My Everest…

I have never in my life had the carpet pulled out from under me as we have had with my mom’s many different diagnosis’.  We have gone to 7 different Dr.’s and each one tells us something different.  This is an extremely stressful process for the family as well as her. 

First Dr says you have spots on your lungs and we need to do imaging and a biopsy.  Those results tell her that mom has  Metastatic cancer in her lungs and pancreas.  That Dr sends you along to the cancer clinic where you meet with 3 other Drs…they tell you that you don’t have pancreatic cancer ….you have a tumor growing in your pancreas that is cancer from your kidney cancer from 30 some odd years ago.  Huh??   If you do nothing mom has 6 months to live.  Obviously there were more discussions and then they said that they “believe”  the 4 spots on the lung may be from allergies and colds/flu. They then send us to 2 other Dr’s that are so hyper focused about her pancreas and tell us about the procedure that they want to do and the outcomes and the ramification of surgery and that she will have tubes (possibly feeding tube and colostomy bag) and as she lives alone will need to go to a long term care home for the time she is recovering. Ok fine I say but what about the spots on her lungs and the trouble breathing that she is having??   What do you means spots asks the Dr.?   I was only told about 1 …she has 4 !   No one says the Dr.  I’m like NO !  she has 4 !!  Finally they look at the MRI and see them.  The one Dr says well if she has lung cancer then there is no point in doing surgery.  Ok and after that he’s back to the pancreas.   What happens if she does nothing??   She has about 18 months to live?  Really??  I say Dr’s at the cancer clinic told her 6 months. Oh?  Why would they say that?  So I explain….once again.   Like man, read your notes !!!!  By this time mom and I are so frustrated at the lack of answers here.  Every appointment the poor woman goes in thinking today she will decide what she is going to do with all this mess and then gets thrown off kilter!   The Dr needs more imaging and now I find out that this will be done over a months time!! Why not take your time with a person who has been diagnosed with 6 months or so to live !!!  This last time I was telling my family about the Dr’s visit, the flare bear decided to intervene and place a massive migraine in my brain.    I was down for the count. The stress was so unbelievable I can only sympathize with what mom has going on daily.   Watching time tick by and going up and down on the emotional rollercoaster …..she has had so many opinions tossed at her that I can imagine her brain is just exploding. 

As are ours but no one envy’s her decision….we are all aware of the ticking time bomb she lives with and no one knows who what when where or why they are taking their sweet time ….