chemo

[low_delta]

My mom doesn't call me with news. I don't call her to ask her the news. We probably annoy each other that way.

I was pretty busy last week. St. Andrew's Society Monday (Scottish group). CoPA Tuesday (Photographers' group). Rasputina Wednesday (cello group). Scotch tasting Friday (raucous group). Recovery on saturday. Gaming sunday. So I never called my mom to find out the results of her latest medical tests. Cindy said I should call her, on Monday night, but I forgot. Mom called me at work on Monday morning. "Did I tell you about the chemo?" "No."

She had the cancerous part of intestine removed in September. They've now determined that she doesn't have any more cancer, but they're putting her on preventive chemotherapy. A relatively low dose, once a week, six out of every eight weeks for the next six months. I'm taking her in on Monday.

I was surprised at the length of the treatment, considering she doesn't actually have cancer, but I guess I'll have to trust the doctors. She says her hairdresser told her that a friend had declined that treatment for a similar cancer, and later died of cancer.

Comments

[marswalker.livejournal.com]

She may want to think about / talk to her doc about eating more citrusy stuff, too. Lemon Grass, Grapefruit and Tangerine are all very high in citrol, citrol has been found to enhance the ability of cells to detect damage and trigger apoptosis. Apoptosis is when a cell discovers DNA damage and triggers it's own destruction. This is one of the mechanisms that prevents cancers. (Citrol is one of the main things that makes citrus citrusy.)

I am glad to hear she is "cancer free". And I think it's wise to do the preventative measures.

I can't fault you about the calling thing. I am at least as bad!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

She used to eat a lot of citrus. I wonder if she still does. Good info. Thanks!

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

I heard that eating Grapefruit can intensify certain medications to a bad level. I don't know what she takes at the moment, but she should probably ask her doctor before doing that.

[marswalker.livejournal.com]

You're right - and it can completely nullify others - I think there's either an allergy pill or an antacid (don't remember which) that citrus almost completely nullifies!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Well, it's not a pleasant subject so avoidance is pretty normal, annoying each other aside.

Preventative chemo is pretty standard. They can say there's no more cancer where they removed it but if stray cells got away somehow, who knows where it might show up next? Long term and low dose will assure that even one stray cell gets zapped over that time period. Not fun, though.

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Right. They said my Mom's melanoma was gone after surgery on her heel last December, but that clearly was not the case.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

Any updates on your mom, Cindy?

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

The suspicious spot in her hip is just fat so they can go ahead with the Isolated Limb Infusion on Monday. I've never been so happy to hear about fat!!

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That is REALLY good news!
There IS good fat after all!
:)

[cynnerth.livejournal.com]

Happy fat :)

[northernsnokat.livejournal.com]

We all forget or avoid the phone call. I did when my Dad was alive. I just got busy in my own life. Glad you called her and can help with her getting to her appointments.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

I'll be seeing her at least weekly, for a long time.

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

Sending along good wishes for the treatment to be a total success and for her to have a complete recovery!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Dean!