frayne
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
About three weeks ago MIL was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The cancer originated in the form of a tumor in the ascending colon and has metastasized to the liver and lungs. At that point in time she was in Ohio and the oncologist pretty much said they could start chemo and she may have a couple of years to live. Since that time we have moved her down to the Chattanooga area and she is splitting time between my place and my son's house. She has good days and some bads days but overall she is doing quite well considering what is going on inside her body. We went and saw a local oncologist and gave her the medical records to review. The doctor suggested a PET/CT scan in order to double check the size and location of the tumor. To my knowledge this had not been done in Ohio. After the PET/CT scan the doctor wanted to have her admitted and have a surgeon look at the PET/CT scan to see if the tumor should be removed before starting chemo as the doctor had a concern that if chemo were started and the tumor would move, be aggravated it may cause blockage and may have to come out anyways. The surgeon suggested the tumor be removed and she was given a stress test to determine if she could stand the surgery. She had a triple bypass a year and a half ago. After the test the surgeon and heart doctor suggested doing a balloon type procedure as one of her arteries is plugged off and her heart is only operating at about 40% capacity currently. She is scheduled for the heart procedure on Monday as well as the tumor removal. After this surgery she will start chemo at some point down the road when she is strong enough to stand the treatment.
Sorry if this is a long post and I may have a few things not exactly right but this is the way I understand things as of this morning. I guess my question is, is this the right path for a 78 year old woman ? She wants to go through with the procedures in hopes of having a better quality of life and some additional time. As far as I am concerned what the doctors have recommended seems very logical and the decision is hers to make.
She is covered with Medicare and supplemental insurance so I don't think there should be much cost to her, if any, but don't really know that for sure either.
Just wondered what others thought and if this route we are traveling is pretty much consistent with what others may have been through.
Appreciate any and all comments in advance.
Sorry if this is a long post and I may have a few things not exactly right but this is the way I understand things as of this morning. I guess my question is, is this the right path for a 78 year old woman ? She wants to go through with the procedures in hopes of having a better quality of life and some additional time. As far as I am concerned what the doctors have recommended seems very logical and the decision is hers to make.
She is covered with Medicare and supplemental insurance so I don't think there should be much cost to her, if any, but don't really know that for sure either.
Just wondered what others thought and if this route we are traveling is pretty much consistent with what others may have been through.
Appreciate any and all comments in advance.
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