Mum vs secondaries

Xeloda has failed us

2010-06-01T22:00:37Z

Latest CT results show cancer continues to spread within organs so Xeloda not working. Onc decided side effects not worth it and has taken mum off it. It was the final, final treatment. Lymphodemia in second arm so bad now they're not allowed to puncture her there any more, and despite numerous pricking in feet can't get blood from there either. Luckily can get bisphospherates in, just no blood for testing out. So just increasing palliative care now...

Good week so far

2010-05-11T11:32:58Z

On Sunday my dad had to go to Malaysia for a weeks business trip and as my mums main carer I was slightly worried how she'd cope. Ahead of his trip I went round on Thursday evening and mum wasn't in a great way. She'd just finished her last round of Xeloda and had spent the day before being very sick. By Thursday evening she seemed exhausted and was crying with pain in her 'good' arm. Although she assured us she didn't need to visit the pain clinic I quickly realised that I should re-arrange my own work trip to Devon for the following week so I could help out wherever possible while dad was away just in case.

So yeterday evening I left work early and headed over to mums, picking up some food bits for her on the way. She seemed on much better form and managed to eat a healthy portion of the dinner I cooked her. She also managed to stay awake until 10pm and didn't complain about pain in her arm once! I helped her with her lotions and potions before bed and did some chores around the house for her. All in all a good evening and it made me feel less woried about her staying on her own during the week ahead. I stayed the night to help her get ready this morning and put her creams on (she has extensive cancer in the skin on her back which gets very dry as well as being sore).

This morning the 'cleaning team' are about should she need anything and this afternoon my sister is taking her to a dressmakers to enquire about getting some clothes made as she finds it very difficult to find stuff she feels nice in after a masectomy and with lymphodemia in both arms. Then a couple of her friends are taking her out for dinner and will do her creams tonight.

Tomorrow my sister will go over in the morning as she is planing a day working from home anyway, then mum is off on a very exciting day trip to Harrods, again to look at clothes with her mother. They've got a driver taking them as the journey and shopping would be too much for mum to handle. In the evening my cousin will collect mum on her way home from work and take her to her sisters house for dinner.

Thursday night I'll go over again and stay until Friday morning. Friday night dad will be back! We're so lucky that he works from home and is able to help mum so much - I hope we don't take him for granted too much. If mums second arm gets much worse I think we'll we'll either need somebody who can come in a couple of times a day to help mum with everyday tasks or dad might have to cut back on the longer trips abroad. Mum would argue that she can manage on her own so we're trying to strike the delicate balance between making things easier fo herand respecting her independance.

Take two

2010-05-06T13:30:23Z

August 2009 - take call from mum in car on way back ffrom working in Shropshire. Mentions she has had ultrasound on lumps in neck as she'd been getting a lot of pain in her lymphatic arm. Also has nasty rash on back that won't shift. "Don't worry they don't think its cancer". Great. (nb: Mum had breast cancer 7 years ago but was out of her remission period and had been given all clear 2 years previously)

Following week secondary breast cancer confirmed in lymph nodes, skin and bones.

First chemotherapy stopped after two cycles as doing nothing (apart from making mum iller). Rash contines to spread over body. All control of movement in lymphatic arm lost. Pain medicine increased.

Second chemotherapy stopped after two cycles as doing nothing. Pain medicine increased.

Radiotherapy given to lymph nodes in neck to control pain in arm. Told no further treatment will be given. Radiotherapy DOES help pain but unfortunatley doesn't give any increased movement in arm.

U turn and start course of Xeloda to help rash. 2 weeks on, one week off.

After one course treatment changed to one week on, one week off to help control side affects. SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN RASH!!!! Treatment continues (now maybe on third course) and bisphospherates given monthly for bone mets.

Recently Lymphodemia has began developing in 'good' hand. Why? Nobody knows - no lymph nodes removed there. Not good sign.

Last Friday = scan. Awaiting results. Worried. 'Bad day' yesterday. Condition generaly not good. Waiting is horrible. Not sure if there is anything else they can try.