I need lots of HELP!! and PRAYERS!...UPDATE in post #11

[crecian]

I will try to keep this short so here goes:
I spoke with my mom yesterday and she said that she is not doing well...let me back up a minute.
15 years ago my mom had breast cancer, had a radical mastectomy, chemo, radiation then 3 years ago was diagnosed with cancer again...she would not tell me the details (she did not tell me about the breast cancer either, my brother knew something was wrong and opened a piece of her mail that had her date of surgery in it from the hospital), she did mention a "spot" on her kidney.
so yesterday she said that she has been sick, lost 50 pounds in the past 2 months, has lots of pain and is back on chemo.
I asked her what does this all mean? she said "my ca count is up", I again said "what does that mean" she said "well, my ca count should be 27-31 but it is over 200 so the doctor put me back on chemo treatments".
I asked her what the doctor has said to her about it (oh, I must tell you at this point that my mom thinks that if she says something bad then it will happen...seriously, this is how she feels) she said again that he put her on chemo due to high ca count and that her legs are swelling.

I asked what the doctor said about her legs swelling and she said that he told her he was not going to give her more bad news that day so she left it go.

so, I have searched the internet for answers but didn't learn much and need answers, my mom is 2 states away from me and if she is not going to be around much longer I need to know so I can go see her.

If anyone knows what this ca count is about please expain, and the leg swelling I am not sure of because I did read that it could be kidney failure but that does not make sense because the doctor would have to do something about that and why start chemo on someone if their organs are failing???

please pray for my mom!!!!

Thanks.

[catnerd714]

I do not know what CA counts are or what the swelling means, but IMHO you should just go ahead and make plans to see her anyway. Go because you love her and want to spend time with her, not because she is sick. If she is not comfortable sharing the details of her illness, try to understand that. Just be with her and enjoy your time together.

Prayers to you and your family.

[shelleyf]

I am so sorry to hear this. I remember awhile back you told us of your Mom. I have been praying for her and continue to do so. Please go see her.

[Mothernature]

Swelling with cancer is lymph nodes.

[thecooperhouse]

Here is some info on CA counts:

Cancer blood tests: Lab tests used in cancer diagnosis - MayoClinic.com


Good luck! You should see if she would let you come with her to her next doctors appointment (if you are able)

[mybebe]

Sending Prayers to your Mom

[crecian]

I did forget to mention that if I do try to go see my mother it may be a failed attempt since she won't tell me where she is living (this is a REALLY long story and has nothing to do with our relationship but the fact that she lives with someone else). The only way I get to see her is if I go see my dad and she can come there to visit but she said that her legs swell so bad that she can not leave the house...otherwise I would have already planned the trip.

Thanks for the prayers and information.

[MaMaHaHa]

If they are concerned about her kidney functioning, they will do a Creatin Test (not sure of spelling)...high numbers are indicative of impaired kidney function. In fact, you should speak to the doctor about that test. Kidneys can shut down if they simply become tired of trying to process all the drugs in her system...there are medicines that can "jump start" the kidenys again.

A month ago I brought my mom home from the hospital---lots of complications coupled with Alzheimer's...kidney failure was one of them. She was not expeced to make it through that weekedn---but her kidneys started working again...now it's her heart that is having trouble.

Anyway-all that to say this---ASK questions and write everything down. Secondly, check with the hospital Social Worker to see what kind of home health services or hospice services are available. I have a Hospice CNA come 5 days a week to help me bath my mom---she is so WONDERFUL!

Prayers going up for yu and your momma!

[CW&M Mom]

HUGS!

8 years after my mom had BC it came back too.

I'd see if she'd let you come to the doctor appointment...just meet her there. Tell her whatever the issue is...you don't care, what you see, here ect...you just want to spend some time with her.


When BC comes back it doesn't typically come back in the breast. It's most common places are lungs and liver or hip and spine area. When it goes to organ's that tends to be more life limiting than when it goes to bone (hip). So if it's gone to her kidneys odds are you looking at something similar to lungs and liver where time is limited. It would be considered a terminal prognosis. My mom's came back in her hip...so it's in her bone...and still considered terminal but they have medication that works better at dealing with it in bone than they do in organs.

[3timesoccermom]

Oh my gosh that is terrible. I feel badly for her wanting to bear the burden alone when she has at least you and your brother that are so concerned.

My friend's mom also lost a lot of weight in a very short period of time. She had pancreatic cancer.

I hope with you all working together you can get her comfortable and out of pain.