Aiden and I arrived in Shawano Monday afternoon just before mom and dad returned back from their trip to Appleton. Mom was pretty sick and the most tired I have seen her yet. Some days the radiation takes everything from her. She said she usually has about 2 days out of the week that she's that worn out.
Tuesday was a very long day for her filled of tests and more radiation. We needed to be in Appleton by 9am for her radiation treatment. After radiation came the PET IV fluid and then after laying still for about an hour or so she had to have the scans. After the tests were done she was tired but very hungry as the strict diet she was on before her tests had kept her from many of the foods she can handle eating. She was starving for a chocolate shake so we hit a drive thru and then headed off back home through some wonderful winter weather.
Wednesday was another day for Doctor visits and radiation but this day was at the normal time in the afternoon. It was a few hours prior to leaving when Jana had called me to say that she had called mom's Oncologist and the results were read. The scan has shown another tumor on her aorta. This tumor may not necessarily be a new tumor but could be that the other scans dis not pick this one up. I explained to mom and dad what the scans showed and we gathered ourselves for the appointment to the Neurologist and radiation.
The Neurologist was extremely surprised at mom's progress and happy to see the results of the surgery. A patient that has this type of surgery normally would or could be still in a wheel chair with mental delay and/ or hearing and seeing impaired. The only lingering side effect from the surgery is that my mom has pretty much lost her hearing in her left ear. The Dr said he thinks it was because he has removed so much bone that there are no longer the bones to help with the vibration to the ear drum. The radiation has also caused some swelling in that ear but he doesn't feel that the hearing loss is just from the swelling. The Neurologist was joking around with mom and dad which really helped lighten their spirit after the news of another tumor. They had mentioned to the Neurologist about the new tumor and he looked the results up and said not to worry that she had an excellent team of Oncologist working on her and she would get the very best care. We left the Neurologist and headed straight to Appleton to make the radiation appointment.
What comes next?
Well after mom found out she had another tumor she was also told that she needed to go for radiation 28 days instead of the 25. This is because the gave her shorter doses each day than the had first figured so instead of having radiation end today (Monday) Thursday will be her last day. So she will wrap up radiation for her head this week and her Oncologist will meet with the board of Oncologists tomorrow (Tuesday) and they will review mom's case and decide the next moves. Mom has an appointment on Feb 2 to discuss what the board decides to do for future treatment.
She is in good spirits and still has her sense of humor!! She is very excited to have a week off between radiation and her next Dr. appointment and looks forward to resting.
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