At 12:30 we went to see the oncologist directly from the ER.
In ER, mom was given morphine and an anti-nausea medication. We figured we had about 2 hours before she would need more pain meds. The ER doctor had prescribed morphine to take home with her, but we didn't have the prescription filled yet.
Dr. Avina Singh was wonderful. She had already reviewed the CT scan and understood the magnitude of how sick my mom was. She ordered a series of more tests. A PET scan, a biopsy, another CT scan, and some blood work to look for cancer markers.
Mom asked the doctor if she could tell us what the chances for survival were, but Dr. Singh declined from answering saying that until we had a PET scan and the biopsy results we couldn't even begin to talk about treatment and that if she were to tell us any number as a percentage of survival that it would stick in our heads regardless of whether we later learned something that would change the prognosis.
I wanted to ask about what the ER doctor had said to me about the "2 weeks" but since mom hadn't heard that, I didn't dare bring it up.
Mom has another appointment on Friday.
Monday, February 18, 2008
The Call To Mayo
7:00 am - the phone lines open for the central appointment desk at Mayo. I dialed at approximately 7:00:15. I finally reached a human at 7:27 am. I tried to explain to the person on the other end of the phone that we needed an appointment right away. She asked me to send the biopsy report, but of course, there hasn't been a biopsy yet. I told her that we had been to ER and had a diagnosis and that the doctor in the ER had told my mom to "get her life in order" and had told me in the hallway that this could go very quickly, that my mom's cancer was very advanced. The Mayo lady transfered me to the GI oncology department, where I talked to Vicky. She asked me to have ER fax their report to her directly and that she would have it reviewed.
I called Fairview Ridges and got a "release" from them for mom to sign. I then drove to mom's. She was in pretty bad shape, the pain was out of control and she was vomitting, which was making the pain worse. Dave was getting ready to take her to the ER.
I personally walked the release to health information management services office and they had already pulled the records and had them ready to fax.
I called back to Mayo about 30 minutes later, and verified that they had received the records and then asked if we could schedule an appointment. I was told that it would take several day for the doctors to review the report and that we could expect a call by Friday. I again tried to explain the urgency to the person on the other end of the phone... but it obviously was not in her control...
And so, it seems that I can't get the Mayo machine to move any faster.
I called Fairview Ridges and got a "release" from them for mom to sign. I then drove to mom's. She was in pretty bad shape, the pain was out of control and she was vomitting, which was making the pain worse. Dave was getting ready to take her to the ER.
I personally walked the release to health information management services office and they had already pulled the records and had them ready to fax.
I called back to Mayo about 30 minutes later, and verified that they had received the records and then asked if we could schedule an appointment. I was told that it would take several day for the doctors to review the report and that we could expect a call by Friday. I again tried to explain the urgency to the person on the other end of the phone... but it obviously was not in her control...
And so, it seems that I can't get the Mayo machine to move any faster.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Peritoneal Carcinomatosis
And hence the research begins.
I seriously don't want to have to know this, but how can you do anything but dive in? How can I advocate for my mom if I don't know what the hell the doctors are saying.
And so I have a definition. Peritoneal Carcinomatosis = REALLY BAD SHIT.
This is the term for cancer that has spread to the peritoneal sack that encompasses the organs in the abdomen. Peritoneal carcinomatosis can be caused by several types of cancer, including gastro-intestinal cancers, like colon cancer, or ovarian cancer. Until the results of the biopsy return, we won't know for certain which type this stems from, but the oncologist has told us that this is a presentation that might be more likely with ovarian cancer. And so, the peritoneal carcinomatosis diagnosis is given when the cancer tumors have formed on this peritoneal sack. This only happens after cancer has metatisized.
Also, when I was in the ER with mom, I heard the nurse and doctor say that swelling and pain is caused by the ascites in the abdomen. Well, peritoneal carcinomatosis, with the presence of ascites is the defintion of 4th stage (ovarian) cancer.
And so I continue to read. In fact, I have purchased articles from several medical journals related to this topic, including information about the cancer itself and about the treatment options. If you want to see any of them, let me know, I can email them, they are all in PDF format.
I don't think I'll be able to write any long blogs about this, I realize as I am typing this that it is somewhat theraputic, but at the same time, its forcing me to think about the topic... and I don't know that I can do that.
I seriously don't want to have to know this, but how can you do anything but dive in? How can I advocate for my mom if I don't know what the hell the doctors are saying.
And so I have a definition. Peritoneal Carcinomatosis = REALLY BAD SHIT.
This is the term for cancer that has spread to the peritoneal sack that encompasses the organs in the abdomen. Peritoneal carcinomatosis can be caused by several types of cancer, including gastro-intestinal cancers, like colon cancer, or ovarian cancer. Until the results of the biopsy return, we won't know for certain which type this stems from, but the oncologist has told us that this is a presentation that might be more likely with ovarian cancer. And so, the peritoneal carcinomatosis diagnosis is given when the cancer tumors have formed on this peritoneal sack. This only happens after cancer has metatisized.
Also, when I was in the ER with mom, I heard the nurse and doctor say that swelling and pain is caused by the ascites in the abdomen. Well, peritoneal carcinomatosis, with the presence of ascites is the defintion of 4th stage (ovarian) cancer.
And so I continue to read. In fact, I have purchased articles from several medical journals related to this topic, including information about the cancer itself and about the treatment options. If you want to see any of them, let me know, I can email them, they are all in PDF format.
I don't think I'll be able to write any long blogs about this, I realize as I am typing this that it is somewhat theraputic, but at the same time, its forcing me to think about the topic... and I don't know that I can do that.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Background
Mom hadn't been feeling well all week. She was tired, nauseas, and generally felt like she had the flu. On Friday she had lunch with her friend Darlene and by the end of the lunch, she was feeling pretty awful. She went home to rest. By the time Dave arrived home from work, mom wasn't able to get out of bed. The pain was so intense she couldn't move. By 1:00 am things were progressing downhill quickly, with both pain and vomitting. By 4 am, Dave was insisting that mom go the the ER.
I am still struggling with how this has happened so quickly. Two weeks ago, mom and I were in Mankato attending a mystery dinner theater fund raising event. A few days later she bought tickets to the show "My Fair Lady" for her and I to go to for my upcoming 39th birthday. And now she has cancer. Is that even possible?
Apparently it is.
I am still struggling with how this has happened so quickly. Two weeks ago, mom and I were in Mankato attending a mystery dinner theater fund raising event. A few days later she bought tickets to the show "My Fair Lady" for her and I to go to for my upcoming 39th birthday. And now she has cancer. Is that even possible?
Apparently it is.
The Call
Saturday morning, Dave called to tell me that I needed to come to the ER in Burnville immediately. I asked what was going on, and he told me that mom was in the ER and it was bad. I asked if it was her heart, and he said no. I asked if she was okay, and he said, "just get here." He also told me to call Ann and Craig right away. And so I did. I was a wreck. I know now that Dave was just trying to keep me from panicking, but unfortunately it had the opposite effect. I was quite convinced that I was going to get to the ER and have to say goodbye to mom.
And so, when we learned that mom had cancer, I have to say, it was actually somewhat of a relief. At least with cancer there is a fighting chance that its going to be okay.
When we left the ER, we had a discharge slip from the doctor. At the top of the page, it said diagnosis: peritoneal carcinomatosis. I didn't know what that was, but I knew it wasn't good. But again, she was alive, which quite frankly I hadn't been sure that was the case earlier in the day.
And so, when we learned that mom had cancer, I have to say, it was actually somewhat of a relief. At least with cancer there is a fighting chance that its going to be okay.
When we left the ER, we had a discharge slip from the doctor. At the top of the page, it said diagnosis: peritoneal carcinomatosis. I didn't know what that was, but I knew it wasn't good. But again, she was alive, which quite frankly I hadn't been sure that was the case earlier in the day.
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