6/10/09

Friends and Family,

As I had told you earlier this week, we had a meeting today with my Mom's Internal Medicine (IM) Dr. He told us that without having a biopsy he can't be 100% sure, but he is 99% sure that she does have pancreatic cancer. He asked us what we wanted to do next, have a surgeon or an oncologist see Mom. Mom told us that she wanted an oncologist so that is what the next move is. If the oncologist feels that a biopsy is necessary then he will contact a surgeon to do that surgery. However, the IM. Dr. doesn't think there is a need to put Mom through the biopsy because it is a very painful procedure and due to her CA 19 9 level in her blood being so elevated and the CT scan results. But again, this will all be up to her Oncologist and Mom as to the way they will approach this. The Drs. will also be doing some more scans and tests to determine the stage of the cancer and IF it is operable. The Dr. told us today the he thinks that he has her morphine drip at the level he needs it to be to keep Mom's pain at a minimum or none at all. He told us that this cancer is a very rapid growing cancer so each day is critical; he also said that this cancer is a very, very painful cancer and that Mom's pain is very important to him. He said he will work hard to keep it under control and today it is very much under control. If surgery is needed he also told us that it is a VERY radical surgery and could possibly cost her life. Mom said that if they tell her that they can operate and there is a chance they can get the cancer, she will agree to it because she knows she is in God's hands. Mom's always been a fighter and she will fight this with any treatment they have for her and with her faith in God. The Dr. also told us that IF they can get it all w/o it spreading to other areas it very well could come back next year. He doesn't feel that at this time that the cancer has spread to other organs, liver, back, brain or other areas which is highly rare if it hasn't, BUT not impossible, but the scans will determine if it is in the pancreas only.
Thank you for your prayers and PLEASE continue praying for her and if you haven't done so, add her to your prayer lists at church and to friends. Right now she needs all the prayers she can get!!

In Christ's Love,
Brenda~