robyn
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My mom goes to her local ONC on Thurs. also. We don’t get as nervous about that one as we used to. But when we have to go to Houston for her three month check up, I feel nauseated the entire week before! Good luck and God bless to everyone waiting for results. It is definately gut wrenching.
Hi Violarob,
My mom has been going to MD Anderson every 2 months since Oct. 08. She also sees Dr. Javle. Our wxperience with them has been wonderful. We are from Amarillo, TX, so she sees an Onc. here also, but MDA prescribes and oversees all the treatments. Dr. Javle was the only Dr. that gave us any hope at all. The Onc. mom saw before we went to Houston basically told her to just go home and die! Now, seven months later, her tumor is shrinking, and she still feels pretty good in spite of the chemo. She will go back to MDA next month to recheck her scans and see if she’s ready for radiation. Cross your fingers for her!Barbara, you’re so right about cancer being a business. I hate to sound like a conspiracy nut, but I honestly believe if there wasn’t so much money to be made in cancer treatment, there would’ve been a cure a long time ago.
Amy, I know what you mean about wishing for that miracle cure. I can’t count the times i’ve wished for that since my mom’s diagnosis. I still feel like it’s a bad dream that I’ll wake up from. Mom is interested in alternative medicine so along with her chemo, we’re doing diet and supplements also. She’s only had one scan since starting chemo, and she did have some tumor shrinkage. She goes back for another scan this month, so we’re praying and keeping everything crossed that we get some more good news!
My prayers and thoughts are with ya’ll.
RobynJeff, I’m sorry to hear you got the same response. It is so sad that our health care system is all about the money. Some times I think that the countries that have a national healthcare system may have the right idea, but I’m sure there are drawbacks with that also.
I hope you’re doing well. I read all of your posts and think of you often.
Keep on taking it to the limit, one more time!!When my Mom was first diagnosed, I called CTCA. They were extremely optimistic on the phone about what kind of treatments they could do. We were really excited and ready to go, we were just waiting on a call as to when her appt. would be.
Two weeks later, after I had left several messages with our “case worker”, we were told her insurance would not cover treatment at thier facility. We were basically told “too bad” and not offered any other suggestions. At the time, we knew nothing about what to do or where to go next, so we were extremely upset and dissapointed. We had put all of our eggs in one basket.
Her insurance told us the reason they wouldn’t cover treatment there is because they charge 300% more for traditional treatments than the major cancer centers. Your experience may be different, and I may feel differently if we had gotten in the doors. I just have sour feelings because they were very indifferent after finding out about her insurance at a time when we were all so emotioally fragile.Thank you all so much for your info. I know this is a terrible topic, but I have one of those minds that have to know the why and how of everything. I am an LPN but haven’t practiced in a while. I was always going to go back to school to get my RN, just haven’t done it yet. I’ve been teaching Kindergarten for two years so who knows if I ever will. I know just enough about medicine to want to have more understanding, and to scare myself!
Our Dr. in Houston told us that this is a very slow growing cancer which in turn makes it very slow to respond to chemo. Are there different types of CC? Some that grow slow and some that grow fast, or do they all eventually start spreading faster? Since chemo causes a compromised immune system, and radiation causes liver damage, which seem to be the two fatal complications, then maybe we should have opted for no treatment, if this is indeed a slow growing cancer. I don’t know, there are too many questions and not enough answers. It is all VERY frustating.
Teresa,
My heart aches for you. I wish there were words that could make the hurt go away, or even lessen a little bit. All I can say is I’m so sorry for your loss, and my prayers are with you and your family.
RobynAmy,
I know what you mean about feeling selfish. I think my mom is handleing all of this emotionally better than I am. I know that everyday she is here and feeling good is a huge blessing, but sometimes it’s hard to keep positive thoughts. You always think you’re a big grown up girl untill your MOMMY gets sick! I’m a grown woman with kids of my own, but I guess there is always that little girl inside that just wants her momma. She’s always been so strong, it just never occured to me that one day she might not be here, especially not this soon. My prayers and thoughts are with you and your mom.
RobynThank you all so much for your prayers and kind words. It means more to me than I can say. We did get good news. Her largest tumor shrank about 1.5cm on all sides. The smaller ones did not shrink, but they didn’t grow or spread either. We definately had some prayers answered. She will stay on the same regimine of Gem/Xeloda, and he will check her scans agian in March.
hopeandgrace,
I just wanted to thank you for your posts. They have made my heart ache and lifted my spirits at the same time. My mom was diagnosed in Oct. 08, and I’m having a really hard time dealing with it. You put into words alot of my feelings. Your mom sounds like mine with her faith and optimism. I hope they both keep it. I’m supposed to be the one keeping my mom’s spirits up, but she always lifts my spirits and gives me faith. You and your family are in my prayers.ljg, Thank you so much for your words of encouragement. You’re right, all we can do is take it one day at a time and enjoy the time we have to the fullest! My prayers go out to you and your family. My mom and I will go back to Houston next week so they can check her scans. She just completed her third round of chemo. She did have to stop taking the Xeloda on her last week because she developed hand/foot syndrome. I would really appreciate it if ya’ll would send out a prayer that we get good news next week. I am praying for all of you that have lost loved ones to this disease and for all of you who are still fighting the fight!! May God bless all of you and give you strength. I’m hoping for a marvelous new treatment for CC in 2009!
You might also try the Dr. Phil show. He and Robin are always trying to bring about awarness. Atleast it would be another venue.
Violarob,
So glad to hear that you’re doing well. My Mom is being treated by Dr. Javle also. We really like him so far. We will go back to Houston next week to check her scan to see if there has been any shrinkage. We’re praying really hard! She had to stop the Xeloda a week ago because she developed hand/foot syndrome. I hope that stopping that won’t disrupt anything.Hi David,
I am so happy to hear of your success. My Mom was told her tumor is inoperable at this time, but we’re hoping that we will get a miracle and her tumor will shrink enough for her to be a surgical candidate. Do you mind me asking who did your surgery. I’m trying to stay one step ahead and look for good surgoens just in case.
