After our first oncologist who suggested no treatment, we found another who was the opposite to the first. She wanted to start my mum immediately on a bone strengthening treatment & also start on chemotherapy. She had a much more positive attitude towards us which helped us so much.
My mums first chemo was an event to be witnessed, "I want you to take a picture of me every time I come for treatment!". We went to the ward for her treatment, it took about 2 hours, we chatted about everything, including my upcoming wedding, had tea and biscuits, and chatted to the lovely nurses. Little did I know that this would become my mums favourite part about having cancer, going to this clinic and chatting to these amazing nurses, who made her feel like herself again! Instead of just another patient with cancer.
She was determined throughout treatment, never complaining, even though she was like a pin cushion! Even though they struggled every time to insert the cannulas. Never once did she complain, because if I'm honest she's the most strongest, amazing woman in the world (OK I may be biased).
After her treatments were all done, they scanned her again. They hadn't taken a base scan just before treatments, because they are morons! But they compared it to the scan from 3months prior to treatment, no further growth, but no shrinking either. To be fair they had told us this was a positive outcome. I was happy we were done for now! She could rest & hopefully start to feel better. By this point she had gone off food, much to my dad and I's disappointment.
She slowly got worse and worse and was taken into hospital. It was more than 6months since her last treatment, so she was put in a normal ward, rather than a specialist cancer ward. One day (a Sunday)we were visiting her, and I noticed her speech had went strange & she was complaining about having a really sore head. I alerted a nurse, who told me the doctors were doing their rounds and would see her shortly. I already knew at this point that she had taken a stroke. Had she not been put through enough! I was so worried about her, but the doctor never came round until midday the following day. She remained undiagnosed, and untested until the Wednesday. We pushed & complained from the Sunday onwards, but no one took any notice. Once the scan was done, they immediately started her on aspirin.
The scan showed that not only had she taken one stroke, but two. And the cancer god's clearly felt that wasn't enough, and she was also now diagnosed as having the cancer now in her brain. (My mum clearly doesn't do things by halves!)
