mythoughtexactly

We found out when my mothers skin turned yellow. She went to her GP who did some blood tests and sent her for a cat scan. The liver tests showed really really high levels and of course the tumor showed on the scan. At the time they thought it to just be a stricture so he sent her to a G.I. Dr. They went in and found the tumor did brushings and put in a stent to reduce the jaundice and to help with the blockage of the bile. The brushings came back positive. She then went to a surgical oncologist who sent her for a pet scan to make sure it had not spread. He said if it had spread there would be no reason to do the surgery. There was no sign of spread but when he had the scan reformatted as he called it not sure what the heck that means, he said it involved the main portral vein and could not do surgery that chemo and radiation were the only possibility. I did ask the medical oncologist the one who will be oing her chemo about internal radiation the thermaspheres, SIRT, and cyberknife but he said those would not work for her. He said we needed to go to the radiation oncologist to see if he felt she needed radiation to go with the chemo and that after that those 2 docs would talk it over and see what they thought was the best approach. They did a potassium blood test which showed pretty high they said. I don’t know because I am not sure what levels are considered normal but hers was 6.9 so they wanted her to come back Monday to make sure the test was accurate. It showed a level of 5.8. I have no idea what this means as far as this cancer. I do know when she was in the hospital with the blood infection that she was in acute renal failure but that it reversed itself once they put in the drain and gave her a blood transfusion because her bone marrow was not producing like it should. I hope that answers the questions as to what tests she has had done. My mom is 79 and was in absolutely great health. She acted like a 60 year old until all this. My father believes that she should not be told that she is terminal because it would depress her too much and that her frame of mind would keep her from fighting. He wants her to think that this chemo will fix it. It is very frustrating to try and accomplish any question asking to the doctors by doing it this way. TY so very much for your help and support.