Posted on 02/01/2020 4:26:30 PM PST by midnightcat
As an update, for those of you praying for my mother - we had another trip to Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia this Thursday. My mother’s tumor is inoperable, per MRI. Too dangerous to remove and not something that would come out cleanly anyway. It’s close to the base of the skull, the carotid artery, for example.
This tumor does not respond to traditional chemotherapy, but they are sending out the biopsy for genetic testing to see if there is some kind of weakness that can be exploited with a special drug. There is only a 30% change this tumor has the “right” genetics.
We have a consult next week with a radiation oncologist in hopes that maybe tumor will respond to radiation. Apparently, high grade salivary duct carcinoma is very rare and a nightmare to treat and it almost seems that not much can be done via palliative care either. Or so it seems. We hadn't realized that even palliative care would be a problem! I had hoped we could at least keep her comfortable and functional until hospice was needed....
Her PET scan wasn’t showing major metastasis but there were 2 tiny hotspots under her arms that they thought was weird and needs ultrasound and biopsy for further investigation. Otherwise, her major organs are not yet full of cancer.
At any rate, the best and only real treatment would have been surgery and then radiation which is now not possible. I’m worried if we don’t get some kind of treatment soon, it may soon affect her swallowing, not to mention facial paralysis.
My brother and I do not want her to suffer. Thank you for your prayers.
Thanks for your continued updates.
Keeping Edith in my prayers.
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Prayers for your Mom’s success and recovery! let us know how it works out for her. Will keep you in my prayers.
My heart and prayers are with you!
Sending prayer for your Mother and your family.
May it all go well.
God’s blessings.
Prayers up! Also ask about “magic mouthwash”. Pretty sure It’s benadryl, maalox and lidocaine. Great for throat radiation.
Praying for your mom.
Prayers up for both of you.
Thank you for the update.
Continuing prayers for Edith’s comfort and recovery, and for the comfort of the rest of the family.
Continued prayers for your mother and that she beats the cancer into remission !
Lord Jesus, heal Thy servant Edith. May the experimental drug be successful. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
Hello - It’s been several months and I thought I would offer another update for Edith, my mother. She received 35 radiation treatments to the head/neck during the worst of the pandemic. Radiation held back the tumor for about 10 weeks and tumor in her face is growing back again as of last week. Meanwhile, she just finished a 3rd treatment of Keytruda immunotherapy. Her oncologist feels it will “do nicely for her”, and I assume that means possibly buy her some time and keep her stable for a while. This cancer will not be going away - we are aware of that, and the doctor hasn’t yet seen the tumor recurrence on her face. She gets a PET scan on 8/5 and I guess Keytruda treatments will continue unless he says otherwise. Keytrude is every 3 weeks infusion. Thank you for your prayers.
Thanks for the update MidnightCat
Prayers continue.
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Prayers up
Prayers up. May the best outcome for your mother happen.
And prayers for you as the person who provides love and care. May you reduce your stress.
She-—and we-—are in God’s hands.
Prayers for your mother and for you.
prayers up!
Thank you for the update. Prayers for continuing strength to all of you as your mom fights this battle.
Prayers FRiend...for your mom, you, and all The other folk who love Her.
I am so sorry that your mother has had to go through all of this. God bless her...she sounds like a very strong person, and I will keep her, and the rest of your family in my daily prayers.
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