My Mom In Ga

I haven't written in a several weeks.  But have checked this site periodically.   

My mom had her first chemo treatment today.  We had traveled to Jacksonville for a 2nd opinion and possibility of the Mayo Clinical Trial for cholangiocarcinoma.  Dr. George Kim was really nice and it was well worth the trip.  He talked about the possibility of a transplant (multi-organs - liver, gall bladder, etc) but said because her lymph nodes were involved she was not eligible for that but he did recommend chemo - something that the local Drs. had said "no surgery, no chemo, no radiation".  She won't be in the trial, because of the distance (3 1/2 hrs away) and the side effects of the drugs they would need to use. Instead, she will take Gemzar (1000) for two weeks and then testing to determine the next step.  We realize this is suppose to be a palliative treatment, not a cure.  We are praying for God to heal her - maybe it'll be by chemo, maybe not - either way - we're happy she finally got to take it - and even happier that she has had NO side effects yet!  Praise God!  She even cooked supper and ate great tonight!  We (my father & I) will continue to allow her the run of the house while she feels well enough.  She is 70,  independent and Italian - so we get out of her way when she gives the orders!   We pray for another good day tomorrow as we are learning to take things a day at a time.

Jamie in GA 

 

On 3/5/2008 JamiefromGA wrote:

I haven't written in a several weeks.  But have checked this site periodically.   

My mom had her first chemo treatment today.  We had traveled to Jacksonville for a 2nd opinion and possibility of the Mayo Clinical Trial for cholangiocarcinoma.  Dr. George Kim was really nice and it was well worth the trip.  He talked about the possibility of a transplant (multi-organs - liver, gall bladder, etc) but said because her lymph nodes were involved she was not eligible for that but he did recommend chemo - something that the local Drs. had said "no surgery, no chemo, no radiation".  She won't be in the trial, because of the distance (3 1/2 hrs away) and the side effects of the drugs they would need to use. Instead, she will take Gemzar (1000) for two weeks and then testing to determine the next step.  We realize this is suppose to be a palliative treatment, not a cure.  We are praying for God to heal her - maybe it'll be by chemo, maybe not - either way - we're happy she finally got to take it - and even happier that she has had NO side effects yet!  Praise God!  She even cooked supper and ate great tonight!  We (my father & I) will continue to allow her the run of the house while she feels well enough.  She is 70,  independent and Italian - so we get out of her way when she gives the orders!   We pray for another good day tomorrow as we are learning to take things a day at a time.

Jamie in GA 

 

Hi Jamie,

My Dad was recently diagnosed with the same cancer at Robert Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Ctr. in Chicago.  We are devasted b/c the cancer tumor is large with satellite tumors, inoperable and not eligible for transplant either.  The treatment he has been offered is palliative.  RIght now they can't even treat the cancer b/c his bile duct was blocked and they had to insert a biliary drain to relieve jaundice/lower bilirubin levels.  At his appt. yesterday, the news was grim about the surival rate.

 Dad is at least in fair spirits, but as family we are struggling to comprehend this and help support him.  He is turning 65 in May and his grandkids want to see him survive for as long as possible.  Anyway, your message touched me and I wish the very best for your Mom, you and family.  I would love to hear from anyone going through something similar.

Thanks, Amy

Hi Jamie and Amy,

This is Iris, from the Netherlands. When you trail my messages (under the name Flower) on this site back, I hope you can gain some hope and strength out of it.

This is a terrible kind of cancer and the effects on the family around the patient are at least as emotional and heavy as for the patient.

I wish you both strength, talk with your loved ones about this illness and enjoy every good day. My thoughts are with you,

Iris.

 

My Dad (he's in IL) has his first treatment this Thursday (3/13) and he will be taking Gemzar too.  They are having him take it 3 weeks on, 1 week off for the next two months and then doing a new MRI to see if it has done any good. 

We are also praying for a miracle.  He too saw a specialist (at Barnes in St Louis) but there wasn't anything they could do.  They had originally thought surgery (something the local doctor's didn't consider an option) but when the enhanced MRI came in, there were too many tumors that had spread to the liver.  We found out last week it has also spread to the Lymph Nodes.

I so badly want that miracle to happen... but I am also planning on spending as much time with him as possible and doing anything he wants to do or going anywhere that he wants to go.  I gave him a piece of paper this weekend and told him he needed to write down at least ten and as many as ten thousand things he wanted to experience, do or see.  I want him to be happy.  He so deserves it.

ND in Misery (oops... MO)

My mom has had 2 chemo treatments with Gemzar (1700 cc) and she has done well!!!  Praise God - we are happy He has blessed her with so many good days!  She has some constipation issues and her muscles ache about 2 days after treatment.  She has had 2 now and the Oncologist is giving her a break this week.  My brother and niece are traveling tomorrow from TX to visit for a few days...  We look forward to seeing them!  My mom would not have been able to travel there so we're pleased they're coming!