On 5/6/2008
JamiefromGA wrote:
I am sad to say that my mom (diagnosed in Dec 2007 with Stage IV bile duct cancer) signed paperwork today for Hospice to become involved with in-home visits...however, it also pleases me that now that chemo (Gemzar) has stopped and flushed out of her system she is actually feeling "good" again!
She has been 2 weeks with no treatment, had a HIDA scan and then a CT scan last week - both revealed that the cancer had spread to the lungs and had continued to grow larger in the areas already affected (bile duct, liver, lymph nodes).
Her bilirubin had been elevated and she started looking a bit jaundice. She has lost 40+ lbs since Christmas. She had been eating very little, had dry heaves a lot and slept about 15 hrs a day. THAT all changed after they "flushed" her and gave some medication via the port and offered Hospice. She came home hungry and ate twice! She ate more in one sitting than she had eaten in an entire week (combining all meals together). She ate more today and looked good, felt good, and slept very little.
Hospice may not be necessary for the "death process" immediately for my mom - we're not giving up just yet and neither is she --- but the option of Hospice is nice to have, and we will use it... while we enjoy mom feeling better and more alive than the past few months.
Dr. Kim (Jacksonville, FL Mayo Clinic) the local Oncologist (Dr. Jose Tongol in Albany, GA) and his staff have been very helpful and more than generous with their time and knowledge. We appreciate them so much. We look forward to spending some great quality time with each other while God prepares a place for her in Heaven. One thing for sure during this ordeal - we have learned what is priority, what is not, what is necessary and what is not, what is not worth mentioning and what is so important to say or do... We have prayed more than before, spoken more than before, visited more than before - quality of life is SO important - far more important than what you might realize early in the diagnosis stage --- in the beginning we just want a miracle, then we search for education - answers - and then we share our resources and our stories --- and I THANK you for sharing and for listening and responding - - - I'll continue to check-in from time to time - while I enjoy my mom for a while longer!
God bless you as caregivers and God bless your loved ones with cancer - May you always see the blessings He has already given you...
Jamie in GA