 opinions outcome and their treatment plan. I read her the chemo drug names and she said she will review these with the doctor and we will start treatment soon.
2/28/12 - we are on our way home! Left SA at 9 am.
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