I Need To Say this

[Dishonored]

 Not sure if it's the right area, or what, but I need to get this out of my head a bit.

About two weeks ago my 72-year-old mom started breathing funny. The local clinic said it was allergies. It kept getting worse, and worse, so we took her in again Friday, where they found that her right lung was full of fluid, and her left lung halfway. They drained two quarts of fluid out of her right lung alone, and she's breathing better, but...

The doctor is "almost certain" it's due to lung cancer. She needs to see an oncologist to be sure and if so, which of the five types it could be, and how bad. My mom has had cancer twice before since I was born, and pulled through like it was nothing, but this is a lot more serious, especially at her age.

Not sure if it matters to anyone else, I just needed to get it out of me a bit.

[Gabi]

Oh... I'm really sorry. I hope she can get the right treatment soon. Best wishes to you and your mom.

[Dishonored]

 Thank you. I'll keep this updated as I find out more.

[Tapewolf]

Thank you. I'll keep this updated as I find out more.

Good luck.  I seem to recall hearing that cancer is often less virulent in the elderly because the cells don't divide as rapidly.  I hope things work out for you both.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Thank you. I'll keep this updated as I find out more.

Please do. We'll be thinking of you.

[Dishonored]

 Thank you for all the well-wishes, I have an update/rant.

My mom was transferred this past Monday to a local cancer hospital for more in-depth testing. They instead opted to just wait for a while for more results from the fluid. Meanwhile, my mom started breathing worse, they skipped meals on her (she's diabetic), and even randomly "forgot" to give her pain medication.

My mom is a tough woman. She got angry, called us yesterday, and we went to get her. Her choice, and SHE was the one who spent an hour arguing with the smarmy doctors who tried to make her sound confused and feeble-minded.

(My mom plays Magic: the Gathering with me. I'm a former national-class tournament player; she was beating me while IN the hospital.)

On the way home, her breathing got really bad, so we detoured back to the very excellent original hospital. They drained another quart of fluid from her, admitted her, and she's already like a new woman. They're holding her over the weekend, but if she's still this good she'll be coming home on Monday and doing the rest of her process as an outpatient.
Forgot to mention that the first hospital found a mass, but it's not life-threatening yet except for the fluid crap. The so-called "cancer" specialists missed it, and never realized she was building up more fluid...over four days.
So, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. All are appreciated; this is just the start of a long road.

[Gabi]

Sorry to hear that she had to go through that, and also that other people will have to deal with those irresponsible doctors too. But it's good to hear things are going better now. Thanks for the update.

[Dishonored]

 

Sorry to hear that she had to go through that, and also that other people will have to deal with those irresponsible doctors too. But it's good to hear things are going better now. Thanks for the update.

No, thank you. Just listening to me prattle on helps more than you know.

As of right now, my mom is home and doing well save for being very tired most of the time. She goes in tomorrow for a biopsy, and we'll get the results next week. Those results determine our next steps; hoping for the best, prepared for the worst as always.

[Gabi]

Well, if my posting here helps even a little, I'll make sure to keep doing so. I hope the biopsy brings some good news. Either way, I'll keep checking this thread.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Well, if my posting here helps even a little, I'll make sure to keep doing so. I hope the autopsy brings some good news. Either way, I'll keep checking this thread.

Biopsy. Autopsy is what you do on cadavers; biopsy is what you do on living people you want to stay that way. Usually. ;-]

Definitely with you on the well-wishing, though.

[Gabi]

Did I really write that or did you - or someone else - edit my post to have some fun? I may have been a bit distracted, but even so it's hard to believe I messed up that badly.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Did I really write that or did you - or someone else - edit my post to have some fun? I may have been a bit distracted, but even so it's hard to believe I messed up that badly.

I don't recall seeing an edited tag on your post. Perhaps you were short on sleep at the time? :-/ I figured, second language and all, it's an easy mistake to make - but I didn't want you to run into trouble without realising it, either.

[Dishonored]

 I took it as intended anyways, Gabi. My dad says "autopsy" instead of "biopsy" most of the time.

Speaking of which, out the door we go!

[Gabi]

Did I really write that or did you - or someone else - edit my post to have some fun? I may have been a bit distracted, but even so it's hard to believe I messed up that badly.

I don't recall seeing an edited tag on your post. Perhaps you were short on sleep at the time? :-/ I figured, second language and all, it's an easy mistake to make - but I didn't want you to run into trouble without realising it, either.

I wish I could blame the language, but the words are almost the same as in Spanish. I did have little sleep the night before, though, so that may be it.

[Alondro]

Thank you. I'll keep this updated as I find out more.

Good luck.  I seem to recall hearing that cancer is often less virulent in the elderly because the cells don't divide as rapidly.  I hope things work out for you both.

My grandfather was diagnosed with cancer at 91.  It was EVERYWHERE is his body.  The CT with contrast looked like a Christmas tree. 

BUT, the tumors were all tiny, no more than 1 or 2 centimeters.  His body couldn't grow new blood vessels quickly at that age (likely due to stem cell depletion, which is the new prevailing hypothesis of aging resulting from studies of centenarians, which found people over 100 had virtually no pluripotent or hematopoietic stems cells remaining), and so the tumors couldn't grow beyond that size.

[Dishonored]

 Okay, update time.

Biopsy results show that it is indeed cancer, breast cancer to be specific, that has formed nodules along the inner wall of her right chest. We go next Wednesday to see an oncologist for more details as well as chemo options.

Funny thing is, Mom is doing pretty good for the most part. Being home instead of flat in a hospital bed has a lot to do with that, though.

So to sum up the current situation: Cancer, not horrible yet, and looks treatable.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

[Tapewolf]

Glad to hear it!

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Glad to hear it!

Indeed. Well, not the first part, but the treatable bit is good news. Best of luck to you both.

[Gabi]

Yes, I hope they can get rid of it. From what I've heard, breast cancer is one of the most treatable if found in time, so I hope this is the case.

[Dishonored]

Yes, I hope they can get rid of it. From what I've heard, breast cancer is one of the most treatable if found in time, so I hope this is the case.

Thanks, and it looks like good news. We're currently waiting for two more test results. If those come back positive, then the cancer can be treated effectively by drugs with no harmful side effects. If not, then it'll be chemotherapy. We should find out in a few days.

I'll keep you updated; things are looking up!

[Dishonored]

 Still waiting on the test results. In the meantime, Mom's breathing got bad again, so we took her to the hospital and they drained another 1,000 CC's of fluid from her. She's doing better again; wish the doctors would get back to us soon.

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

yeek. Good luck, keep on trucking, et al.

[Dishonored]

 WOOHOO! The doctors got back to us with the test results, and my mom won't have to take chemotherapy! Just the much milder pills, which should have no serious side effects. We go to get the full details and start her on a regimen tomorrow morning.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts. This has been incredibly stressful for my entire family, and now it looks like the light at the end of the tunnel really isn't a train.

[Tapewolf]

WOOHOO! The doctors got back to us with the test results, and my mom won't have to take chemotherapy! Just the much milder pills, which should have no serious side effects. We go to get the full details and start her on a regimen tomorrow morning.

Excellent!  Glad to hear that!

[llearch n'n'daCorna]

Thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts. This has been incredibly stressful for my entire family, and now it looks like the light at the end of the tunnel really isn't a train.

And it's not some <censored> bringing you another stack of work, either. Awesome news!

[Gabi]

Indeed!

Sorry about the late reply, I've had limited access to... free time lately.

[Sofox]

I'm happy to hear it's good news, all the best!

[Dishonored]

Indeed!

Sorry about the late reply, I've had limited access to... free time lately.

I know the feeling.

Thank you all; Mom is doing pretty good on the pills. We won't know the full effect until her checkup in November.

[Qilby]

I hope her check-up goes smoothly, Dishonored!

[Dishonored]

Thank you all for the well-wishes; I finally have an update!

Yesterday my mom went back to the doctor, and found that all of her bloodwork is normal. She's suffering no serious side effects, and the doctor says it looks like she's on track with her treatment. Since the pills take a long time to take effect, she won't be getting an actual scan until next month.

Thanks you once again, and I'm happy to share good news with everyone!