h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

My mom went for her follow-up scan yesterday. This is after 3 months of chemo.

Well I tried to prepare for receiving every sort of news *except* the news we actually got! She went in for the scans the morning, got back the afternoon about one o' clock, and ...

... well. They said the chemo apparently did not work at all because the tumour was very much bigger ...

... than it was more than a year ago - start 2009, in fact. In other words when it was just a small spot and the internist said it was nothing to worry about. But then it went for 9 months with no treatment at all and was scanned in Pretoria and was found to be very big, and only *then* did the chemo treatment start. THAT is what they should have compared it to - the size it was just before the chemo started - not the size it was nine months previous to that point!

Sheesh! And then they said the scan my mom got in Pretoria did not indicate the size it was. But I thought there was an indication of scale - I thought it was about 10 cm in diameter then.

The new scans show the tumour to be 6.5 cm in diameter. BUT because the tumour is so much 'bigger' (than on the 2009 scan) the doctor concluded the chemo didn't work and said my mother will now start on a different kind of treatment.

Well. My sister phoned later the evening (she's also a medical doctor). And you know what - SHE also thought the tumour was 10 cm in diameter on the scan she got early this year. Which means it has SHRUNK SIGNIFICANTLY! Which means the chemo WORKED!

So how is it that my sister and I both think the tumour used to be 10 cm but the doctors are ignorant of this? If we are right, then there's no reason to change the treatment!

I really hope the doctors could get their stuff straightened out. My mom was down in the dumps yesterday ... preparing to die ... saying the only thing she wants to know, is how much longer this thing is going to take to kill her. But when my sister confirmed what I told her, that the tumour *did* in fact shrink, she said she feels hope again.

Oh, lord. More dumb doctors. I'm praying you get it straightened out.

And best wishes to your mom.

My heart goes out to you both Willem. Whatever you do stick to your guns and don't give up hope. I am very much afraid that doctors are not infallible. Is there any chance of a second opinion where you are? I would certainly ask for one. I think your sister should kick up a fuss till you get the correct details. They must have those original results somewhere.



Websailor

Sorry, I only found this now.

Willem, I hope the doctors will check their files again and see that you were right. I really hope they'll decide on the right treatment for your mum.

Dear Willem,

I'm sorry you and your mum appear to have been messed around again. I really hope there has been an improvement in her condition.

lil xx

Sigh. This is not the end of it. The doctor kept insisting that my mom *was* scanned right before the chemo started ... where is the report of this scan, then? Anyways he then sent her for blood tests. Her blood was tested before the chemo and the cancer level (whatever it is that they measured) was 600. OK ... so yesterday they tested it again, and called this morning, telling her the level was now 900. Oh no, so my mom and I were very sad again. But then my sister phoned again, and said that the cancer my mom has, cannot be gauged by blood tests! And my mom also says the doctor was rather nasty with her ... as if he doesn't really care much for her. My sister said that my mom's kind of cancer ought to respond to a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She suggested my mom go for cancer treatment to Pretoria. But I don't know if that would be at all practical. So anyways my sis said she would talk to my mom's doctor. I think I should have a talk with him as well. When he sees the size of me maybe he'll think twice about being nasty with my mom ...

Good for you. Go to bat (maybe bring a baseball bat) and we'll keep you in our thoughts.

Good for you Willem. It is atrocious that you have to fight for the right treatment but it seems it happens here too. Stick with it, and if Pretoria offers better opportunities perhaps it would be worth it.

At least they can't pull the wool over your sister's eyes. You are lucky to have her.

Take care and give my best to your Mom.

My other half has problems at the moment and is having to be dragged kicking and screaming to the doctor. It is probably nothing serious but it is a problem he has been neglecting which has made it worse. I need to know what's wrong even if he doesn't.

Stick with it.

Websailor

Heh heh ... Dmitri, we don't have baseball bats here ... but we do have machetes !

Websailor, yes my sister is a huge help. She's a GP but currently studying oncology.

There's a bit of a problem with my mom going to Pretoria. I won't be able to go stay there with her ... I will have to stay here to keep the household going. And I really don't want her to be elsewhere. And she *can* get good treatment here ... heck, we've just built a state-of-the-art multimillion dollar cancer treatment centre here - where my dad was treated (not that it helped him much - he only had a few treatments there before he died).

Jeez, I'm sorry that your other half is not co-operating! All the best for finding what's wrong and what to do about it.

Thanks everybody!

Willem

Hope everything gets sorted with your Mom. She deserves the best ever treatment. Glad you have support from your sister. I am an only child and have had to cope with all the ups and downs of life on my own.

My other half has improved slightly but it is still a worry.

Take care,

Websailor