Update on Mom Oct. 07

Hello, All,

Hope this message finds you well.

Mom has had quite a past 24 hours. She is just fine, staying with Terry and I tonight.

I took her in for tests and a procedure yesterday at 1:30 PM. We were anticipating being done by around 5 PM. Yesterday’s procedure included draining fluid from her right lung. They took about 1.5 liters out. This was done such that they could perform another CT scan and better see the tumor(s).

Upon initial review of mom’s scan, the attending radiology doctor was quite concerned that her lung failed to re-inflate after the fluid removal. He called it a “trapped lung.” This he characterized as a chronic condition caused by fluid between the lung and the outer wall, and is fairly common with cancer patients because the cancer makes the tissue more rigid.

As a precautionary measure, the attending doctor referred us to the ER at UW Medical Center where the tests and procedure were performed. They evaluated mom’s vitals, which were all stable, except her blood pressure was a little high (understandably out of being somewhat anxious). They admitted her for overnight observation, and finally got her into a room by around 11 PM last night.

Mom was scheduled to have a follow up with her oncologist this morning. Because she was admitted and under the care of another medical team, her oncologist allowed them to take the lead.

The other medical team was initially comprised of thorasic surgeons who evaluated whether to recommend an intervening treatment to either coerce mom’s right lung back into shape or possibly for the insertion of a chest tube or catheter so she could drain the fluid on her own. At this time they are going to leave it up to mom’s oncologist to recommend whether anything further be done at this time or she may continue to be treated for the lung fluid accumulation outpatient.

Because mom wasn’t symptomatic after the fluid removal, despite the trapped lung, and there was no change in the shape of her right lung between last night and this morning, the attending doctors released her around 2 PM today. Before she was released we had a phone consult with her oncologist as he was able to review the results from yesterday’s scans. The good news is the cancer has not spread. The bad news is the largest tumor appears to have grown.

Dr. Martins said this is unusual for the treatment she’s on and the specific type of mutation her medication is specifically engineered to target. There’s a slim chance the tumor growth occurred between her initial scan in late July and the time she began treatment about a month later. Despite the oncologist’s statement about the results being unusual, he’s not yet of the mind to change treatment course at this time. He may employ other treatment methods. This remains to be determined.

Mom’s oncologist requested a follow up next week on Oct. 16^th. She has been advised to go to emergency if she develops symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath or chest pain.

Except for being understandably frustrated by the events of the past 24 hours and today’s news about the tumor status, mom is doing well. She’s eating a little more, though many things she used to enjoy she either has no palette for or they offend her sense of smell. This is a side effect of her treatment. She has put on a pound. She was instructed by a physical therapist this morning to be regularly active at least once per day.

All my best,