On 1/20/2008
Rhonda Needs Angels & Pra wrote:
I was in contact a few times with the DCA research director. It was quite a while ago, before it was ready for trial. I have an email from the Dr. and a few links in the blog I kept through out my mom's journey with lung cancer. Please visit her blog. It's very emotional, and painful but I wanted other lung cancer patients to see how she was treated, and all the mistakes that were made. My mom and I hoped bringing attention to issues may help other lung cancer patients be more aware and save themselves from such costly set backs. Prayers to you all, Rhonda.
http://ca.360.yahoo.com/rhondamckelviefoley
Hi Rhonda
I would just like to comment and make your praises for the work that continue to do and that you have already achieved.
I also went onto your Yahoo page, but unfortunately I am blocked as I going through a company server. I would love to contact you directly if you would be able to correspond and advise of a e-mail address.
I take my hat off to you and your family for what you went through with your mum, your courage and strength, You trully are an earth angel.
My story starts on Dec 4th 2006, when my mum at the age of 58 was diagnosed with Small cell Carcinoma Lung Cancer, she had been having bad stomach pains and feeling lower back ache, just having a normal check up when they sent her for a scan. They picked up that there was a growth on the pancreas.?????
Took her to the best gastroentrologist in Johannesburg (South Africa) and he operated with out delay. Monday the 4th Dec 2006 was about to start the whipple procedure when they decided to go in all over with a camera and they discovered the primary tumour in the lung.
Came back after results small cell, she was in ICU for a few days then back at home to recover after they had removed four lymph nodes. The doctor's said they "were insignificant" what that meant I am not sure they did not elaborate, my parents are from the old school and find it hard to take things into their own hands in this day and age, kind of what the doctors say is RIGHT!.
Well she started chemo, end in April of 2007, she was more disgusted at losing her hair! they don't call it a womans crowning glory for nothing. She started again with very bad abdominal pain and back pain this went of for a period of four months. Again she was seeing her GP, I told her to stop messing with the smaller doctors and to make her appointment at the oncologist again, which she duly did, inbetween all of this she had started alternative therapy, what they call here a "vitamin Wash" she even had the fillings from her teeth removed as this is believed to hold all the heavy metals from the chemo and poison the patient further on after chemo has finished.
This made her very nauseous, we guessed almost like a detox, she went of her food, but during all of this she has picked up alot of weight, which they doctors have put down to her stopping smoking, and she lost her taste for many of the right foods, and lived on chocolate muffins, this was all she could keep down.
After a long emotional day at two hospitals getting CT scans and Bone Scans, it came back that the tumour had doubled in size and was to start chemo again.
Today she is on her 5th round one more to go and then another CT scan.
I haven't gone into much details, I wish I could find more information and Ive left numerous messages for the oncologist who just refuses to return my calls.
I do not know what is the time I have left with mum and I can't even begin to comprehend what she is going through. Why does Cancer make one feel so powerless, it is an invisible entity we can't see our loved ones fight, but we see it taking the life force from them.
The family stay positive but what is the prognosis of SCLC, I see and read alot about NCSL but not about Small Cell which they say is the most aggresive.
I am sorry for your own loss Rhonda, but know that your mum walks with you in your strive for knowledge and for your sharing with others. I honour you for this.
Take care and much blessings and miracles going forward
I hope to hear from you
Regards
Joanna