cherbourg
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Remember that 5 year statistics are ALREADY 5 YEARS OUT OF DATE when they are published!!!!
Two of my Mom’s chemo drug were practically brand new. Think Nexavar!
There is always hope! Never give up! Read and memorize my signature line!
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers each and every day!
Oh and devoncat….KICK THE SOB AND BLAME IT ON CHEMO BRAIN!!!!
Hugs!
PamDear Floridamom,
GO WITH THE SECOND OPINION!!!! None of us comes with an expiration date on the bottom of our foot!
Every patient is an individual and should be seen and treated that way by the medical community! (of which I am a member!)
I lost my Mom to this monster of a disease in April of this year. When diagnosed she had Stage IV disease with mets to the lungs. The first doctor gave her a prognosis of about 1 to 2 months. That was not acceptable to her and we got a second opinion from Duke and she went with chemo there. They agreed with her decision to fight this disease on every front possible.
She lived to see the birth of her second great grandchild and danced in December at the wedding of her youngest of her four grandchildren (and the only) granddaughter’s wedding in December. She outlived her “prognosis” by another 10 months and was active up to the end.
She was an amazing woman and from reading your post, I can only assume the two of you share a deep faith and fortitude that will give you an amazing strength and sense of purpose.
I’m sorry you had to find this site and us but I can assure you we will all be here for you and your family. You will find some of the most caring and compassionate people on the planet here.
Use the search function at the top of the page for questions…just enter a key word.
Ask lots of questions and take someone with you to each appointment that can write down answers to your questions. You are about to enter a war and you will need to be prepared. We are all warriors here and promise to stand with you!
Let us know how we can help!
Hugs to you and your family! You are not alone!
Pam
Jan,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I know your Dad is in a better place and I hope by now he has met and is chatting with my mom comparing notes on their daughters.
September the 3rd marked the 5 month anniversary of my Mom’s death.
This is still a difficult journey and I never believed that grief would be so hard. I thought all of the anticipatory grief would somehow make it less hard but it doesn’t. I’m at the point where I remember more of the good times with Mom but I still have days where the memories of the last days comes flooding back.
I am so thankful my sister and Dad and I were able to be with Mom when she died and that it was so peaceful. Being a caregiver will give you insight into what kind of person you really are. You will find a deep strength and a measure of love and empathy you didn’t know you were capable of.
I also can’t say enough about Hospice. They were wonderful and because of their care and expertise, my Mom’s passing was so easy and peaceful for her. We had just two difficult nights and both times a nurse was there for us within 15 minutes at 2:00 am and 3:00 am.
I’ve always felt close to you since we were both in NC. You and your family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
You should be proud that you were able to help your Dad so very much. You have walked a hard and difficult road and and this will give you so much insight as you volunteer with Hospice.
Keep in touch here on the boards…
Much love and Hugs,
Pam
So sorry you had to find us. I can promise you that you will encounter some of the most compassionate, intelligent, and caring people in the world on this site.
I know you will have a million questions. Don’t hesitate to ask. We have or are going through everything you are feeling or wondering about. Do use the search engine above… just enter and you will find lots of information.
Now will be a good time to go to what I call the “5 minute rule”. That’s where you do 5 minutes and then tackle the next 5 minutes!
Read my signature line…it’s from my son when my Mom and his grandmother was first diagnosed.
Unfortunately we lost Mom in April of this year but she fought long and hard. She was able to see the birth of her second great grandchild and dance at her only granddaughter’s wedding this past December.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers!
Hugs,
PamHeather,
I lost my Mom to this horrible disease April 3, 2009. She was diagnosed in May of 2008.
When discussing prognosis with my son he replied immediately with the “tagline” I use in my signature. To me it’s the absolute best was to live.
Maybe you will gain some comfort from it.
Hugs,
PamKay,
My mom was on Gemzar, Oxiliplatin, Nexavar and Xeloda. Out of all of the four the only side effect she experienced was “cold neuropathy” for two days after the chemo. This mainly annoyed her since she could not drink her daily milkshakes.
I hope your Dad does well and will keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
PamHeather,
You can also pull up my posts and read my journey with my Mom’s CC. Dr. Clary is one of the best. My mom was treated at Duke and her oncologist was Dr. Michael Morse.
I lost my Mom in April of this year at the age of 77.
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
PamHeather,
My Mom whom I lost in April of this year was treated at Duke by two good physicians. Her Oncologist was Dr. Michael Morse and her surgeon was Dr. Onitis.She got very good care and with chemo lived to see the birth of her second great grandchild and dance at her granddaughter’s wedding this past December.
I don’t post here very often since I’m having a hard time with her death but do come here everyday or so.
Hope this is helpful…
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Pam
I know how hard it is to lose a parent. May you gain some comfort in knowing he fought the good fight and is now well and free of pain.
My heart goes out to you and your family. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
PamBeth and Dave,
All I can say is that God answers prayers. I am so thrilled for both of you!
Hugs and love,
PamTia,
The pathology report seems very reasonable and my pathology department will send anything that needs a second opinion to the Armed Forces Pathology Department. They are extremely reliable.
Technically speaking there are all different kinds of adenocarcinomas and cholangiocarcinoma is one of them. Colon cancers are adenos and there are adenocarcinomas you find in the lungs. (The list goes on and on). Most all cancers will eventually end up in the liver as they become metastatic.
Hope this is helpful. Also don’t get too worked up over prognosis and five year survival rates. Every patient is different and the 5year rates are 5 years out of date when they appear.
As my Mom’s oncologist told her when she asked him how long she had, he laughed and told her that if he was able to tell her that then he could charge her a whole lot more money! Only God knows for sure.
As for blood tests here is a link to an excellent site for information:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
It’s a very reliable site and very user friendly. Hospice is a wonderful resource and my Mom loved her personal nurse. It’s so comforting to know there is someone with knowledge that can help make decisions. They will also assist with equipment, drugs, anything to make her more comfortable.
You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs to you all,
PamHi Vicki Jo,
I just lost my Mom to CC April 3, 2009. I diagnosed her in May 2008.
I know the fears you have concerning the end stage of this disease. You should definitely call Hospice. They were invaluable in providing equipment, drugs, a nurse, social worker and even someone to help bath my mother. All of this at no charge. Because of their help my Mom’s dying was mostly peaceful. We had two bad nights near the end when she was having trouble breathing and both times a nurse was at the house with 15 minutes. (My parents live in Greensboro, NC). Both times it was in the wee hours of the morning 2:00 and 3:00 am. They provided drugs (morphine, haldol and atropine) all which made her painfree and peaceful. When she died, she simply breathed one last time and then was gone. My Dad, my sister and myself were with her.
You can use the search box on the CC site to query my user name – Cherbourg and read my posts.
You’ll get a good idea of how my mom’s journey with this monster of a disease progressed. We could not have had a better experience with Hospice. I can’t say enough about how wonderful it was. They were able to show us how to give the drugs when in the two days before her death she couldn’t swallow.
My mom was still working full time at 76 when she was diagnosed. They found her tumors when she had a CT scan after a bout of pleursy. She was Stage IV with metastates to the lungs. Both of my grandmothers did not die until their mid 90’s so this was devastating since I thought I’d have my mom at least another 20 years. Mom fought hard, did chemo and lived long enough to dance at her only granddaughters wedding which we moved up a year, since she wanted her grandmother at her wedding. (December 20th). She also saw the birth of her second great grandchild.
I know the pain you are feeling. Savor each moment you have. Celebrate the wonderful life you’ve had with your grandmother. You will find a strength you never knew you were capable of having.
I will keep you and my family in my thoughts and prayers.
Much love and many hugs..
PamLadybug,
I don’t have an answer but am sending good wishes and hugs to the both of you.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers that you will receive a good answer.
Hugs,
PamWelcome Diane,
You will find a wealth of information and the most caring, compassionate people on the planet here.
No question is ever considered “dumb’ and you can also use the search function at the top of the page to query anything that crosses your mind.
We are all here for you as you start on the journey. Come often and keep us informed of how you are doing.
You will be in my thoughts and prayers!
Hugs,
PamAmy,
Here is a really good link to a site that I use often at the hospital. The information is accurate and it’s very user friendly for non medical people. (Although after dealing with this monster of a disease, we should ALL have a medical degree!)
http://www.labtestsonline.org/
You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers,
Pam
