Thursday, July 21, 2005

last treatment...

Mom had her last chemo treatment this week.
Her doctor said they will focus on "quality of life" issues from now on.
The cancer is not in remission.

I was not able to go to her appointment with her, but dad and sis did.
They both said mom is happy about not having any more treatments. I'm not sure if she really understands that this doesn't mean the cancer is gone.
But then again- She's a very sharp lady. And I know she's so tired of feeling bad.
I don't know if she'll be open to a second opinion at this point.

I have so many questions. I'm not sure I want all of the answers.

posted by jsdaughter at 12:04 AM

2 Comments:

Blogger Mama Mouse said...

My mother died of pancreatic cancer in 1992. I had to tell her twice that she had cancer. She was 81. Both times I told her she was adamant that she didn't want chemo or radiation treatments.

There comes a time when their quality of life is more important to a very ill person than the length of life.

I've had heart bypass surgery ... and if I had it to do over again, I'd opt OUT of the surgery. Sometimes I think modern medicine goes too far ... a person needs to make peace with themselves and when you are drugged and ill you can't do that.

I'm sure your mother knows at some level. This is an important time for both of you to connect.

Many many hugs ... I do not envy you ... I've been there. It is not easy.

7:01 PM, July 22, 2005  
Blogger Along said...

My heart goes out to you and your family. I sincerely hope you all get through this together, for better or for worst.

10:21 PM, July 25, 2005  

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(written September of 2005) I have learned much in the last nine months. I have read that ovarian cancer whispers. I say it screams. It just needs someone to listen. The American Cancer Society statistics for ovarian cancer estimate that there will be 22,220 new cases and 16,210 deaths in 2005. This is a death rate FOUR TIMES that of breast cancer.Almost 70 percent of women with the common epithelial ovarian cancer are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced in stage. The 5-year survival rate for these women is only 15 to 20 percent. This is unacceptable. Women need to be made more aware of the symptoms, and doctors need to listen to their patients. Especially when the patient tells them that they fear they have ovca, as my mother did for almost a year before she was finally diagnosed. It’s so sad and senseless when a woman knows the symptoms but can’t get anyone to listen to what she is saying.

©JsDaughter