Today has not been good. Not sure if I should start positive or negative.... We shall start with what is: Finished with mom's doctor's appointment. She does not qualify for any clinical trials at this time..however, they are using 2 of the drugs that she will be given in a clinical trial (This may turn out to be a blessing in that the drugs are top of the line...and insurance pays better if it is not clinical trials.) She has a type of cancer that according to medicine can not be cured but is treatable....but she will always have to be in treatment. She may be able to take a few months off but every time she takes off..the cancer will grow. According to the doctor, with this type of cancer, they loose 1/2 of the patients within 1 year of beginning treatment....we start on Saturday. The other 30% die within 2 years and the other 20% remain alive but still in treatment. Her calcium levels have always been high and they remain extremely high. They are going to try to treat her for that...hopefully it will help her to feel better. According to her CT scans, she has a probable cancerous mass in her thyroid, multiple in her liver, many enlarged lymph nodes and the mass in her stomach. He believes that the cancer is the result of a bacteria-Helicobacterium pylori. It has been suggested that the family be tested for the bacteria....including her siblings. I will put more information on about the testing as it becomes available. Treatment for those who have it is antibiotics.
Long story, short....it doesn't look any better than it did...actually reality has been laid out to us. By being here for treatment, they are treating her with the clinical trial drugs even though she technically doesn't qualify. We will keep her here until...well, until she says, "Take me home."
He gives power to the weak
ReplyDeleteand strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29
Praying for strength for Aunt Joan and for you guys as you walk in this journey with her.
Praying for you all as you settle into the treatment. Praying for your mom to stay positive, to eat, and to have strength. Let me know how I can help up here in Missouri.
ReplyDeleteTammy, Corkey was treated for H-pylori two years ago, right after we got home from our trip for Dean's 70th Birthday. The Dr. said that after treatment his bloodwork would always show positive for h-pylori, anyway. I had never heard of it until he was tested for it. Cork tried to get Jo to ask to be tested once when she was having some of the same symptoms he went to the Dr. for. Brian, the ANP who diagnosed Corkey said he was surprised no one had thought to test him before..I don't think most MD's think about it.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a better day today. We love all of you and will continue our prayers to the Great Physician on Jo's behalf. Tell her that an abundance of love and a cloud of prayers are blowing to TX from the Ozarks.
God Bless you all.