Time for another blog! I have been a real slacker lately, only blogging one time per month in 2014. This is not to say nothing is happening (although not much has happened). It is more of an indication that life is moving on as normal, with few hiccups or interesting things to share outside of the unusual weather patterns we have all faced.
Several of you have asked, so here is the latest on Connie. You may recall my mother was diagnosed with melanoma of the scalp and neck. It grew very rapidly. The extent of the disease was massive and several surgeons reported it as “inoperable.” The only possible hope was given by the doctors at the Cutaneous Clinic in Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, Florida). They have dealt with many patients with this (and worse) condition, and it was by the grace of God that we got an appointment with the doctors there and it is within driving distance from my mom’s house in Leesburg.
They determined she was BRAF+ which is the best possible scenario. This meant they could put her on oral medicine (the name escapes me) for six months. Then they hope to operate to remove the cancer (best case scenario). So she started on the pills. This drug has only been on the market for about a year or two, so it is a brand new medicine with amazing results so far. It is a very expensive medicine, even with insurance.
She started on 1 pill 2x/day. The first few days were like eating a vitamin – no side effects. Then about four days in she got real sick, nauseated and constantly saying “I just don’t feel good.” This lasted for about two or three weeks. She was nauseated constantly, sleeping all the time, and couldn’t tell me what day of the week it was. Her follow-up at Moffitt a couple of weeks into treatment showed no ill effects to her overall system, so she kept plugging away. A few days later she started tolerating the medicine and started doing much better. Still very fatigued, but cooking her meals and going for short walks to the end of her driveway (it’s a long driveway).
She noticed an improvement within the first week (lump on her neck decreased in size and the pain in her scalp was virtually gone). After her follow-up they increased her dosage to two pills twice a day. Again, she tolerates the dosage. God is good! She is very fatigued, but no longer sick. She has little bumps all over her body, which they say is a normal reaction, but other than that she is doing well.
In the meantime Mom is getting some help around the house. They assigned a home health nurse to come to the house, I think weekly. She doesn’t do much according to mom, but she checks her vitals and listens to her symptoms. They also sent a cleaning lady at a greatly reduced rate. This has been a real blessing as she helps mom with dishes, laundry, helps her take a shower, and has helped her organize her bedroom. In addition she discovered effective 2014 her insurance covers transportation to any of her doctors (not Moffitt as it’s too far), so she has been able to get to all of her appointments without the burden of asking for a ride. This is a real comfort and blessing to me, as I would take her if I were there.
Last weekend my sister and her two daughters drove from Ohio to Florida for a weekend visit. Mom felt it was a good visit and she was happy to have that re-connection which has become distant over the years. This, too, was an answer to prayer. I am grateful for my sister!
Mom is scheduled to go back to Moffitt on March 31 (tomorrow) to see her oncologist. She is hoping they will move her surgery date closer, but I think they will tell her to wait the whole six months as planned before considering surgery. I will update you when I hear the update myself.
I have reconstruction surgery scheduled for April 11th, with 6 weeks of recovery time away from work. I’m taking it all whether I need it or not! I’m hoping the timing is going to work out so I can go to Florida when Mom has her surgery. If all goes as “planned,” she should have surgery sometime in the summer.
Until next time…