mom of defenseman 4

Member since August 11, 2009.
5 Hugs & Prayers Received, 3 Hugs & Prayers Sent, 1 Discussions Started, 6 Replies

Bio

I love my mom and dad and I have been trying to help them cope with my mom's illness. My mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in May and we have recently learned that the cancer has spread to her liver. She started chemotherapy two weeks ago but has only been able to take one treatment so far because of a low platelet count. I found this website just by accident tonight when I was searching the web for information on chemotherapy. My fear right now is that the doctor will decide that her body is too weak to accept the chemotherapy treatments. If any of you out there are dealing with pancreatic cancer you know it is an absolutely devastating disease. It has a very very high mortality rate because it is usually advanced by the time it is diagnosed, as it was in my mom's case. Your only options for treating pancreatic cancer are surgery or chemotherapy (and there are only two chemotherapy drugs being used today to treat pancreatic cancer) So truthfully, we really don't have much hope. We spent the first two months of my mom's diagnosis driving back and forth to doctor's appointments between Los Angeles and our town. We were so excited two weeks ago when she finally began her first chemotherapy cycle because we were finally doing something. We also learned that day that the cancer had spread to her liver. Today we learned that her platelet counts still haven't recovered and have in fact gone lower than they were last week. And, so again, we wait it out. I hope and pray that it means the chemotherapy is still in there doing its job, and my mom will continue to do her job which is to rest, eat heartily and hope. My dad and I are so scared. We try to be rocks for each other and for her, but I don't know how much good I do. I mostly just cry. Please if anyone takes the time to read my post, please add my mom Carolyn and my dad Jack to your prayers tonight.

Good morning Everyone,

This is an updated post since I first entered it a couple of weeks ago. I'd like to thank all of you on this site for the help and support you've given. Joining this site was just the first step in the many we've taken the past couple of weeks to try and improve our situation.

We've reached out to several family and friends who have had or are suffering with cancer. It was a big relief to learn that many people struggled with some of my mom's issues. I think it was especially reassuring for my mom to learn that she is not alone. We got some really great advice from a friend who is actually struggling with the same type of cancer that my mom has.

We also found out about some new treatments that may be available to her - thanks LauraL!

Thanks everyone for all of your support. You've really helped.

Good afternoon Everyone,

We got the results of my mom's blood tests yesterday and her platelet count is still low. It has just never rebounded from the chemotherapy treatment she had a month ago. We have a doctor's appointment today and we think they are going to give her a shot that will help her body produce red and white blood cells (I think the medicine is Lueketine?????)then they will begin treatment again using a lower dose.) But, she is still blessed with good health, fewer bad moments and more hopeful ones!

We checked into a clinical trial beginning at the University of Colorado. Unfortunately she does not qualify, but if anyone would like information on it please let me know. It is a specialized treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Love Hope Prayers to Everyone

Good morning Everyone,

Just a quick update on my mom, in case you are following her journey. She is right now as I type, receiving her third treatment of Gemzar. We met with the doctor this morning who was very pleased with her progress and agreed to go ahead with the treatment. Yay! Two weeks in a row - what a reason to celebrate. The doctor also started my mom on a series of shots designed to help her body boost its red and white blood cells. Hopefully, this will allow her to continue treatment each week. Soooooo, a good day for us and a small victory!

Love Hope & Hugs to everyone. Stay strong.

Good afternoon, Everyone. Today is Thursday, September 10, 2009. My mom was able to receive her third week of treatments - yay! Her blood cell counts, although on the lower end, were high enough to allow her to be treated! Yay! The doctor has decided to lower her dose slightly and continue to give her the booster shots in the hopes that we have finally found the right "cocktail". My mom says if how she feels is any indication, she thinks the Gemzar is doing its job! Yay, again! She looks so much better - she is sleeping better and maintaining her weight. She says she has so much less pain too. So, good news for our family today - thank you Lord, we will take each good day You give us.

Strength, Hope and Prayers for all my friends here who are on this same journey. There are hills and valleys.

Today is Friday, September 25, 2009. I am writing to update everyone on my mom's condition, in case you are following our story. In truth, I think updating this profile is just my way seeing a psychiatrist - ha ha. I just have in my mind a picture of Charlie Brown and Lucy with her sign that says, "The doctor is in" 5 cents please!

Since I last wrote my mom has had some ups and downs. Right after her third week in a row of treatment - for about 6 days - she felt amazing. No pain, sleeping and eating very well. Tons of energy. As she put it, "I feel like a fraud. Like there is nothing wrong with me." Then, for whatever a reason, she hit a brick wall. She had the next week off of treatment and just felt awful the whole week. We called the doctor who explained that this was a very common reaction in patients. It like working really hard for a long time in order to take a vacation, then getting sick the moment you start your vacation. So, even though she had no doctor's appointments, no shots no chemo, nothing at all to do but relax she spent the whole week in bed.

Yesterday she went to start her next round of chemotherapy. She was able to get treated but the doctor says that her blood work is still low and she must continue with her booster shots. Unfortunately, the booster shots are starting to make her sick - headache, stomachache, just general aches all over her body so I am not sure how long she will be able to keep those up.

We plan on having a scan done at the end of the month to see what effect the chemo has had on the cancer. So I guess we will know more then.

She has lost another 3 lbs in about two weeks so not a great deal of weight loss, but the doctor would like to see her maintain her weight as much as possible.

My prayers and thoughts are with all of you.

Recently mom of defenseman 4…