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My mom
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My mom

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › My mom

  • Post
    • October 6, 2011 at 12:09 am
    akls
    Participant

      I don't very often post on the Off-Topic board, but I guess I'm looking for a little support.  My mom is 65 and has had two months of weird symptoms including fever, chest pain, irregular heart rate, the list goes on.  She has been "diagnosed" with everything from pericarditis, to pluresy, to an autoimmune disorder.  I went to her Dr's appt.

      I don't very often post on the Off-Topic board, but I guess I'm looking for a little support.  My mom is 65 and has had two months of weird symptoms including fever, chest pain, irregular heart rate, the list goes on.  She has been "diagnosed" with everything from pericarditis, to pluresy, to an autoimmune disorder.  I went to her Dr's appt. with her this afternoon and they had done a chest CT the day the released her from the hospital (last Thursday).  They found a mass in her right lung and they are pretty certain it is cancer.  She had endometrial cancer stage Ia 20 years ago.  They doubt it's a met from that.  They think it is primary lung cancer.  Don't know if it is small cell or non-small cell.  She has never smoked a day in her life.  I feel like we just got punched in the gut.  I guess I'm just looking for someone to listen.  Dealing with my own cancer is one thing, dealing with my mothers I think will be harder.  She is also the primary care giver to her 94 year old mother.  Just a bad day.

       

      Amy S. in Michigan

    Viewing 11 reply threads
    • Replies
        • October 6, 2011 at 1:45 am
        King
        Participant

          Amy,

           

          I rarely come to the Off Topic board but I guess it was meant to be this evening.  I'm so sorry to read your sad, sad news.  And I agree that sometimes I feel it's easier to be the patient.  Take a deep breath and try to take one day at a time.  I'm sure it's all very overwhelming right now.  Aww and to think that your mother is the primary caregiver for her mother.  You've learned so much on your journey with melanoma that I'm sure it's going to be beneficial for your mother.  You're in my thoughts and prayers, Amy.  Life sure isn't fair.

           

          Stay Strong
          King

            • October 6, 2011 at 2:35 am
            akls
            Participant

              Thanks for your kind words Kathy.  You always have a way of making me feel better. 

              Amy

              • October 6, 2011 at 2:35 am
              akls
              Participant

                Thanks for your kind words Kathy.  You always have a way of making me feel better. 

                Amy

                • October 6, 2011 at 2:35 am
                akls
                Participant

                  Thanks for your kind words Kathy.  You always have a way of making me feel better. 

                  Amy

                • October 6, 2011 at 1:45 am
                King
                Participant

                  Amy,

                   

                  I rarely come to the Off Topic board but I guess it was meant to be this evening.  I'm so sorry to read your sad, sad news.  And I agree that sometimes I feel it's easier to be the patient.  Take a deep breath and try to take one day at a time.  I'm sure it's all very overwhelming right now.  Aww and to think that your mother is the primary caregiver for her mother.  You've learned so much on your journey with melanoma that I'm sure it's going to be beneficial for your mother.  You're in my thoughts and prayers, Amy.  Life sure isn't fair.

                   

                  Stay Strong
                  King

                  • October 6, 2011 at 1:45 am
                  King
                  Participant

                    Amy,

                     

                    I rarely come to the Off Topic board but I guess it was meant to be this evening.  I'm so sorry to read your sad, sad news.  And I agree that sometimes I feel it's easier to be the patient.  Take a deep breath and try to take one day at a time.  I'm sure it's all very overwhelming right now.  Aww and to think that your mother is the primary caregiver for her mother.  You've learned so much on your journey with melanoma that I'm sure it's going to be beneficial for your mother.  You're in my thoughts and prayers, Amy.  Life sure isn't fair.

                     

                    Stay Strong
                    King

                    • October 6, 2011 at 1:28 pm
                    Janner
                    Participant

                      Hang in there, Amy.  My Dad was diagnosed 3 years ago with non-small cell carcinoma.  He had already had stage II melanoma and prostate cancer so they had to do a biopsy to determine what type of mets or primary cancer it was.  My Dad smoked for a year during WWII – hardly considered a risk 65 years later.  (He was in the Pacific theater and vets from that time have shown a higher incidence of melanoma, however).  He is older than your Mom and didn't want extensive treatment.  They chose to do a 4D high dose radiation where they radiate the tumor in real time even as you breathe.  This required only 3 sessions instead of the typical 30.  He was stage IB.  He still has a lot of lung nodules we watch but has so far looked NED from just the radiation.  He is already stage IV prostate cancer (remission) and has advanced to stage III melanoma.  He's 86 though, and choose quality over any invasive treatments.  I was never able to find a BB like this one for lung cancer – but since my Dad chose the least invasive path and no further treatment, there wasn't a lot of questions I needed to ask.

                      Best wishes,

                      Janner

                      • October 6, 2011 at 1:28 pm
                      Janner
                      Participant

                        Hang in there, Amy.  My Dad was diagnosed 3 years ago with non-small cell carcinoma.  He had already had stage II melanoma and prostate cancer so they had to do a biopsy to determine what type of mets or primary cancer it was.  My Dad smoked for a year during WWII – hardly considered a risk 65 years later.  (He was in the Pacific theater and vets from that time have shown a higher incidence of melanoma, however).  He is older than your Mom and didn't want extensive treatment.  They chose to do a 4D high dose radiation where they radiate the tumor in real time even as you breathe.  This required only 3 sessions instead of the typical 30.  He was stage IB.  He still has a lot of lung nodules we watch but has so far looked NED from just the radiation.  He is already stage IV prostate cancer (remission) and has advanced to stage III melanoma.  He's 86 though, and choose quality over any invasive treatments.  I was never able to find a BB like this one for lung cancer – but since my Dad chose the least invasive path and no further treatment, there wasn't a lot of questions I needed to ask.

                        Best wishes,

                        Janner

                        • October 6, 2011 at 1:28 pm
                        Janner
                        Participant

                          Hang in there, Amy.  My Dad was diagnosed 3 years ago with non-small cell carcinoma.  He had already had stage II melanoma and prostate cancer so they had to do a biopsy to determine what type of mets or primary cancer it was.  My Dad smoked for a year during WWII – hardly considered a risk 65 years later.  (He was in the Pacific theater and vets from that time have shown a higher incidence of melanoma, however).  He is older than your Mom and didn't want extensive treatment.  They chose to do a 4D high dose radiation where they radiate the tumor in real time even as you breathe.  This required only 3 sessions instead of the typical 30.  He was stage IB.  He still has a lot of lung nodules we watch but has so far looked NED from just the radiation.  He is already stage IV prostate cancer (remission) and has advanced to stage III melanoma.  He's 86 though, and choose quality over any invasive treatments.  I was never able to find a BB like this one for lung cancer – but since my Dad chose the least invasive path and no further treatment, there wasn't a lot of questions I needed to ask.

                          Best wishes,

                          Janner

                            • October 7, 2011 at 1:13 am
                            akls
                            Participant

                              Janner,

                              Thanks for all the helpful info.  Mom met with the specialist today and the next step is a PET scan.  I'm glad they are doing the PET so we can rule out a met and maybe we'll find it's benign.  I'm still hanging on to that possibility.  It's nice to know someone on this board has been through something similar.

                              Amy

                              • October 7, 2011 at 1:13 am
                              akls
                              Participant

                                Janner,

                                Thanks for all the helpful info.  Mom met with the specialist today and the next step is a PET scan.  I'm glad they are doing the PET so we can rule out a met and maybe we'll find it's benign.  I'm still hanging on to that possibility.  It's nice to know someone on this board has been through something similar.

                                Amy

                                • October 7, 2011 at 1:13 am
                                akls
                                Participant

                                  Janner,

                                  Thanks for all the helpful info.  Mom met with the specialist today and the next step is a PET scan.  I'm glad they are doing the PET so we can rule out a met and maybe we'll find it's benign.  I'm still hanging on to that possibility.  It's nice to know someone on this board has been through something similar.

                                  Amy

                                • October 6, 2011 at 3:11 pm
                                dian in spokane
                                Participant

                                  Amy,

                                  I'm sorry to hear this news. I know it must be frightening. I hope that your mom can get some effective treatment and be with you for many more years.

                                   

                                  dian

                                    • October 7, 2011 at 1:10 am
                                    akls
                                    Participant

                                      Thanks Dian.

                                      • October 7, 2011 at 1:10 am
                                      akls
                                      Participant

                                        Thanks Dian.

                                        • October 7, 2011 at 1:10 am
                                        akls
                                        Participant

                                          Thanks Dian.

                                        • October 6, 2011 at 3:11 pm
                                        dian in spokane
                                        Participant

                                          Amy,

                                          I'm sorry to hear this news. I know it must be frightening. I hope that your mom can get some effective treatment and be with you for many more years.

                                           

                                          dian

                                          • October 6, 2011 at 3:11 pm
                                          dian in spokane
                                          Participant

                                            Amy,

                                            I'm sorry to hear this news. I know it must be frightening. I hope that your mom can get some effective treatment and be with you for many more years.

                                             

                                            dian

                                            • October 7, 2011 at 6:43 pm
                                            BarbieGirl
                                            Participant

                                              So sorry to hear this, Amy.  Praying it's benign! 

                                                • October 8, 2011 at 1:21 am
                                                akls
                                                Participant

                                                  Thanks Lisa.  I appreciate it.

                                                  Amy

                                                  • October 8, 2011 at 1:21 am
                                                  akls
                                                  Participant

                                                    Thanks Lisa.  I appreciate it.

                                                    Amy

                                                    • October 8, 2011 at 1:21 am
                                                    akls
                                                    Participant

                                                      Thanks Lisa.  I appreciate it.

                                                      Amy

                                                    • October 7, 2011 at 6:43 pm
                                                    BarbieGirl
                                                    Participant

                                                      So sorry to hear this, Amy.  Praying it's benign! 

                                                      • October 7, 2011 at 6:43 pm
                                                      BarbieGirl
                                                      Participant

                                                        So sorry to hear this, Amy.  Praying it's benign! 

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