Good News!!!

Dr. Smith gave us the news we were hoping to hear yesterday. He said that the cancer in the lymph nodes, lung, and liver had all decreased by approximately 50% of their initial mass. We were both pleasantly surprised. He also told us that everything is going as he had hoped it would and she is where he would like her to be at this point in the big picture.

I asked if the liver's function was compromised by the cancer in it or the chemotherapy treatments and Dr. Smith said that the liver would not be negatively impacted by those factors. I also found out that if the chemo was successful in suppressing the cancer, but the cancer came back down the road, more chemotherapy was a possibility. What little knowledge I had of cancer and chemo in the past led me to conclude that it wasn't typically an option if the cancer came back (and it will come back as it is in her blood stream and there is no way of sending it in to remission). Dr. Smith said that if the patient is healthy enough when the cancer comes back, using a different strain of chemo in treatment is an option. I was glad to have that clarified.

So here we are. All is going as well as we can hope and we are taking everything one day at a time, hoping for good news while preparing for the worst. Mom is going back in on Monday, Aug. 21 at 8 AM for round 3 of chemo at SW WA Med Center. Though the last wave of chemo really threw her for a loop physically and emotionally, we are hopeful that this one will be easier on her body and spirit. She has been eating better and more often than she has in decades. Keeping her weight up is instrumental in all of this as the chemo just burns it right off. Another positive sign is that she didn't have to get a blood transfusion after the last chemo treatment. I was thinking that would be a regular occurrence, but her blood cell counts are all pretty good.

Mom has also been getting physical therapy and her leg muscles (which had experienced some atrophy from her fibromyalgia) are getting stronger. She is moving around for the most part without assistance from a walker, whereas before she looked ready for a wheelchair. Kudos to her for doing her daily exercises and having the internal strength to believe that she can get stronger. Mom wanted me to pass along her appreciation to everyone for their love, prayers, and well wishes. We both believe the collective love she has been receiving from everyone is essential in her fight to survive. There aren't words enough to do justice to how incredible the love and support feels. It is an amazing experience to have so many pulling for someone I love so much. Keep it coming. We can use all you can give. Thank you again.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Pat