Busy Week ....

Just to start things off, Mom did not start treatment as we expected today. However, it's been a really busy week...

Tuesday - Mom went for her CAT Scan and they notified her that they would not be finished with her mask to start radiation until next week. So Monday it is.

Wednesday - Katie and Mom woke up bright and early to get Mom to Tampa for her 8am MRI appointment, 9:30 blood work and then I (Sandy) joined them for the 10:30 Chemo Training. Everything went well. The MRI looked good, her bookwork came back with good results and the Chemo Training was very informative. The only news we really didn't like was that Mom will not only feel lousy during her 6 weeks of treatment, but most likely will feel worse for the 2 months following her treatment. Mom took this in stride as a doctor along the way had said the same thing to her. Katie and I on the other had were pretty disappointed. We were hoping that soon after her treatment she would be ready to shop and play with the kids. Oh well ... none the less. We also found out the expenses associated to her therapy. WOW ... thank goodness for insurance. Katie took Mom shopping after all the appointments. Mom really enjoyed helping Katie pick out clothes for her vacation/honeymoon.

Thursday - This was a pretty mellow day for Mom for the most part. Mom did however receive two pretty cool calls. First the insurance company called and talked to her about options that would allow her to pay ONE very small co-pay for the entire 6 weeks vs. doing that same small co-pay every week for 6 weeks. This was very nice news. :) Mom also got a call from a research program that her doctor referred her to. They would like to know more about her and would like her to participate in a study that would help pin point if her type of Cancer is environmental related or it there is any genetics involved. Mom was very happy to sign up for the study to help find answers to this beast in anyway.

With that said .... We are looking to having a nice relaxing weekend. Monday is right around the corner. We are looking forward to the first day that Mom truly gets to start fighting even though it means the hard work begins. Please feel free to leave Mom words of encouragement ... I am sure they will help her welcome the week ahead of her.

The Mask ...

With Mom's permission I am posting the picture below. Yesterday Mom was fitted for her Radiation Mask. This mask will help them position her head for her daily radiation treatments. It was quite the experience watching them make it. Mom wasn't to crazy about learning that her head would be bolted into position everyday for 10 minutes, but none the less did just fine.

Treatment

After meeting with the doctors at Moffit and the Bardmoor Cancer Center we are getting the ball rolling on treatment. Mom has a very busy week .....

Monday - Mom will fitted for her radiation mask. This mask will allow the doctors to precisely radiate her each and every visit.

Tuesday - CAT Scat to prepare for radiation.

Wednesday - MRI to prepare for Chemo, Blood work and Chemo School.

Thursday - she will hopefully begin her first day of therapy.

Therapy - Phase One - Mom will do a combo of radiation and chemotherapy for 6 weeks. The radiation is 5 days a week which is accompanied by a chemotherapy pill that will be taken every day for 6 weeks. Once her 6 weeks is up, she will have 3 to 4 weeks off. PHEW .... then into Phase Two - She will take a high dose of the chemo pill for the first 5 days of every month for 6 months. Mom will get blood work done every three weeks and will have an MRI every 2 months.

Please feel free to share your comments and words of encouragement for Mom on this site. She is not really able to read because of her sight ... but loves to hear us read the messages to her. We will post again towards the end of the week to give everyone an update on how the week progressed.

No Name Calling ....

Mom has asked that we do not share the name of the actual Cancer she has been diagnosed with. It doesn't really matter the name ... it is Cancer. If we gave you the name you would search the web for information .... all of which does not pertain to Mom. We are taking on this monster knowing that everyone's diagnoses is different. We refuse to have let the web dictate our hope. We speak with the doctors and they give us hope. Your hope and prayers are appreciated. We need a cheering section to cheer us on.

Welcome

The past 3 weeks have been absolutely crazy, hectic and draining. Below is a quick timeline of the progression of events that lead us up to date.

End June - Mom starts having headaches and goes to the doc to get them checked out. She is told to test her blood sugar and to get an MRI just in case.

July 2nd - goes to get her MRI and comes home with a massive headache.

July 4th & 5th - Not feeling well but pushed through the weekend. She was vomiting, had headaches, and visual changes. She was alarmed, but she knew is was only a matter of time before the MRI would come back.

July 6th - Mom gets a call from the doctor. She tells her that she has a 2 inch mass in her brain and that she needed to get to the hospital immediately.

July 7th - Katie, GG and myself (Sandy) fly to Dallas to be with Mom and Jim.

July 8th - The 2 inch monster was removed through brain surgery. Mom did rather well and was in good spirits.

July 9th - We received the horrible news that the tumor was in fact malignant. We discussed our options with the doctor. Mom makes an immediate decision to move back to Tampa to be with her family.

July 10th - Released from the hospital. She couldn't wait to get out of there! :)

July 11th - Happy Birthday Mom. Mom turned 53 years old. We had a quiet little party for her and spent most of the day caring for her.

July 13 - Mom woke up with many symptoms that prompted us to call the doctor. Two hours later and plenty of commotion ... she were back at the hospital

July 13 - July 20th - Mom is admitted to the hospital for brain swelling. It takes them a couple of days but they finally get the swelling under control. Poor Mom had some rough days during this hospital visit. The docs assured us though that she was just healing from the surgery.

July 20th - Discharged from the hospital

July 21st - Mom flies to Florida (with Katie's assistance of course)

July 22nd .... the rest of the story begins.....