So it's Tuesday and my mom has been in the hospital since Sunday and we're hearing some good news.
The Fevers:
The recurrent fevers seem to be coming from the cancer being destroyed and not from any infection in the Kidneys or the body.
The Pain
The doc from Infectious diseases came by to take a look and did some physical examinations and was confident that the pain was not coming from the kidneys. So where is it coming from? Well, the cancer did swell up and it has affected the lymph nodes in the immediate area and has clamped down on the ureter. They seem sure that it has something to do with that. As a result, the pain center is hopefully going to get her on a regimen that will allow her to function without pain and get her out of the hospital.
They also conducted a bone scan today to rule out any bone concerns. Hopefully the test will be negative and we can be sure that the only things affecting mom is cancer. If that's the case, then we're going full steam ahead.
After coming back from the Body Scan, mom was having bad pain and needed an IV change. The IV team was attempting to put the needle in the right forearm and before that happened Pop left. Not sure if he could watch mom squirming like she eventually did. I attempted to experience the pain myself by making some sort of weird mix of facial expressions attempting to express my empathy. Either way, Pop had to leave for work and the IV team failed to put the IV in the forearm. Thanks for poking her so much only to finish it in 5 minutes with an IV in the hand.
So what's next?
Well, a lot actually. Mom has been undergoing minor bouts of radiation to accommodate a possible kidney infection. Now that we are reasonably sure that there is no infection and the fevers are related (possibly) to the cancer cells dieing off and the pain from the cancer itself or lymph node swelling, mom can start with the regular bouts of radiation that she needs to fight. Chemo will likely happen soon and we need to weed her off the IV medication and onto some pill versions so that they can manage her pain. From the little i know, pain is a way of life for cancer patients at least for a short while. Hopefully some positive steps can be made that not only take care of her pain but also get her out of the hospital.
At the moment, mom is sleeping after getting her delaudid. While it's does not work as well as she hopes, she'll be getting some quick release morphine tabs which we hope will be better than what she is getting at the moment.
She's done awesome thus far despite being pricked like a pin cushion. Let's hope this continues to move forward in a positive direction.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Pain Center!
Definitely got a good impression of the Pain Center doc. Smart and reflective - something new to our experiences thus far in the hospital.
Hopefully some mix of Phentinyl (sp?) and/or morphine along with some anti-nausea medication will help mom with pain management as radiation and chemo (hopefully) reduce the tumor size and relieve the pain she is experiencing.
Hopefully some mix of Phentinyl (sp?) and/or morphine along with some anti-nausea medication will help mom with pain management as radiation and chemo (hopefully) reduce the tumor size and relieve the pain she is experiencing.
Back in the Hospital
Now that I am down backtracking a bit and bringing everyone up to speed, it's sad that I am now writing this blog (as with the other previous posts) in the hospital. After getting back from New York at 5pm on Sunday, March 21, my Mom was experiencing a lot of pain and a fever. My dad warned me about some of this, but after I took her temp and finding it was 101.1 degrees, I knew something needed to be done.
After speaking with the Doctor, he was concerned that it could be plyo. My mom had a stent put in just below her left kidney around March 9. The purpose of the stent was to ensure that the left ureter was open (it's not since the cancer as constricted it to such an extreme degree which is why her Kidney is still vary large).
It was determined that the stent might be the cause of the infection and she was put on IV antibiotics.
The Kidney: It's large and no one is doing anything to address it. They could do a nephroscopy which is a flexible tube that attaches the Kidney to the Bladder, thus bypassing the ureter. Even the radiation oncologist agreed the priority should be to ensure the kidney function and ureter is open. the doctor's recommendation? To have my mom live in excruciating pain until the radiation and chemo force the cervical cancer to become smaller thus removing the blockage.
Stupid huh? The kidney is not able to get rid of the fluid in it's system and this guy refuses to do anything about it. He is hoping that the radiation/chemo will do something about this issue but I'm not holding my breath. I've accepted the fact that some pain is necessary, though this much pain that is not directly related to the cancer? Something has to be done since pain is something my mom refuses to deal with. Oh yeah, hospitals to. Combine these two together and you get a terrible situation that increasing chances of depression and helplessness.
After meeting the doctor today, he seems very curt. The nurses and residents suck. Neither seem able to listen or comprehend the English language to the point that residents prescribe medication that would adversely effect her kidneys, and therefore successful chemo treatment and the nurses never seem to be able to administer pain medication earlier than 2 hours after they have been told of the presence of extreme pain.
Either way, mom is battling this like a champ. Though we expect her to be in the hospital for the next few days, I'm hoping that she will be better on Wednesday so that she can leave. Being at home and able to manage her pain is critical to her well being.
Half the battle is medical treatment the other half is a positive disposition willing to fight this to the end. She has the former, I hope she can continue the latter.
After speaking with the Doctor, he was concerned that it could be plyo. My mom had a stent put in just below her left kidney around March 9. The purpose of the stent was to ensure that the left ureter was open (it's not since the cancer as constricted it to such an extreme degree which is why her Kidney is still vary large).
It was determined that the stent might be the cause of the infection and she was put on IV antibiotics.
The Kidney: It's large and no one is doing anything to address it. They could do a nephroscopy which is a flexible tube that attaches the Kidney to the Bladder, thus bypassing the ureter. Even the radiation oncologist agreed the priority should be to ensure the kidney function and ureter is open. the doctor's recommendation? To have my mom live in excruciating pain until the radiation and chemo force the cervical cancer to become smaller thus removing the blockage.
Stupid huh? The kidney is not able to get rid of the fluid in it's system and this guy refuses to do anything about it. He is hoping that the radiation/chemo will do something about this issue but I'm not holding my breath. I've accepted the fact that some pain is necessary, though this much pain that is not directly related to the cancer? Something has to be done since pain is something my mom refuses to deal with. Oh yeah, hospitals to. Combine these two together and you get a terrible situation that increasing chances of depression and helplessness.
After meeting the doctor today, he seems very curt. The nurses and residents suck. Neither seem able to listen or comprehend the English language to the point that residents prescribe medication that would adversely effect her kidneys, and therefore successful chemo treatment and the nurses never seem to be able to administer pain medication earlier than 2 hours after they have been told of the presence of extreme pain.
Either way, mom is battling this like a champ. Though we expect her to be in the hospital for the next few days, I'm hoping that she will be better on Wednesday so that she can leave. Being at home and able to manage her pain is critical to her well being.
Half the battle is medical treatment the other half is a positive disposition willing to fight this to the end. She has the former, I hope she can continue the latter.
Chemo
My mom went to the hospital to have surgery to have something implanted underneath her skin for her future chemo treatments. My mom's doctor, an unnamed award winning Pittsburgh Physician who practices at AGH has determined, with some excellent Radiation Oncologists, that she'll be on a daily radiation treatment along with chemotherapy on a case-by-case basis (anything meaning once per week to once every 2-3 or 4 weeks depending on how she does).
Surgery is not recommended for cancer as advanced as my mom's. However, not being a doctor, something needs to happen to drain that Kidney. The Kidney seems to be causing agony with my mother and as anyone with a loved one experiencing excruciating pain will attest all you want to do is take their place. To do anything necessary to alleviate their suffering. This includes being short and curt with everyone - which is understandable for any patient/family.
However, My mom is the most courageous woman, heck person, I've ever known. Sure she complains from time to time about the pain, but at no time will she scream, and at no time will she ask for more medication than is absolutely required/necessary (even if a tad bit more will make her more comfortable). She is the epitome of the strong, independent woman. She is someone who defines herself on her own terms, and refuses, despite the agony and pain she is experiencing, to give any amount on the management of our family. This is most amazing both positively and negatively.
She is positively the best mother I child can have. She is someone who without even thinking, will kill herself for her husband and kids. She refuses to not bug me about eating lunch or dinner if we've missed it due to taking her to the hospital and she refuses to allow her illness to "burden" the family.
Negatively, she has yet to understand or full grasp that none our late night hospital stays or long drives to get home to see her are a not a burden. It's worry, caring, love that requires me to drive sometimes 7 hours to see her and make sure she's ok. It's love that my older brother is worried about her condition and is getting increasing anxious and curt with some people. It's out of love when my father, an ER physician get's frustrated with idiotic residents, doctors, and nurses who sometimes reflect the worst of the worst of America's health care system.
Back to the topic at hand, the surgery went well, no complications and she is ready to kick cancer's ass. Beware Cancer, your days are fucking numbered.....
Surgery is not recommended for cancer as advanced as my mom's. However, not being a doctor, something needs to happen to drain that Kidney. The Kidney seems to be causing agony with my mother and as anyone with a loved one experiencing excruciating pain will attest all you want to do is take their place. To do anything necessary to alleviate their suffering. This includes being short and curt with everyone - which is understandable for any patient/family.
However, My mom is the most courageous woman, heck person, I've ever known. Sure she complains from time to time about the pain, but at no time will she scream, and at no time will she ask for more medication than is absolutely required/necessary (even if a tad bit more will make her more comfortable). She is the epitome of the strong, independent woman. She is someone who defines herself on her own terms, and refuses, despite the agony and pain she is experiencing, to give any amount on the management of our family. This is most amazing both positively and negatively.
She is positively the best mother I child can have. She is someone who without even thinking, will kill herself for her husband and kids. She refuses to not bug me about eating lunch or dinner if we've missed it due to taking her to the hospital and she refuses to allow her illness to "burden" the family.
Negatively, she has yet to understand or full grasp that none our late night hospital stays or long drives to get home to see her are a not a burden. It's worry, caring, love that requires me to drive sometimes 7 hours to see her and make sure she's ok. It's love that my older brother is worried about her condition and is getting increasing anxious and curt with some people. It's out of love when my father, an ER physician get's frustrated with idiotic residents, doctors, and nurses who sometimes reflect the worst of the worst of America's health care system.
Back to the topic at hand, the surgery went well, no complications and she is ready to kick cancer's ass. Beware Cancer, your days are fucking numbered.....
Background
So, after a few weeks of attempting to vent to nurses, doctors, parents, friends, etc, I've decided to attempt to maintain my sanity through this tough time by discussing our trials and tribulations of battling Cervical Cancer. My hope is that this becomes a venue of solace that I, and others, can turn to to learn more about the treatment process, what our family is and has experienced, and what lessons can be learned in the future.
First and foremost, go to your doctor. As someone who to refused to inform a doctor about a serious medical condition, I need to heed my own advice, but it goes without saying that we all have a responsibility to take care of ourselves.
So, where did this all begin? A few months ago, my mother, in her early 50s complained of generalized back pain. The pain was consistent and, at the time, not too hard to handle. Soon the discomfort grew and the pain increased dramatically. After a few weeks of generalized pain therapy, my father decided it was time to get things checked out. After meeting with a urologist and gynecologist, the worst was confirmed. My mom had Stage 3 Cervical Cancer and the Cancer had grown to cause a blockage under the left Kidney so as to prevent it from draining.
Imagine not being able to relieve yourself for days and having your Kidney''s swell like balloons - that is the feeling that I imagine she is experiencing and I honestly can't comprehend what it is like.
So what's the prognosis. Well anyone with Google can figure out what the prognosis is, generally, for a someone with Stage 3 Cervical Cancer. It's not the best, but certainly not the worst. It can, and in this case will, be beaten to a pulp. It won't know what hit it, I can guarantee that.
First and foremost, go to your doctor. As someone who to refused to inform a doctor about a serious medical condition, I need to heed my own advice, but it goes without saying that we all have a responsibility to take care of ourselves.
So, where did this all begin? A few months ago, my mother, in her early 50s complained of generalized back pain. The pain was consistent and, at the time, not too hard to handle. Soon the discomfort grew and the pain increased dramatically. After a few weeks of generalized pain therapy, my father decided it was time to get things checked out. After meeting with a urologist and gynecologist, the worst was confirmed. My mom had Stage 3 Cervical Cancer and the Cancer had grown to cause a blockage under the left Kidney so as to prevent it from draining.
Imagine not being able to relieve yourself for days and having your Kidney''s swell like balloons - that is the feeling that I imagine she is experiencing and I honestly can't comprehend what it is like.
So what's the prognosis. Well anyone with Google can figure out what the prognosis is, generally, for a someone with Stage 3 Cervical Cancer. It's not the best, but certainly not the worst. It can, and in this case will, be beaten to a pulp. It won't know what hit it, I can guarantee that.
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