Doctors say too advanced to treat
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Thanks Kathy. I will look for the book. Good thoughts and luck to you as well and thanks so much for your feedback. Joanne
Joanne,
So sorry for the news about your mother. I have done lots of reading in the past 6 months since I was diagnosed and wonder if your mother would be interested in some of the information about diet and cancer. There is a cookbook called One Bite at a Time and another by the same author (book title escapes me at the moment, although mentioned on another thread). The second book goes into a lot of details about foods and particular effects on cancer and what kinds of cancer (sadly not much directly about CC since it is so rare, but it does address cancers of the digestive tract). It also emphasizes exercise (as does the book Life Over Cancer). I have met a man who was sewn back up without going through the surgery for the same reason as your mom and he is still alive 6 years later after being given 3 months. As people on this website have said, “we don’t have an expiration date stamped on our” behinds. And I am seeing from this website also, what spirit and attitude do.
This diagnosis is a terrible shock but there are positive steps to take.
Lots of good luck and warm thoughts heading your way.
KathyThank you for all your heartfelt feedback. An oncologist, Dr Ahmed Zakari, came to speak to us yesterday finally before my mom was released to rehab. He was an angel that gave us a short, frank, direct consult. Though he said the same things as we heard before, he gave us and spelled the names of drugs (Gemzar) , treatments (chemoembolization) trial drug regimens(Moffitt with Gemzar and others added is all) . He gave us NO false hope but provided us with his email if anything changed(eg fever) until our appt in 2 weeks. He told her that any treatment may only give her extra months, but that it was her choice. Told her to get out of rehab quickly, try to eat, eat protein and try to stay active. This info perked my mom up because she was finally given some direction and choices. So today is a better day. Thanks to all. Joanne
Joanne,
Welcome to the site. Sorry that you had to find us all and I’m sorry to hear that your mums surgery could not go as planned. My dad although younger than your mum could not have surgery for the same reason that your mums surgery had to be stopped, in that the tumour was too close to the major blood vessel. My dad was 64 when he was diagnosed and his GI specialist thought that the surgery would be far too risky for my dad and that it could kill him if he underwent it.
I know that hearing what you did from your mums doctor is very hard to take, and I felt the same when my dads doctor gave us that same news. What has been said by some of the other members here about quality of life is an important point and is an issue that many of us have had to deal with. Again for my dad, it was something that he had to deal with and he wanted to have the best possible quality of life for whatever time that he had left with us.
Please keep coming back here as you will get a load of support and help from all of us here. We know how you feel and we know what you are going through, and please feel free to ask any questions that you have and we will all help if we can.
My best wishes to you and your mum,
Gavin
Dear Joanne – Never give up hope. We were also told that there was no treatment for my husband, but he elected to try chemotherapy anyway. It added 3 months to the original prognosis and he was thankful for every day (even when he felt illtempered and angry). The chemo bought him time to see the grandson born that will carry on the family name. My prayers are with you. Blessings, Susan
Joanne….a warm welcome from me also. Sorry about the current developments with your Mom. As you have experienced the true extent of the disease only can be determined during surgery.
Not too recently did I attend a session discussing medical treatments for the elderly.
It had been suggested that the overall health of the patient should be the determining factor for consideration of treatments. In the past general consensus of the medical community had been to avoid some of the harsher treatment to those of advanced age..
Given the advanced stage of your MomJoanne,
If it turns out that even after other opinions are weighed that there is no treatment, you still have time to create precious memories. Time gets compressed at times like this and it’s value becomes clear. I’m sure you and your mom will use it well.God Bless,
bobDear Joanne, welcome to our family, so sorry you had to find us. I feel that with so much going on in Mom and given her age that the Doctors were probably right with what they said, however, we do believe in more opinions until one is completely satisfied. MD Anderson is one of the best for CC and I believe you can call them and ask what they need you to FAX over so that they can review her case. Good luck and please keep us posted.
My dad had the same results. He had an attempted resection and was closed back up. He did try two chemo sessions and came very sick. He lived 6 months after diagnosis. He was 75 and did have other health issues, too. There comes a point were quality of life outweighs buying a little more time especially for the sick and elderly that can’t really fight. It was important for us to have him enjoy what little time he had left. Sorry to hear about your lovely mom. Pam
My 84 year old previously healthy mom was diagnosed with CC 2 weeks ago(in January 2011). The liver surgeon then went in last Friday to try and remove a cancerous tip of her liver and her enlarged gall bladder. He closed her up without doing anything. The tumor had attached itself from the gall bladder to the duodenum and also to the porta hepatis (major blood vessels in the area). The surgeon said the surgery would have been difficult for a young person to endure. The lymph biopsy came back positive. She has not been making blood well and has been becoming anemic for the past 2 months. Scans show suspicious areas for metastasis in 2 ribs and one hip. It is extremely hard for me to absorb hearing that the doctors also don’t suggest any chemo because of the advanced stage of the disease. It also turns out her heart is no longer that strong anymore.
I wonder if anyone has been told the same, that at this stage there is no practical treatment. I feel like I would be so irresponsible not looking for further treatment for her. I actually have MD Anderson in town and my sister who lives 2 hours away lives next to a Moffitt Center.
All your feed back would be appreciated during this difficult time.
Joanne
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