Postby TXLiz » Tue Jun 06, 2017 10:47 pm
Dear momorom, I am so sorry that you and your Mom are going through this.
My oldest daughter was a junior in college when I was diagnosed; we live in different states because she was enrolled in a nursing program when her dad retired from the military. We moved and she stayed at college. When I was diagnosed my husband had to tell her over the phone.
She had a hard time with it.
I am sorry you are facing losing your Mom. I know you are terrified and frantic as this horrible disease is hurting your Mom and family. Cancer is a family disease; the whole family suffers.
I don't think your Mom is doomed. I am new here and don't have the knowledge and experience many here have, but there are lots of ways to fight this disease. My chemo nurses told me it is hard to be a chemo nurse now because new drugs and treatments are being found all the time...every time they turn around they have to learn how to administer a new drug or regimen of drugs.
Immunotherapy is a brand new treatment that uses the bodies own immune system to fight cancer. Many people have good results with it.
CEA can be a predictor of progressive disease in some people, and some people, it's not. It could be rising for other reasons, also. I know smarter people will show up here and be able to speak more knowledgeably than I can.
My favorite saying is tomorrow is not promised to any of us.
Yes, cancer is awful and definitely can mess up your life, but it can be treated and fought. It's not a death sentence. There are lots of people here who fought it and won. Or are fighting it and winning. Your brave Mom fought it before and won! She's capable of doing so again.
Although it's extremely hard, and even though your Mom is facing this disease and you have every right to be terrified- try to enjoy time with her and create good moments. You are together now and that's the best it can be. She's with you, you are with her, and you have each other. Save the sadness, as much as possible, for another day.
I would give a lot to see my daughter and be with her, and I have only seen her once since this all went down. If you can see her and be with her then make the most of it.
Again I am so sorry. Please take care of yourself and give your Mom a huge hug everytime you see her! She is so lucky to have such a loving and kind daughter.
Vomiting and blockage 9/19/16 46 y F
R hemi colectomy 9/20/16
Stage 3 B CRC, located in cecum
3 out of 16 lymph nodes positive
perineural invasion/lymphovascular invasion
infiltrating, mod differentiated adenocarcinoma with a mucinous component
separate tumor nodules present in pericolonic adipose tissue
MSI-high
Baseline PET scan clear 9/16 CEA 0.5
FOLFOX 10/16- 3/17
April 16th, CT scan clear. CEA 1.1
Lynch "inconclusive"
Colonoscopy 10/5/2017 clear