Feeling better

For the past couple of days mom has not felt well. She hadn't been able to hold food down and she was exhausted. Today, however, she looked like she was full of energy when she woke up. And, throughout the day, she didn't seem to lose it. Normally after he radiation appointment, her energy just drops. But, today, she still seemed to feel pretty good. She did get a little tired and took a bit of a nap. But, all in all, it was a good day.

Jabba the Hut

Mom was sounding surprisingly strong yesterday morning. It was as if nothing had happened at all. But, after the radiation treatment and another doctor's visit, she was pretty tuckered out by end of the day. The pain levels seem to be decreasing. Or, at least the tylenol or advil seems to be working better.
When I got home tonight, however, she was plain worn out. Her voice was weaker and she could hardly keep her eyes open. She was in pain but hadn't taken anything for it most of the day. She mentioned she had been reading her journal and on the 3rd day, she had written she felt like Jabba the Hut from Star Wars. That is just how she felt today too. She took a hot bath and went to bed by 9:30. Hopefully her energy will return in a day or two.

Day One

Mom did great today. As she went through her first four hour chemo and radiation treatment, She read, listened to music and visited. Part way through the day, family came to the chemo treatment room, sang Happy Birthday and gave her balloons. She seemed to easily keep her spirits and her energy levels up. Of course, we know it isn't easy. It takes lots of concentration and inner reflection. But she does it well.

Happy Mother's Day

Mom enjoyed her day. Kim came over and made breakfast this morning and then made lunch this afternoon. This evening, Chrissy and her family joined us for dessert. It was relaxing and enjoyable. Of course she (being the mother of many) also received numerous messages from friends and family wishing her a happy mother's day. Tomorrow is her birthday and the beginning of her radiation and chemo treatments. She is in good spirits and ready to begin her big fight.

It starts

Mom got her picc line today. This will remain until she stops the chemotherapy. It's quite an ordeal to get it in and she's pretty exhausted. One thing I didn't mention before is why the doctors think the chemo and radiation is a good idea again. Apparently, last time, it totally got rid of the cancer. They expect it will work again since it proved to be so successful. The Picc line will be how the chemo is administered. She will have it going 24 hours a day and then go in every other week or so for a four hour infusion. That will start on Monday. Of course, amid her exhaustion, she remains in good sprits.

Catching up - Never the "Typical" Patient

So, we're back to the cancer center again. If you're wondering what brought us back, let me back up a few months. Of course, we all know mom is a super woman. She broke her hip the end of December, but recovered so quickly, they kicked her out of rehab after just few days. She only used her hot pink crutches for a couple of weeks and then was back to her usual schedule of temple work on the weekends and workouts at the gym during the week.
Around February, she started feeling some pressure in her bladder which felt like a bladder infection. Her doctor, understandably, put her on an antibiotic. The antibiotic didn't seem to do the job so after a week or two she was put on another one. When that one didn't work, she went back and was put on a third and then a fourth antibiotic.
Finally on Saturday, April 16th, after working in the temple all day, the pressure became so uncomfortable, we finally convinced her to let us take her to the emergency room. Of course, the ER doc immediately diagnosed her with a bladder infection, but took a blood test, just to be sure. The blood test came back with no infection showing anywhere. Next he said, it must be kidney stones. Mom told him it didn't feel like the kidney stones she had last year, but he said it sounded like a classic case. He took a CT scan just to make sure. When the results came in, he was very surprised to see there were no kidney stones present. Thankfully there was someone observant reading the CT scan who saw a mass near her tailbone that shouldn't be there. The ER doc advised us to get in to see Dr.Ott (her surgeon) as soon as possible. He was very comforting, reminding us we didn't know what it is was and it could very well be nothing major so we shouldn't lose any sleep over this, but it was something we needed to follow up on.
Our visit with Dr. Ott on Tues (April 19th) basically told us it was a mass but he couldn't tell what it was. He said it would not likely be her esophageal cancer because it was so far removed from her other cancer. He ordered another CT scan and also a biopsy. It may not seem like a big deal to have those things, but, every time she has a procedure like that she has to skip a couple of meals and then has to drink a sickening sweet substance to help the images be more clear. It totally zaps her energy and makes her sick to her stomach the rest of the day. The CT scan was done on Wednesday and the biopsy (done with in conjunction with another CT scan) was done on Friday (April 22nd). We were told we would be able to get results by Monday or Tuesday. Actually, the results weren't back until Thursday afternoon.
The results; this mass was cancerous and it was the same type of cancer as before (Esophageal). Dr. Ott was as surprises as any of us. He scheduled her for a PET scan for Monday, May 2nd (yesterday). The PET scan shows hot spots so we can see where the cancer is and if it had spread. Today we learned the cancer looks like it is contained to that one place. Which is very good news. Her doctors met together this morning and we were able to meet with all three (Dr. Ott (surgeon), Dr. Whisenant (oncologist) and Dr. Sause (radiation) ) this afternoon. The plan of action is this:
Thursday - May 5th -She will have a pic line put in for her chemotherapy 24/7 treatment.
Monday - May 9th (which is her birthday) - she will start her radiation and chemotherapy regimens.
She will continue with these treatments for the next couple of months or so. Then they will reevaluate. As always, she is a trooper and willing to take on yet another fight. Dad is holding up fairly well under the circumstances.
We so much appreciate your thoughts and prayers in her behalf.

Feeling much better

Yesterday was still a bit rough; Mom just didn't feel well. Today, however, she woke up feeling more energetic and did water aerobics. Of course this meant a nap afterwards. :) She has been able to keep food down much better today and eat a little more at a time as well. Mom and dad were planning on going to Arizona this next week but decided to stay home since their health has been a little undependable. Dad started working Saturday mornings in the Draper temple a couple of weeks ago. He has to be there in the wee hours of the morning. It does exhaust him, but he loves it. Mom hopes to be able to start working in the temple again as well.