10th June 2013
Today brings the appointment we have all been dreading. for someone sho refuses to discuss the fact she has cancer today I fear will be to much for mum. I know my sister and I are both scared of what they'll say so cant imagine how mum must be feeling.
We arrive at the hospital, walk through a long corridor to the cancer centre. We headed through the double doors to fing a large room with four sections listed A to D and a reception desk. to our right was a blood testing room and a day treatment room. We booked Mum in and sat in section D waiting to be called. Again we held hands extra tight. Mum said she was scared I promised her again she wont go through any of this alone dawn and I will always be here for her.
After 5 minutes Mums name was called. We need to weigh you and get your hight the nurse said to mum as we turned the corner. After having a joke about mum being to short for her weight we were directed to the consulting room of a Mr Talbot. As we approached the door a nurse introduced herself as Charlie and said she'd be sitting in with us.
We entered the room and took a seat. The doctor introduced himself and then proceeded to run over mums diagnosis and the previous tests mum had had as an inpatient. He told us Mums cancer is incurable and very very advanced it is also extreamley aggressive he called it small cell lung cancer which had spread to the liver.
He asked us if we had any questions to which we pulled out a list of them bet he wished he hadnt asked now. I handed him the sheet of paper and he read through answering each qustion in turn and writing the answer down also for us.
He explained they would like to start chemo straight away and the reigeme will be that of from Monday the 17th June mum will be following the treatment plan below.
Day 1: 8 hours of chemo
Day 2: 1-2 hours top up chemo
Day 3: 1-2 hours top up chemo
following 18 days are rest days then it starts again therefore running every 21 days, This is known as a cycle. There will be 4 to 6 cycles of chemo given to Mum with possible radiation therapy to the brain on completion of chemo and a positive response.Mum also has to have her pre chemo checks on the thursday or Friday before Day 1 begins.
He said if mum responds we should have 9 to 12 months left with her if she doesnt respond then it could be 3 to 4 weeks. ***I must state everyone is different so please dont assume this is the time you may follow its just meant for my mum and her other health conditions.***
He said some people are very poorly with side effects and others manage to work even though they are having chemo. Mums hair will fall out in about 3 weeks. Mum has to go as an outpatient and chemo will be via a drip infusion of Etoposide and Cisplatin.
Mum came out of the room fairly happy he was a nice doctor and that they were going to try to help her. As we exited into the waiting area the nurse Charlie said would you like to look at the day centre and the chemo room. Mum was hesitant so I said at least you'll know what to expect.
We went through the double doors I guess I was nervous for Mum as this room will have people of varying degrees of cancer and stages of chemotherapy. There were people without any hair people in turbans and people who still had hair, there was a line of burgundy recliner chairs and a few hospital beds. people on drips and their family or friends who accompanied them for their session. We exited the ward and Mum said its not to bad in there is it to which Dawn and I replied no its lovely and bright too. So now we wait for Monday to arrive at 8 am the infusion will begin.
