"Everything's Sunshine and Roses"

As we sit to write this, Gramma D is recovering from her biopsy and the grand piano in the foyer in the waiting area is playing "Everything's Sunshine and Roses"  We thought it was a good title for this post with some of the encouraging news we have gotten today.

Thursday morning January 12, 2012

This is a quick synopsis of the morning’s happenings with Gramma D.  There’s a lot of detail we want to write later, and her biopsy procedure is just finished, so we’ll post more comprehensive results as we get them.  The initial biopsy results lead the doctors to believe it is a form of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of her body.  That actually has a good news element to it, as the treatment and success rates are higher than other potential types of cancer.

Highlights:

Spinal cord is fine and uncompromised – no paralysis will occur from the cancer.  Bladder and bowel control will continue normally since spinal cord is fine.

The brain MRI shows no cancer in her brain.  This is huge for longevity, as brain cancer cuts any life expectancy very short.  This is a big point of hope for some more time for her with us.  =)

There are 2 vertebrae involved with the cancer in her spine that are compromised.  Those vertebrae can be supported with a simple procedure to inject a “cement” designed to stabilize the spine in the areas of the compression fracture.   This will aid natural healing of the bone in the area, especially now that the cancer will be stopped from advancing through treatment.

Radiation therapy will begin ASAP, possibly today.  It will be very localized on her vertebrae and hip and will not be hard on her.  It is x-rays focused for only 30 seconds.  Mild nausea and some fatigue for the first two days is all that is expected.   The radiation therapy will reduce her pain and prevent the cancer from spreading in the vertebrae further.  There is an 85 percent success rate for pain reduction to very low levels with this radiation therapy.

Her sodium level is almost to the normal range.   Her low was 112, today she is at 126.  The range of normal is 138-140.  Below 110, seizures and life threatening events occur.  She is almost conversational, and is much more lucid in part because of these levels becoming closer to normal.  The steroid treatments that were started yesterday have already begun to reduce the swelling in her back around the tumor area and thereby reduce her pain.  She is actually moving her legs… Great news!  She is receiving insulin to counteract the blood sugar raising effect of the steroid. 

She is stabilizing enough that we have been told we may be moving to a new room today.  More great news.  Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes – we are passing them along to her =)

Changes to the schedule (frown)

We had a change in plans... The two departments (MRI & biopsy) didn't communicate so now the biopsy will happen tomorrow instead.  We are told it will happen between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. They better be careful.... Grouchy Granny is getting grouchy!  They did get the MRI on her head completed and should get to know more from that tomorrow.  We have a consultation scheduled with radiation for tomorrow early in the morning and we will keep you updated as results roll in.

She had some calls and visits from Grandkids and Great-Grandkids today and she is feeling loved and cared for.  A couple close friends came by and it made her happy even though she could only visit for a few minutes - if you want to visit, call one of us and we can let you know when would be a good time. 

Thank you again for all the prayers and help,

Rosie

Meeting with Dr Golden Jan 11 at 12:15 pm

We met with the oncology doctor, Jane Golden, earlier today.  She is part of the team working in conjunction with Dr. Mena.
She says yesterday's critical low sodium issue was probably caused by the cancer tumors, and is quite common in this type of situation.  There is visible cancer in some of the bones of the spine.

She told us the biopsy, scheduled for 4 p.m. today, of the liver is the safest and most complete way to get the type of cancer identified.  It is the least invasive though it is a surgical procedure.  We'll get some preliminary results tomorrow, like the proteins present, which will give them some idea what type of cancer it is and its origin.  They'll be able to tell if it is hormonally based like breast cancer or something else for instance.  (The doctor did a breast exam and did not find lumps, etc., but did say that it can hide and she might not feel it.  It can take up to a week to get the final results and complete analysis.

To reduce pain, Doyle will be getting steroid drugs to shrink the swelling around the tumor on her spine.  She is also now getting hourly pain medication injections intravenously instead of every four hours to make her more comfortable.  Oral meds are not an option right now as she is not keeping anything down.  (so if you want to send treats, they are for us!)

Each type of cancer calls for specific treatment methods:  chemo, radiation, pills, and surgery.  Surgery is not possible as the cancer is found in several locations and cannot be completely removed.  Chemo could indicated, along with radiation depending on weighing risks and benefits.  The radiation path is available right now, and the radiation oncologist will come meet with us later today.  Radiation treatment could start as early as tomorrow.  The radiation treatment right now would reduce the size of the tumor in her spine and thereby reduce the pain she is experiencing.  Again, we will help her make those decisions by listening to the counsel of the professionals and weighing benefits/side affects/risks. 

Drs. Golden and Mena think that we'll have a conference the first of next week to discuss a comprehensive treatment plan, using all of the test results to put that puzzle together.  At that point, we will have all the results from the biopsy.

We'll let you know if we have any further info from the brain MRI.  She is just leaving the room for the procedure now and will be gone less than an hour.

Thanks for all your wonderful prayers and support.  Please pass the address for this blog along to anyone you think would be interested in her updates or would like to send her well wishes.  People can subscribe with their email address and will automatically be sent updates whenever we post.

Rosie and Arden