Mom and the cancer doctor appointment

Yesterday mom went to her first cancer doctor appointment. This appointment was to let mom know about the procedure she was going to have. Tamie and dad were very comfortable with this doctor. He took the time to explain what was going to be done in nonprofessional words, easy enough for them to understand, and answered any questions that Tamie asked. I’m sure this put mom at ease now that she has an idea of what to expect.

This coming Wednesday, they go back and mom will be put through a CT simulator that will measure where the mass is on her lungs and how she will do laying down while the radiation treatment is happening.

The following week, she will go back to be “tattooed” – they place a mark on her chest where the mass is so they will know where to place the radiation each time, and they will then finalize the dosage of radiation they will give her.

Then finally, the last week of April, she will begin her radiation treatments and will go everyday for 25 days (Monday through Friday only).

Tamie expressed a concern we all had about this radiation treatment because of the research Tamie has done on radiation treatments, and because mom has trouble breathing and swallowing. The doctor felt that mom should have very little side effects, and what little effects she will have will be tolerable. He said that if she didn’t do this radiation, it could spread into her lymph nodes and become an even bigger problem.

I’ll keep you posted as to her progress. She’s tough and this is just one more hurdle that she will overcome. Besides, I think she wants to be around to see her grandson, Karl graduate from college in September and (yet to be born) great grandchild graduate from college as well.