nickysfight's Cancer Blog

December 13, 2006

Our Mom's Treatment and Diagnosis

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Hello!

Julie here, Nicky’s oldest daughter. I just wanted to blog about my mom’s diagnosis and treatment for anyone that is researching colorectal cancer for a loved one.

My mom is just 50 years old, but there is a history of colorectal cancer in the family. She was diagnosed with an 8cm long malignant tumor in her rectum via a biopsy during a colonoscopy on November 9th. It took around 5 days for us to get the biopsy results back and another week to get her in to see the oncologist. She then started chemo four days later on Monday, November 27th and started the preparation for the radiation treatment. Preparation for the radiation included a CT scan so that the doctors could accurately determine the location of the tumor to best direct the radiation. It was during this CT scan that it was noticed that she has spots on her liver which led to an additional CT scan of her lungs. No spots were detected on her lungs (which was GREAT news!). At this point the doctors are diagnosing her cancer as Stage IV because the spots on the liver are believed to be cancer. However, we have talked to the doctor about possibly testing for other causes of the spots on her liver.

For her rectal cancer my mother is receiving Fluorouracil in conjunction with the radiation prior to surgery. Fluorouracil does not make you lose your hair but does have some minor side effects (your healthcare professional should give you documentation on this). In preparation for the chemotherapy my mother had to visit a surgeon who inserted a catheter above her left breast. My mother goes in to the oncologist on Monday’s and, using the catheter, is hooked up to a small pump that she wears the entire week in a fanny pack around her waist. This pump administers small doses of Fluorouracil in to her system continuously Monday-Friday. On Friday she visits the oncologist and the pump is removed; she is given the week-end off. The side effects my mother has experienced on Fluorouracil include mild nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and fatigue. Treatment of Fluorouracil and radiation is expected to last six to seven weeks. If the spots on her liver are determined not to be cancer she will be given six weeks off before going in to surgery to remove what is left of the tumor on her rectum. I will wait to blog about both the surgery and possible metastasis rectal cancer treatment until we know for sure what the treatment entails.

Because chemo therapy and radiation can be so hard on a person physically, we are trying to keep my mom’s immune system in good working order. We are feeding her multi vitamins, ESSIAC tea (an herbal cure from the bible), a probiotic Del-Immune V, super foods (blueberries, spinach, walnuts, oats, etc.), and dietary supplement drinks such as Ensure and Boost. Just yesterday the radiologist met with her to tell her that she is responding well to treatment and is not as sick as they would have expected. Which, again, was GREAT news!

For anyone out there going through a cancer diagnosis, my heart is with you, as it is a scary and emotional time. Stay strong and always have hope!