After a Long Delay, We've Got A Strong Team In Place

First of all, a little bit of an update. Mom has gotten a bit weaker. I think the radiation (palliative on her tailbone) knocked her down a bit, but we will hopefully see her outside more with the warmer weather.

We got her a walker for getting around the house. It has helped a lot. Cherrie has fashioned a little basket to the front of it, and Mom is enjoying it after a little bit of resistance at first. Mom and I talked about getting her an outdoor walker, she's starting to think that's not a bad idea.

Today at the Cross Cancer Institute, she had bloodwork, xrays and a consultation with her new oncologist, Dr. Chu. She has gained about 1/2 a pound (97 lbs) - this is very good, I kinda expected her to have lost more - since her last appointment on April 15th. He said that she is more mobile than he would have expected with the extent of cancer on her tailbone, and that is good. The spots on her bones have grown, and there are more spots in her lungs.

He started her on Tarceva, it is a 'gentle' chemotherapy. She has to take a pill daily for a month, and then go back to see Dr. Chu and see if there is any improvement. Tarceva is a fairly new drug, and for about half of the people taking it, it helps a lot. It not only extends life, but seriously reduces symptoms - pain and shortness of breath.

Side effects can include serious dryness (I've read about some stuff that might help), pimples (doctor gave her some cream) and diarrhea (should be managed easily with Imodium). These should hit at about the one week stage, then fade away as the body adjusts.Her pleural catheter has plugged again, so we will have to take her back to hospital to get it cleared. But all in all, she's positive and hopeful.

And, so am I.
Love,
Donna