Postby Claudine » Thu Oct 15, 2020 10:09 am
Dear Nicole,
I apologize if anything I write is inappropriate, or callous, or very unhelpful - our western society is so disconnected with the end of life, we (or at least I) do not know how to deal with it, talk about it... But, a few thoughts...
This may be totally stupid, but have there ever been liver transplants for people with cancer? Would that be an option?
I would also say - they give you 3 months, but from what I've heard from others, it is often a worst-case scenario (they do not want to give false hope, I guess) and you may have more time with your son than this. During this time, do not give up - keep researching possibilities, keep abreast of current research, there is a lot happening with cancer treatments these days. How about alternative treatments - as long as they're not a financial drain?
And unlike sudden events like heart attacks or car crashes, at least with a progressing disease one has time to make preparations - get things in order, make plans - you are a single mom but hopefully you have a good support network, relatives, close friends who can help you now, but also help your son in the event you are now longer able to take care of him? I read somewhere about mom who wrote many letters to the children she would leave behind, to be opened at special times along their lives (birthdays, graduations, etc), so a little bit of her would always be there and accompany them throughout their lives. If you have the strength and energy to do so, of course.
Again, I really apologize if what I wrote is upsetting to you, I feel powerless in the face of what you are going through...
Wife of Dx 04/18 (51 yo). MSS, KRAS G12A
No primary (involuted?)
Lytic tumor L4 vertebrae, EBRT 04/18, SBRT 02/19
Resect small intestine 05/18 (no cancer - Crohn's)
Failed adjuvant Xelox
Folfiri + Avastin 03/19 to 01/20
6.7 cm left adrenal mass 03/19, successful resection 02/20
CEA since 03/19: high 58, low 3.2, now 51
Scan 03/19: Multiple small lung nodules, now gone
PET 04/20 uptake by L4
L3-L4-L5 fusion surgery and partial corpectomy 05/20
Scan 12/17: nothing to report