Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Vancouver Island Cancer Agency
Mom and I went for her first consultation at the Cancer Clinic.
Before we went upstairs, we stopped in quickly to look at wigs (Mom is secretly hoping that her hair DOES fall out – it’s supposed to come in curly!). What we saw was encouraging, but who knew that Mom’s head is an “Ultra-Petite”?!
We were ushered into an examining room, where a Care Aide came to take Mom’s blood pressure (a little high 114/80), and her weight (up 5 to 119 lbs – a net loss of about 15 lbs). When Mom proudly mentions that she hasn’t had a cigarette in two weeks, Ms. Care Aide delivers a fiery speech on how smoking isn’t the only thing that causes Cancer, and how she’s seen a lot of other things do worse! After she leaves, Mom leans over and whispers, giggling, “She’s a smoker!” Gee, Mom, you think? Too funny!
We first met with the Medical Oncologist who would be administering the chemotherapy. She explained:
There will be Radical (high dose) Radiation. Monday to Friday for 6 weeks. Only done in Victoria.
There will be 4 sessions (2 – 3 hours) of Chemotherapy every 3 weeks.
The first 2 sessions of Chemotherapy will be done in Victoria while she’s receiving the Radiation, then the last 2 sessions can be done in Campbell River.
Mom will be given two Chemotherapy drugs: Cisplatin and Etoposide Injection.
Mom was prescribed two very strong anti-nauseant drugs, and one milder one.
Chemotherapy has plenty of side effects, just Google the drug names.
Then we met with the Radiation Oncologist who would be shooting radiation right through that nasty Cancer. He explained:
Mom would have to come to Victoria for a CT Planning Session. This is where they carefully plot out the best angles to apply the radiation beams (is that what they’re called?).
She will be lying on her back with her arms up to give them maximum exposure to the damaged lung.
They will place 3 tiny tattoos on her to mark the spots.
Each session will last about 30 minutes, although the actual radiation is only 2 – 3 minutes.
Side effects:
Very tired
Cough (a little bit ironic, don’t you think?)
Esophagus might get a little bit of radiation, so swallowing might be hard
Red/sore skin
He stressed that all of these side effects are very temporary!
The Radiation Therapy is the ‘big gun’ in this battle. The hope is that it will kill the cancer in the lungs, and the Chemotherapy ‘has its back’. It will kill any cancer cells that are in her body.
Chance of cure is 20%... one in five…not the most glowing forecast…
But, I’ll tell you this. Mom wholly intends to be that one! I am constantly amazed and gratified at how strongly she is facing this new enemy. And we’re all right beside her.
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