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This morning my mother and I met with her oncologist, who told us that there has been "marked improvement". When I asked her exactly what that meant, she had the transcribed scan report printed out for me. And when I asked her for a prognosis, she said that she isn't willing to say just yet.
What it boils down to, after a page of condensed medical-ese, is this:
"Marked improvement in the appearance of the liver. As well, there has been significant improvement in the right hilum and mediastinum. The nodule in the right lower lobe is smaller. There are still ill-defined densities in the lungs. Pleural metastases are evident. These are actually more prominent."
The translation, as far as I can tell, is this: Her liver is significantly better, with most of the previously-noted metastatic lesions being resolved. There are no intra-abdominal abnormalities. The masses in the lungs have shrunk. However, there are masses around her lungs that have increased, and there are "multiple sclerotic lesions in vertebral bodies in both the thoracic and lumbar spines consistent with metastases".
... not much of a translation, was it? Okay, let's try this: She's taken major steps forward in some areas, but the cancer is still present and spreading in other areas.
The oncologist has scheduled her for two more cycles of chemo with the same drugs that were used previously, and then they'll do another set of scans. She's said that there's at least one other chemo drug that can also be tried.
Considering that I went in there prepared to hear that my mother might be dead within a month or so, my relief was -- tremendous. When I went back to my mother's place afterwards, this expressed itself in sudden exhaustion: I passed out on her couch and slept for a good hour or so.
I'm still very tired. But the suspense is finally over, at least for now.
What it boils down to, after a page of condensed medical-ese, is this:
"Marked improvement in the appearance of the liver. As well, there has been significant improvement in the right hilum and mediastinum. The nodule in the right lower lobe is smaller. There are still ill-defined densities in the lungs. Pleural metastases are evident. These are actually more prominent."
The translation, as far as I can tell, is this: Her liver is significantly better, with most of the previously-noted metastatic lesions being resolved. There are no intra-abdominal abnormalities. The masses in the lungs have shrunk. However, there are masses around her lungs that have increased, and there are "multiple sclerotic lesions in vertebral bodies in both the thoracic and lumbar spines consistent with metastases".
... not much of a translation, was it? Okay, let's try this: She's taken major steps forward in some areas, but the cancer is still present and spreading in other areas.
The oncologist has scheduled her for two more cycles of chemo with the same drugs that were used previously, and then they'll do another set of scans. She's said that there's at least one other chemo drug that can also be tried.
Considering that I went in there prepared to hear that my mother might be dead within a month or so, my relief was -- tremendous. When I went back to my mother's place afterwards, this expressed itself in sudden exhaustion: I passed out on her couch and slept for a good hour or so.
I'm still very tired. But the suspense is finally over, at least for now.
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(no subject)
I am so glad to hear there's been improvement! Now it's time to whack those other cancerous locations >:) . Would she accept the totem Shark as a visitor? Sharks are said to be one of the only fish to not get cancer. They can even eat cancer ridden fish and not suffer. I'm sure a reef or nurse shark would have fun munching on those promlematic locations. Just holler and I'll have a conversation with them.
**Dances again with glee then hands crow-joe a pillow**
Namaste!
Best wishes going your way, and hers...