Re: surgery vs. quality of life

November 7, 2005

Hi Patty,

I live in the Austin area. Yes, the quality of care is pretty good

here but she would probably get better, more leading edge technology

and care, at MD . If they think they can resect all of the

cancer, then it surgery may be the right thing to do. Two surgeries

seperated by two months seems awful harsh though.

My mother had pancreatic cancer that was blocking her bile duct and

causing an obstruction of her small intestine. She had surgery to

bypass the obstruction, but it didn't work. The surgery did mess up

her quality of life. Because the surgery didn't work, she couldn't

eat and her health rapidly deteriorated. The abdominal surgery is

rough enough for younger folks (I'm 42) and it's harder for older

folks to recover from it. Liver surgery is even tougher than a colon

resection (or so I hear).

As for caring for her, it would be a lot easier to care for her if

she were in town where you live. My sister took the main portion of

caring for my mother. I could only visit every once in a while

because I had a baby at home. It was a very hard time.

I don't think I've helped you with the decisions that you face. I

can't recommend one option over another. It really comes down to

what your mother wants. My mom said " that's enough " . It was very

hard to respect her wishes but we didn't have much choice. I kept

wanting to fight but she had made her mind up. Her faith was very

strong so she just looked at it as a bridge to seeing my Dad and her

parents again.

Anything can happen. Miracles do happen!

Cliff H.

>

> HI all-

>

> My mother (age 70) was diagnosed with colorectal cancer last

> november. She has also had severe rheumathoid arthritis since 1979,

> and has been on prednisone pretty much the whole time. She lives in

> Houston and was lucky enough to get into MD . They gave her

> low levels of chemo (because of her RA) for 8 months which helped

> the liver but really had little impact on her colon. In September

> the CT scan showed the liver clear, but when they followed up with

a

> PT scan it showed several tumors in the liver. So now the doctors

> are looking at surgery as an option. The prednisone use is a

> concern, but otherwise they feel she will make it through the

> procedure. They plan to go in and remove the blockage from her

> colon, and then if everything goes well with that, the liver

surgeon

> would step up and remove half of the tumors in her liver. Two

months

> later they would go back and remove the remaining liver tumors. The

> doctors have admitted the possiblity that she may not recover fully

> and regain the quality of life she has now. My brother and I, who

> live in Austin, wonder of the possibility of her not having sugery

> and moving them closer to us (and the grandkids) and continuing

> with chemo and possibly radiation. Obviously this is my mother's

> decision to make, and really we can't be sure of a beneficial

> outcome in either scenario, so I'm wondering- has anyone else been

> faced with a decision like this? Should we voice our preference to

> her (to not have surgery) or is that selfish? I'm completely at a

> loss here...

>

> thanks for reading, and God Bless-

>

> Patty

>

November 7, 2005

I will be 69 yrs old in less then two months. I am a diabetic, high blood

pressure, blocked arteries in both legs, irregualar heart beat, arithritis in

most joints including spine. The one thing I don't have at the moment is cancer!

I had a rough 9 hour surgery on 8/22. What made it so long was I was full of

scar tissue he took out and unblocked the striture in my rectum. I still can't

believe how fast I recovered and have not felt this good in years. Actually I

just came back from appt with my regular Dr. and it was first time I had seen

him since surgery. He could not believe how well I looked and told me he was so

glad I had the surgery. Actually prior to the surgery I have been house bound

for over 2 yrs and that is no quality of life either. I do think quality comes

first before quanity of life. He told me this would give me 20 more years:) I am

very capable of living by myself and actually after this surgery I had a

daughter stay with me one day when I got home.

We all have different conditions and circumstances so I can't give you a answer

of what is best. I can say if she has good Doctors I would follow their advice.

To me just her age would not be the factor.

Please keep up us updated on how she is doing.

Hil

November 7, 2005

Patty, let your mom decide. I am 72 with stage4

rectal cancer. I let my wife to go with me to the Drs.

She may listen and ask questions but the Dr and I

make all the decisions on what will be done. If you

make them and it dosent work out you will blame your

self. I dont think you want that burden.

Surgery today is nothing compared to the past. She

will be sent home after a few days.

Walter L

--- ggdork wrote:

> HI all-

>

> My mother (age 70) was diagnosed with colorectal

> cancer last

> november. She has also had severe rheumathoid

> arthritis since 1979,

> and has been on prednisone pretty much the whole

> time. She lives in

> Houston and was lucky enough to get into MD

> . They gave her

> low levels of chemo (because of her RA) for 8 months

> which helped

> the liver but really had little impact on her colon.

> In September

> the CT scan showed the liver clear, but when they

> followed up with a

> PT scan it showed several tumors in the liver. So

> now the doctors

> are looking at surgery as an option. The prednisone

> use is a

> concern, but otherwise they feel she will make it

> through the

> procedure. They plan to go in and remove the

> blockage from her

> colon, and then if everything goes well with that,

> the liver surgeon

> would step up and remove half of the tumors in her

> liver. Two months

> later they would go back and remove the remaining

> liver tumors. The

> doctors have admitted the possiblity that she may

> not recover fully

> and regain the quality of life she has now. My

> brother and I, who

> live in Austin, wonder of the possibility of her not

> having sugery

> and moving them closer to us (and the grandkids) and

> continuing

> with chemo and possibly radiation. Obviously this is

> my mother's

> decision to make, and really we can't be sure of a

> beneficial

> outcome in either scenario, so I'm wondering- has

> anyone else been

> faced with a decision like this? Should we voice our

> preference to

> her (to not have surgery) or is that selfish? I'm

> completely at a

> loss here...

>

> thanks for reading, and God Bless-

>

> Patty

>

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November 7, 2005

Patty, I am so sorry that your mom is having to go through this. That

decision is so difficult.

I myself would just let my mom and her doctor make the decision. I

would just feel too guilty if anything goes wrong and would not want

to feel that I somehow was at fault for talking my mother in

something. But that is just how I feel. Your mom is going to go

through a lot no matter which way she goes.

Please let us know how it is going with her and what she decides to

do.

This group is here for you and will help you with any questions you

may have. This is the place to vent or just talk about how you are

feeling. Sending Prayers up for her. Ingrid