Speed bump

You never want to hear the words you have cancer. So you never want to hear them a third time either, especially when you thought you had beat the s.o.b.

Mom has cancer again. The results of the biopsy are positive for carcinoma. She is now scheduled for Surgery May 25, 2010.

I had an appointment with the chiropractor this evening for their "doctor's meeting". I'd rather call it propaganda propogation time. Some of it the stuff he said was way out there, some of the stuff said was insulting to be quite honest, I'm glad my filter is set to high.... I guess that means I have high logic? I want to be free from back pain and I can agree with SOME aspects mentioned I highly disagree with other things said. There is concrete evidence in medical science, and I'm not about to become a herb nut who turns a blind eye on something that guarantees results for something that may help. I'll say this much. If the chiropractor that was giving the "discussion" this evening had been the one I met at the trade show I probably would have left and NEVER gone back.

Vanessa was there and I told her the news about Mom.
Then I went to Blackfalds and broke the news to Mike.

Lots of tears today.

Biopsy

I drove Mom up to have an OPD visit to Misericordia Hospital in Edmonton today. Dr. Dabbs performed a biopsy on lump located left of her sternum and three other needle aspiration sites on her left side.

As a just in case, Mom was booked immediately for surgery on May 25, 2010.

Trouble just below the surface

Went for a routine exam at the Breast Centre in Edmonton with Dr. Krause.
An abnormal lump was discovered medially along the left of the sternum. Suspect just hardened tissue from reconstruction, but to be on the safe side will perform biopsy schedule April 16, 2010. Ultrasound results negative.

Monday, January 18, 2010 Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy exam showing diverticulosis in the sigmoid. Suffered transient bradycardia @ 37 beats/min and given atropine.

I am concerned that something is going on, something that we don't know about yet.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009 - The Gut

I threatened Mom yesterday with calling an ambulance or going in to the hospital as she has been having severe abdominal pain for ~2 days. This evening she finally went to the hospital and was admitted at 2245 with diverticulitis for antibiotics/CTscan and likely OR. Her surgeon is Ferris.

Surgery ended up not being required as she responded with antibiotics. I can't remember how many days she stayed in hospital but there was definitely mark improvement over the next couple of days.

A Colonoscopy scheduled January 18, 2010.

A little bit of History

I thought I would start with a bit of back history on my Mom's case for you.

2010 would mark 15 years since Mom's initial diagnosis of breast cancer.

2010 also marks her third reoccurence.

In 1995 we went hiking with some friends up All Stones mountain on the David Thompson Highway by Abraham Lake. It was a wonderful hike and have a wonderful photo to remind us of the "10 more steps" it took to reach the top. When we returned Mom had noticed a rash under her arm and went to Dr. Hovan to get checked out. After a mamogram, some needle aspirations and lumpectomy Mom officially had breast cancer.

I'm not sure at which point the decision was made to perform a mastectomy but that is what happened. When you have cancer they put you through all these tests, and being that this was 15 years ago the variety of tests that Mom received was, let's say lucky. One of the tests scanned her brain and it revealed a mandarin sized tumor in her frontal lobe. So not only did she have breast cancer, but she also had a brain tumour. All discovered due to a persistent simple rash under her arm. And so the next two years were a rough ride.

Oct 1995 Dr. Onerheim performed her mastectomy surgery in Red Deer. All lymph nodes testing negative.
Dr. Graham oversaw her chemotherapy.
Dr. Furness performed reconstructive surgery.

Mom's brain surgery was performed by Dr. Steinke in Edmonton at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. It was definitely a rough ride. Mom had the initial surgery which removed the tumour which was thankfully benign, then an infection deveopped in her skull plate, so was sent back in and had a piece of her skull removed. For the next little while Mom was without a portion of her skull and made a protective piece with a portion of ice cream bucket. Once her infection cleared up she went back for more surgery to put in a titanium plate - because she wasn't hard headed enough ;).

1999 second occurence, was put on Tamoxifen for Five years.