The "C" Word
5:18 AMHi all-
I sincerely hate to be meeting all of you here in "blog land" under the current circumstances. I was hoping that I would start a blog other than A Cup of OJ , however 2015 came and went in the blink of an eye and needless to say, no blog was started.
I am starting one today, however, for my sweet Mama Lou. Last week mom texted me saying that her stomach was bothering her. Now, those of you that know Mama Lou know she does not complain until she really is in pain. I called her from work and asked her what her symptoms were and after she listed them off I told her to come pay me a visit in the ER. Poor Mom bashfully checked in feeling like she was being a baby about her pain. [I may have complained to Mom a time or two about patients that come in to the ER for abdominal pain that check out to have ulterior motives..sorry mama].
After a few hours of lab work and scans, the results came back clearly as the "C" word, otherwise known as cancer. Mom and I sat quietly in disbelief as one of my favorite doctors explained the results of the scan. The CT scan showed multiple mets, or tumors, on Mom's liver as well as a lesion on the tail of her pancreas. The plan was to admit Mom to the hospital for further testing as well as a biopsy of her liver to figure out what the heck this cancer is. [Side note- I just have to say that there is something truly vulnerable about having one of your closest loved ones being taken care of medically by your co-workers. While we take care of people's loved ones day in and day out with the same work ethic as we would our own, having my co workers take care of my mom reminded me how special and important our job is, in all departments, during a patient's hospital stay. From Doctors to nurses to lab to CT staff, I can truly say I work with some of the best and am grateful for everyone that participated in her care]
Yesterday, 2/12/2016, we had a follow up appointment with Dr. Sud, the oncologist Mom saw in the hospital, to go over biopsy results. Here is what we know:
- This is definitely cancer, stage IV cancer to be exact. Cancer is staged on a scale of I-IV, IV being metastatic, which means it has spread to more than one location.
- While she has many tumors on her liver, liver cancer is not the primary cancer. The type of cancer cell on her liver is adenocarcinoma, which is a different type then what you see when liver cancer is the primary cancer. Adenocarcinoma is seen in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, as well as many other types of cancer.
- We still don't know what the primary cancer is. Pathology thinks probable pancreatic due to that lesion I mentioned earlier on her pancreas as well as a mildly elevated pancreatic tumor marker. Dr. Sud is still leaning towards a breast or ovarian origin due to high levels of CA 27.29, a breast cancer tumor marker. This is where it gets interesting- Mom has had a total hysterectomy (removal of the lady parts) and a double mastectomy. More to come on this.
- Pathology is running further testing to REALLY determine what we are dealing with here. While they could create a chemo cocktail to target the current known tumors, why not wait a few more days to find out EXACTLY what we are dealing with...so we can kick it's ass.
- Next week while we are waiting for patho results, Mom will get a port placed (her veins are fried from her two previous breast cancer treatments. A port makes it easy to administer chemo without further damaging her peripheral veins) and a PET scan to see if there are anymore area's we need to look at treating.
- Mom had the best room in the whole hospital. She spent the Super Bowl in the hospital so of course the whole floor knew Denver's best cheerleader was hosting a party, so needless to say we had a few visitors.
- Lastly, there WILL be a treatment plan no matter what the pathology results are. Mom has so many things to do including spoiling her first grandson in 9 weeks and watching Kristen graduate with her Master's from ASU.
Thank you all so much for the love and support we have been shown this week. Mom has the best team and I am so grateful she has so many loved ones standing on her side.
9 comments
Hi Mama Lou!!! Holy SHIT Sherlock! Ha Ha, Love the referral of the "C" word as KICKING the Mother F****** ASS!!!!!! OK,I just have to tell you Lou that my brother-in-law Bill Burns just came back about a two months ago from MD ANDERSON in Houston with almost the same thing, the tail of his pancreas had cancer as well and they removed the tail and then his spleen were removed! In 2010 his kidney and appendix were removed! He is doing FANTASTIC, I am telling you this to encourage you and know that YOU WILL BE OK!!! God has you in the palm of his hands and WILL NOT EVER LET YOU GO in whatever course of action you will take! PLEASE know, YOU are in my thoughts, prayers and God designed these bodies, he knows exactly whats going on!!! He will guide all the surgeons and doctors in their treatment plan for you!!! I LOVE you Lou Ann and know that you have friends everywhere that love and adore you! Love, Lynda Beal
ReplyDeleteOh, Layne. Sorry doesn't seem like an adequate thing to say. I am so sorry you are going through this. The way you stand with your parents in their time of need is what every parent hopes they will have. What a loving example you are of how to face the twists and turns of life with grace. Your beautiful baby on the way will help your mom continue to have her I WILL attitude. The Kleins will add you all to our prayers. We have a merciful God who will hear the prayers of everyone who wants the very best outcome for your mom.
ReplyDeleteLouAnn,
ReplyDeleteLoved you when I first met you in 1988...Love you still...Blessed you trusted me to watch your first born...Blessed to have you in my life even if I haven't seen you in YEARS!! Know that you are in my heart, soul, thoughts and prayers! Always have been and always will be!! You are my hero and a true warrior!! I love you very much, LouAnn!!
Layne and LouAnn,
ReplyDeleteA mother-daughter love is such a gift from God. I love reading your hope-filled message for your momma, Layne. Praying for your sweet family. I will keep you all in my prayers and whatever we can do to help, please call anytime. Genine
God bless you LouAnn!! You are one of the strongest women I know!! YOU GOT THIS!!! ❤️����❤️ #IWILL
ReplyDeleteLouann, my dear, you've been down this road before and you came out the winner. You'll do it again. You are a remarkable woman.
ReplyDeleteWhat a amazing story of love and sadness at the same time. God holds your mother in his hands everyday to walk with him. I was thinking if you took all those napkins have them photocopy and then put on material to make into quilt what a lasting remembrance this would be. I had this done with all of my daughters t shirts growing up and it turned out beautiful,if wish I knew how to do it.i am having my husbands shirt that he wore at my daughters wedding made into a pillow for her see my husband and her Dad(Daddys girl) passed awhile in Dec with lung cancer.I found a lady on esty to do this.My prayers and best wishes to your mother that God will grant her a miracle and she will be cured and free from all pain.Sending love to your whole family
ReplyDeleteHello from Colorado ... I must say Im sitting at my desk crying, I knew I shouldnt have read this at work. However, those of us affected by cancer have to stick together, support each other and just plain be there for each other. I lost my my mom 2/27/15 to stage IV lung cancer after a 4 year battle, and oh what a battle she fought on top of having MS (some people have all the luck). I truly found your story touching and very similar to the love and devotion I had to my mother. I feel your pain - I do. I just want you to know you are a beautiful soul and what a wonderful supportive daughter you were to your Mama. May God bless you during this time of healing and grieving and becoming a mother yourself. Sending you love & light from the Mile Hi City. XO HUGS XO
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for creating this beautiful blog about your Beautiful Mom. I am also a FA. Blessing and Peace to you and your Family in this time of sorrow.
ReplyDelete