Oncology appointment

My fears were confirmed today!

We met at the Oncologist today.  I was two minutes late they had already been ushered into the exam room her friend Arlene sat waiting in the chair beside her.  She had the blue folder in her hand ,that I had given her for mom's test results.  I wanted to be able to take the tests decipher them in laymen's terms and then put them in her folder for future reference.

The Doctor came in he has such a nice smile, he seems very compassionate and sincere.   When he talks, he is sometimes hard to understand.  He told her that one of her genes wasn't compatible for the chemotherapy treatment, its a study and you have to qualify genetically for it three genes need match up for the treatment.  I think its one of those; all or nothing things.  All genes have to match or its nothing they can do.  The Doctor said he was going to check to make sure that was correct.

The doctor told us that the MRI of her brain showed her cancer has spread to her brain and it's the size of a half dollar and its located in her cerebellum at the very rear and bottom of her skull.  My mom just sobbed into her hands, tears filled my eyes as I hugged my mom and tried to console her.

there are two tumors in her brain one in her cerebellum and one
in her left parietal lobe.

He told my mom that she could take radiation therapy and it COULD prolong her life for up to two years longer.  If she doesn't take the radiation, her life expectancy would be right at six months.   I asked the doctor, "What would her quality of life be?"  He basically said, it would prolong her life but she would have the effects of the cancer and radiation.

Betty, Judy and Arlene

We arrived back at her place and we were able to have a few moments alone, so we could just filter all the information.  We hugged each other and cried.  It seems so surreal to both of us.  I brought my camera into her apartment and took some pictures of her with her friends who live nearby.

She qualifies for hospice, so we are waiting for them to contact her and set up an appointment.   She just wants comfort measures.  Which does not mean we are giving up!   It just means that whatever time we have left, she wants quality over quantity.

This explains her headaches, unsteadiness, ringing in the ears, nausea and vomiting.



*photo of brain borrowed from website:http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thehomeschooladventure.com/image-files/braindiagram.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thehomeschooladventure.com/diagram_of_brain.html&h=326&w=324&sz=21&tbnid=1IdkHJo8JnkN3M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=94&zoom=1&docid=O0iSZXziMyLn7M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=SxxaT-jKH-bYiALJ_M2ICw&sqi=2&ved=0CG8Q9QE