Mother Diagnosed With Cancer

My mother has recently been diagnosed with Rectal and Vaginal Cancer.  This came much as a shock to us because we were in the hospital for her COPD which is a pulmonary disease caused from years of smoking, not to ever imagine that she has Cancer.  Surgery is not an option for my Mother, because of her lung disease.  Her oncologist has scheduled 30 radiation treatments and wanted to include 6 chemotherapy treatments.  We have since decided to not go forward with the chemo, because Mother is so weak, however we have had 6 radiation treatments as of today.  I am posting this site, because this is my first experience with Cancer in my family. I am desperate for someone to share their experience with me.  If you have any insight, I would love to hear from you.  Thank you so much and have a blessed day...

 

On 2/12/2008 Believe08 wrote:

My mother has recently been diagnosed with Rectal and Vaginal Cancer.  This came much as a shock to us because we were in the hospital for her COPD which is a pulmonary disease caused from years of smoking, not to ever imagine that she has Cancer.  Surgery is not an option for my Mother, because of her lung disease.  Her oncologist has scheduled 30 radiation treatments and wanted to include 6 chemotherapy treatments.  We have since decided to not go forward with the chemo, because Mother is so weak, however we have had 6 radiation treatments as of today.  I am posting this site, because this is my first experience with Cancer in my family. I am desperate for someone to share their experience with me.  If you have any insight, I would love to hear from you.  Thank you so much and have a blessed day...

Hi, so sorry to hear about your mom.  My mom has stage IIIa non-small cell lung cancer.  It was a shock to us too.  We also found out she has COPD (found during a pulmonary function study prior to surgery).  She was a smoker for many years.  Her lung disease, COPD, limited the amount of lung they could remove, they took out the primary tumor but unfortunately her lymph nodes were positive for mets.  She just completed four rounds of chemo (each "round" is a 21 day cycle).  I was hopeful the chemo worked but her cough returned, she hasn't been feeling well and this really has me concerned.  We have not had any scans as of yet to say the chemo has worked or not.  Next week we go to consult for 6 weeks of radiation therapy.  This is a very long and scary journey, bless you for being there for your mom.  Has your mom had any side effects from the radiation?

Best wishes,

Mandy

Mandy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mother.  Do you mind me asking her age?  Does she still smoke?  My mother was a smoker for 40 or so years and we found out about the COPD about 4 years ago.  At that time, our prognosis was 2-3 years.  Mom hasn't smoked in a year and a half.  Last year, she was put on Oxygen 24 hours per day.  It's now to the point where she is in and out of the hospital with her COPD and movement for her is started to be a struggle.  Mom, too is scheduled for 6 weeks of Radiation as your mom is.  We have completed 15 treatments so far.  She has had some side effects that have included severe diarrhea, some nausea and her area of treatment is really burnt and painful.  The diarrhea and nausea I thought only came with Chemo, but I've since learned that after about a week of radiation, that comes along with it as well.  I'm sure you're familiar with Zofran, since your Mom has had Chemo.  IF not, make sure you have it on hand for her. My moms doctor has her on Lomotil for the diarrhea and Zofran for the nausea.  Mom is now on a lot of pain meds as well as her daily meds for the COPD.  How far along is your Mothers COPD?  What meds are they giving her for that?  We have found that My Mothers Pulmonary doctor didn't help her as much as her Internal Medicine Doctor and we are no longer seeing the Pulmonary Specialists for her COPD.  It seems that she has more aggressive treatment with the Internal Medicine Doctor.  Do you live close to your Mother and care for her daily or is she able to live by herself?    Our journey is just day to day with Mom right now.  Some days are great, and others are just "ok".  You probabally feel the same with your Mother.  Cancer is such a terrible word that we all fear to hear.  Mandy, thank you so much for sharing your story with me.  It helps me so much to know that you, that there's someone out there that is going through exactly what I'm going through with my Mother.  I live 200 miles away from my Mother and I travel on Friday Morning to get to her and I take the weekend shift.  My brother and sister in law (who is a respiratory therapist) takes care of her through the week and my sister (who is a nurse) and I share weekends.  They live there, I'm the only one who moved away.  I am so thankful that we have someone in the medical field in our family that can coach me along.  If I can share anything with you, or ask my family any questions that you have, I'll be more than happy to.  Bless you on your journey with your Mother, Mandy.  Pray diligently and you will be given the strength that you need.  I will be praying for your Mother and you.

Warmest Regards,

Lisa

 

On 2/28/2008 Believe08 wrote:

Mandy,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Mother.  Do you mind me asking her age?  Does she still smoke?  My mother was a smoker for 40 or so years and we found out about the COPD about 4 years ago.  At that time, our prognosis was 2-3 years.  Mom hasn't smoked in a year and a half.  Last year, she was put on Oxygen 24 hours per day.  It's now to the point where she is in and out of the hospital with her COPD and movement for her is started to be a struggle.  Mom, too is scheduled for 6 weeks of Radiation as your mom is.  We have completed 15 treatments so far.  She has had some side effects that have included severe diarrhea, some nausea and her area of treatment is really burnt and painful.  The diarrhea and nausea I thought only came with Chemo, but I've since learned that after about a week of radiation, that comes along with it as well.  I'm sure you're familiar with Zofran, since your Mom has had Chemo.  IF not, make sure you have it on hand for her. My moms doctor has her on Lomotil for the diarrhea and Zofran for the nausea.  Mom is now on a lot of pain meds as well as her daily meds for the COPD.  How far along is your Mothers COPD?  What meds are they giving her for that?  We have found that My Mothers Pulmonary doctor didn't help her as much as her Internal Medicine Doctor and we are no longer seeing the Pulmonary Specialists for her COPD.  It seems that she has more aggressive treatment with the Internal Medicine Doctor.  Do you live close to your Mother and care for her daily or is she able to live by herself?    Our journey is just day to day with Mom right now.  Some days are great, and others are just "ok".  You probabally feel the same with your Mother.  Cancer is such a terrible word that we all fear to hear.  Mandy, thank you so much for sharing your story with me.  It helps me so much to know that you, that there's someone out there that is going through exactly what I'm going through with my Mother.  I live 200 miles away from my Mother and I travel on Friday Morning to get to her and I take the weekend shift.  My brother and sister in law (who is a respiratory therapist) takes care of her through the week and my sister (who is a nurse) and I share weekends.  They live there, I'm the only one who moved away.  I am so thankful that we have someone in the medical field in our family that can coach me along.  If I can share anything with you, or ask my family any questions that you have, I'll be more than happy to.  Bless you on your journey with your Mother, Mandy.  Pray diligently and you will be given the strength that you need.  I will be praying for your Mother and you.

Warmest Regards,

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

It sure sounds like we are in a very similar situartion. My mom is 66 years old.  She has been a smoker for almost 50 years.  Yes I am sorry to say she still sneaks a few cigarettes a day.  I have been told by docs that I work with to let her be.  The stress is more damaging at this point.  I'm glad your mom has given up smoking.  It is very hard.  After mom's surgery she was on oxygen starting at 5 liters and eventually weaned down to 1.  She refuses it now, she is also sedentary and stays on the couch most of the time.  It is hard to tell if she is short of breath or not.  She declines anything for her COPD, I believe she is still not accepting this, the offered inhalers (Atrovent?).  She hasn't seen a pulmonologist regularly as the dx came right before surgery.  For now she is off the pain meds, they constipate her terribly.  One of the meds she was given before chemo Zofran (good stuff!) as well as Decadron.  As of right now the only regular medication she is on is Norvasc for high blood pressure. 

I live an hour away from my mom so running back and forth has not been easy but my stepdad is there.  His health isn't great either as he has severe emphysema.  Thankfully so far she is still able to manage with his help.  I am taking classes to be an RN, with this background they depend on me to help navigate through the medical jargon and help with decisions.  I just try to be brave, do research and think clinically when most of the time I am scared too.  You are very fortunate to have family in the medical field, it is so helpful, and thanks for the offer, I always have new questions!  Feel free to ask me anything, experiences may differ but it helps to know you aren't alone.  Wow, the radiation does not sound fun.  At first I was more concerned about the chemo.  I have heard about the burning effects of radiation.  Does your mom experience any side effects immediately after treatment?  Thanks for sharing your story with me too, I really appreciate it.  I will continue praying for you and your mom too.  Stay in touch.

Best wishes,

Mandy