Mum went for her second ultrasound on tue.... the radiographer scanned her 3 times in total with 3 different radiographers at the same time.... hmm... i guess its due to her scars from her previous surgery to remove benign lumps...
In short... the ultrasound reports show one solid hypoechoic lobulated lesion... measuring abt 1cm...needle biopsy is suggested... it will be done on next thursday... Dr asked us whether we want the biopsy to be thru cut or by mammotome (im the one who brought up mammotome cos I did once myself)...of cos the price difference is quite significant.... thru cut only cost abt $270... whereas mammotome cost nearly $1000....hmm...
Mum was quite upset abt having to go thru the biopsy.... she hopes the second ultrasound shows normal findings.. I believe its the Dr call for the second ultrasound brings up the hope as why the Dr did not went straight for the biopsy instead basing on the ultrasound we did at Gleaneagles.... And of cos is the memory of the needle biopsy for her first recurrence....the results turned out to be no good.... thus the reason for the upset...
I searched the web for information on the ultrasound findings.... but could not get any relevant information whether its likely to be benign or malignant... Sigh... I really really hope its just a benign lump... nothing more... my mum just went thru 2 operations...one being a big op... I hope she does not need to go thru another one... these scares are really tiring and stressful... I hate these health scares..... I hate the period awaiting to the report results... its REALLY stressful... Im sure those in my situations can well understand...
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Treatment for my Mum Second Relaspe
After hearing what Dr Poon says... we went to consult Dr Khoo Kei Siong at Gleaneagles...
Dr Khoo told us during for first consultation that what Dr Poon says are not incorrect... cases like these will eventually lead to recurrences on other sites.... but he feels chemo should be given to control it and prolong the life of the patient.... so there we go with chemo at Gleaneagles....
Never been treated at a private hosp before... u can imagine the differences in costing... as my mum only have basic insurance plan.... we have to top up cash for every chemo cycle.... which amounts to be abt a thousand plus... she had six cycles... a port was directly inserted at the vein on her chest... the chemo drugs will be administered from the port... the port itself already cost near to 1k... she will bring back a small round chemo ball put inside a pouch to have the drug infusion 24 x 7.... the ball will have to have change every 2 weeks.... there is hair loss... the side effects are quite terrible.... she has mouth ulcers... bone aches till she cant sleep.... no appetite etc.... sigh... the list goes on....
After finishing the sixth cycle.... Dr suggested to keep the port there.... as if knowing she will need it again.....
Just after 2 months after the last cycle.... she found the red nodules again..... my mum was devastated... she know the cancer was back... despite going thru the terrible side effects and spending so much money... the cancer came back in just 2 months.... my mum 3rd relaspe...
When Dr Khoo saw the nodules...he told me its likely cancer.... so he send my mum for a CT scan....but results back are cleared.... which we are very happy.... He says since the cancer is still confined to the chestwall area... he is thinking of letting my mum do chestwall resection which is a major operation....
Hmm... when we first saw him...I ask him whether my mum can do surgery to remove the nodules...he say not possible as there is nothing left to remove.... maybe that time he also felt that the cancer will spread so no point to do the big operation of removing the whole chestwall... So when the cancer came back and CT scan show no spread.... it is worth considering the big op.... since he know the chemo alone will not help to get rid of the cancer....
However he warned us that the chestwall resection surgery is a big operation.... it requires a general surgeon and a thoracic surgeon to remove the whole chestwall..... a plastic surgeon to remove the tummy whole tissue to patch up the chestwall.... meaning the whole operation will need a long recovery and requires a big sum of money (more than 20k).... Even that... he wont be able to guarantee that the op will cure my mum.... there may be microscopic cancer cells at other sites.... but going chemo again before the op will try to minimize the risks.... so its a tough decision....
I dont know whether I should let my mum go through a painful operation.... having to risk her on a big operation and knowing that it is not a 100% cure.... I really do not know...
But after thinking hard.... I think a surgery still offers the best chance for my mum.... and Dr Khoo recommended doing at NCC with Dr Koong, a Thoracic surgeon....
One thing that makes us very glad was that despite we are referred to NCC from Gleaneagles... my mum still enjoys sub rates by staying at B2... so its a form of relieve for us.... really..
The details of the op was shared on one of my previous entry...
Dr Khoo told us during for first consultation that what Dr Poon says are not incorrect... cases like these will eventually lead to recurrences on other sites.... but he feels chemo should be given to control it and prolong the life of the patient.... so there we go with chemo at Gleaneagles....
Never been treated at a private hosp before... u can imagine the differences in costing... as my mum only have basic insurance plan.... we have to top up cash for every chemo cycle.... which amounts to be abt a thousand plus... she had six cycles... a port was directly inserted at the vein on her chest... the chemo drugs will be administered from the port... the port itself already cost near to 1k... she will bring back a small round chemo ball put inside a pouch to have the drug infusion 24 x 7.... the ball will have to have change every 2 weeks.... there is hair loss... the side effects are quite terrible.... she has mouth ulcers... bone aches till she cant sleep.... no appetite etc.... sigh... the list goes on....
After finishing the sixth cycle.... Dr suggested to keep the port there.... as if knowing she will need it again.....
Just after 2 months after the last cycle.... she found the red nodules again..... my mum was devastated... she know the cancer was back... despite going thru the terrible side effects and spending so much money... the cancer came back in just 2 months.... my mum 3rd relaspe...
When Dr Khoo saw the nodules...he told me its likely cancer.... so he send my mum for a CT scan....but results back are cleared.... which we are very happy.... He says since the cancer is still confined to the chestwall area... he is thinking of letting my mum do chestwall resection which is a major operation....
Hmm... when we first saw him...I ask him whether my mum can do surgery to remove the nodules...he say not possible as there is nothing left to remove.... maybe that time he also felt that the cancer will spread so no point to do the big operation of removing the whole chestwall... So when the cancer came back and CT scan show no spread.... it is worth considering the big op.... since he know the chemo alone will not help to get rid of the cancer....
However he warned us that the chestwall resection surgery is a big operation.... it requires a general surgeon and a thoracic surgeon to remove the whole chestwall..... a plastic surgeon to remove the tummy whole tissue to patch up the chestwall.... meaning the whole operation will need a long recovery and requires a big sum of money (more than 20k).... Even that... he wont be able to guarantee that the op will cure my mum.... there may be microscopic cancer cells at other sites.... but going chemo again before the op will try to minimize the risks.... so its a tough decision....
I dont know whether I should let my mum go through a painful operation.... having to risk her on a big operation and knowing that it is not a 100% cure.... I really do not know...
But after thinking hard.... I think a surgery still offers the best chance for my mum.... and Dr Khoo recommended doing at NCC with Dr Koong, a Thoracic surgeon....
One thing that makes us very glad was that despite we are referred to NCC from Gleaneagles... my mum still enjoys sub rates by staying at B2... so its a form of relieve for us.... really..
The details of the op was shared on one of my previous entry...
Worrisome News
Last week my mum called me saying she felt a lump on her left breast (mastectomy was on the right side)... she is very worried....... me too...
She has a mammogram appt on 29th this month at NCC... but feeling anxious.. we went to see her medical oncologist Dr Khoo at Gleaneagles the next day which was last friday...
After examining her.... Dr Khoo says he dint feel any lump in specific... but its good to have a mammo and ultrasound done since the last was quite some time ago at TTSH. But since we already have the appt on 29th.. we can wait till that time.... but I do not want my mum to go thru another 3 weeks of waiting... so we went ahead to do the mammo and ultrasound that very same day at gleaneagles...
We were at the gleaneagles at around 1130am... we are still there at 5plus waiting for the xray and ultrasound films to see Dr Khoo again... The xray dept call my mum to do another time of ultrasound as the first one is non conclusive... It make me worry.... why....
Finally we are back to Dr Khoo office with the films...
The mammo shows nothing... but the ultrasound found two small lumps.. Dr Khoo says althou the lumps do not seems to have the cancer characteristics features but during the early stage all lumps look the same.... so its good to have a biopsy test done on the lumps to rule out cancer.... so he suggested to go back to NCC Dr Koong who did my mum chestwall resection surgery to have the biopsy since it will be much cheaper.... as pathology report cost at private hosp can be quite substantial...
I called NCC up to bring forward our appt with Dr Koong to last tuesday....
Dr Koong says he need to see my mum previous ultrasound reports to compare.... if the lumps are already there before it shouldnt be of a concern... if it isnt... its good to go for the biopsy... or go for surgery to remove the lump altogether... but Dr Koong says he do not want my mum to go thru another unnecessary op again since she already had so much the past few months....so got to wait for TTSH to send our their reports to NCC....
Got a call from NCC saying that TTSH ultrasound films has reached and Dr Koong has compared but is still not conclusive... he wants my mum to do another ultrasound again next tues.... hmm... it will be the 3rd ultrasound in 2 weeks.... I wonder why.... maybe becos my mum remove benign lumps before so there are scar tissue shown up during ultrasound....
I really really really hope the lumps are nothing.... its not cancer.... I abit tired of all these worrying....having to go thru anxiety everytime waiting for report results.... really...
She has a mammogram appt on 29th this month at NCC... but feeling anxious.. we went to see her medical oncologist Dr Khoo at Gleaneagles the next day which was last friday...
After examining her.... Dr Khoo says he dint feel any lump in specific... but its good to have a mammo and ultrasound done since the last was quite some time ago at TTSH. But since we already have the appt on 29th.. we can wait till that time.... but I do not want my mum to go thru another 3 weeks of waiting... so we went ahead to do the mammo and ultrasound that very same day at gleaneagles...
We were at the gleaneagles at around 1130am... we are still there at 5plus waiting for the xray and ultrasound films to see Dr Khoo again... The xray dept call my mum to do another time of ultrasound as the first one is non conclusive... It make me worry.... why....
Finally we are back to Dr Khoo office with the films...
The mammo shows nothing... but the ultrasound found two small lumps.. Dr Khoo says althou the lumps do not seems to have the cancer characteristics features but during the early stage all lumps look the same.... so its good to have a biopsy test done on the lumps to rule out cancer.... so he suggested to go back to NCC Dr Koong who did my mum chestwall resection surgery to have the biopsy since it will be much cheaper.... as pathology report cost at private hosp can be quite substantial...
I called NCC up to bring forward our appt with Dr Koong to last tuesday....
Dr Koong says he need to see my mum previous ultrasound reports to compare.... if the lumps are already there before it shouldnt be of a concern... if it isnt... its good to go for the biopsy... or go for surgery to remove the lump altogether... but Dr Koong says he do not want my mum to go thru another unnecessary op again since she already had so much the past few months....so got to wait for TTSH to send our their reports to NCC....
Got a call from NCC saying that TTSH ultrasound films has reached and Dr Koong has compared but is still not conclusive... he wants my mum to do another ultrasound again next tues.... hmm... it will be the 3rd ultrasound in 2 weeks.... I wonder why.... maybe becos my mum remove benign lumps before so there are scar tissue shown up during ultrasound....
I really really really hope the lumps are nothing.... its not cancer.... I abit tired of all these worrying....having to go thru anxiety everytime waiting for report results.... really...
Friday, July 4, 2008
My Mum Second Relaspe - Year 2007
Dr ask my mum to go for another op to have some of the nodules taken out for lab testing to rule out malignancy... I still remember the results was out before the Chinese New Year.... but my mum choose to postpone the appt to be after the new year... as if knowing deep down that the results was a bad one... In fact... I too have the same feeling... but no one really talk abt it... so I agreed to my mum to postpone the appt... wanting my mum to enjoy the new year... I even suggested my mum to go genting with my aunties to have a break... I know myself that she may have a tought battle to fight again soon... so I want her to at least have a holiday to enjoy herself...
On that day of the results.... we waited quite a long time for my mum's turn... I still can recall my mum was so not herself that day... she was so anxious... not wanting to talk more...
When we step into the consultation room... the look on the dr face... I know its bad news...
I asked the dr... so how is it... she said... err... its not good... at that moment... I tried very very hard to hold back my tears... I do not want to cry in front of my mum..... As my mum dun really understand english... she asked me while I was still talking to the dr.... "good news or bad news?".... I shake my head...... then she finally broke down... she cried... my dad hug her.... that was the first time I saw my mum crying so hard... and the first time seeing my dad hugging my mum.... really....no one can imagine how I feel at that moment... I duno how to console my mum.... I couldnt remember that was the how many times we have to went thru such situations in receiving bad news....
So when we stepped out of the room.... I ask my dad to stay with my mum....cos I have to go to the xray dept to book a date for my mum bone scan, ct scan, etc... the usual procedures when there is a recurrence... I know it too well....
So the period from that day of results till the next results day for the scans and xrays was really torturing...
Results Day
The dr is Dr Donald Poon.... the first time seeing him...
We asked the dr...so how is the results.....Dr say its good.... no spread at this moment... liver and lungs good... Phew... I can see how relieved my mum is...... so I asked the dr... so when will the chemo be.... He say no need for chemo at the moment unless there is life threatening issues like when the cancer spread...... now only needs to take oral hormonal med to control it...... I wonder inside me why no chemo.... why only give chemo when the cancer spread as if waiting for that day to come....I really doubt the hormonal med can help to get rid of the cancer....
Anyway before seeing the dr.... I already wanted to seek a second opinion no matter how is the results... so I ask the dr to write a referral letter with all my mum medical history in a memo summary.... I want to bring my mum to see Dr Khoo Kei Siong at Gleneagles... it was recommended by my own dr... Dr Wee Siew Bock.... Im seeing him for my ultrasound scans.... I also removed benign lumps by him....
Dr Poon says Dr Khoo is his superior last time at NCC.... he last times heads the dept at NCC last time before he move to private practice...
After getting the memo and all the copies of my mum medical history reports... we waited outside... I went in to the room again alone to ask him the actual situation of my mum.... cos I do not want my mum to hear..... I still can rememeber the exact words he say...
Me : Dr how come my mum do not have to go thru chemo?
Dr: Not at this moment.... chemo will be given when there is life threatening issues
Me: But hormonal med can remove the cancer?
Dr: No... it cant....
Silence......
Dr: How to I put it..... To be frank.... I cant cure your mum.... the cancer will eventually spread to other parts of the body.... until then... the hormone med will help to control it....
My heart sank....I sat down there stunned with the news....
I will share more on my next entry....
On that day of the results.... we waited quite a long time for my mum's turn... I still can recall my mum was so not herself that day... she was so anxious... not wanting to talk more...
When we step into the consultation room... the look on the dr face... I know its bad news...
I asked the dr... so how is it... she said... err... its not good... at that moment... I tried very very hard to hold back my tears... I do not want to cry in front of my mum..... As my mum dun really understand english... she asked me while I was still talking to the dr.... "good news or bad news?".... I shake my head...... then she finally broke down... she cried... my dad hug her.... that was the first time I saw my mum crying so hard... and the first time seeing my dad hugging my mum.... really....no one can imagine how I feel at that moment... I duno how to console my mum.... I couldnt remember that was the how many times we have to went thru such situations in receiving bad news....
So when we stepped out of the room.... I ask my dad to stay with my mum....cos I have to go to the xray dept to book a date for my mum bone scan, ct scan, etc... the usual procedures when there is a recurrence... I know it too well....
So the period from that day of results till the next results day for the scans and xrays was really torturing...
Results Day
The dr is Dr Donald Poon.... the first time seeing him...
We asked the dr...so how is the results.....Dr say its good.... no spread at this moment... liver and lungs good... Phew... I can see how relieved my mum is...... so I asked the dr... so when will the chemo be.... He say no need for chemo at the moment unless there is life threatening issues like when the cancer spread...... now only needs to take oral hormonal med to control it...... I wonder inside me why no chemo.... why only give chemo when the cancer spread as if waiting for that day to come....I really doubt the hormonal med can help to get rid of the cancer....
Anyway before seeing the dr.... I already wanted to seek a second opinion no matter how is the results... so I ask the dr to write a referral letter with all my mum medical history in a memo summary.... I want to bring my mum to see Dr Khoo Kei Siong at Gleneagles... it was recommended by my own dr... Dr Wee Siew Bock.... Im seeing him for my ultrasound scans.... I also removed benign lumps by him....
Dr Poon says Dr Khoo is his superior last time at NCC.... he last times heads the dept at NCC last time before he move to private practice...
After getting the memo and all the copies of my mum medical history reports... we waited outside... I went in to the room again alone to ask him the actual situation of my mum.... cos I do not want my mum to hear..... I still can rememeber the exact words he say...
Me : Dr how come my mum do not have to go thru chemo?
Dr: Not at this moment.... chemo will be given when there is life threatening issues
Me: But hormonal med can remove the cancer?
Dr: No... it cant....
Silence......
Dr: How to I put it..... To be frank.... I cant cure your mum.... the cancer will eventually spread to other parts of the body.... until then... the hormone med will help to control it....
My heart sank....I sat down there stunned with the news....
I will share more on my next entry....
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