Introducing Alan - 04-10-2004 04:32 PM
I would be pleased to receive any thoughts or advice anyone can offer:
My mother, age 88, was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma two years ago after having had several years of negative biopsies for white patches or leukoplakia on her tongue. She underwent a course of radiation therapy as it was the opinion of the Doctors that would be appropriate for her condition. However, the radiation did not work and she was required to undergo resection of the tongue and jaw on the right side in November of last year ('03). The pathology report was excellent and we had every reason to believe that she was on the road to recovery.
However, in the last three weeks, she began to experience pain in the tongue on the opposite side of the resection. That is, she had the surgery on right side and was now experiencing symptoms on the left side. Anotehr MRI and PET Scan revealed "worrisome" findings of "neoplastic" activity. In other words, the cancer had returned.
Today we received the bad news and she will be required to consult with a Chemotherapist with a goal of providing reduction of pain and better quality of whatever life remains for her. Needless to say, we (her three children) are shocked because we held out the hope that she would recover based on the clean pathology she received after her surgery in November.
My question is: Can anyone shed any light on how this awful disease will likely progress (even with chemo) and, what the likely timeline will be until the inevitable occurs? My mother's stated objective now is to be comfortable and to enjoy whatever time she has left. Any advice, sharing of similar experience, etc. will be deeply appreciated. Thanks!
Alan A.
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Posts: 3 | From: Southeastern Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged
My mother, age 88, was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma two years ago after having had several years of negative biopsies for white patches or leukoplakia on her tongue. She underwent a course of radiation therapy as it was the opinion of the Doctors that would be appropriate for her condition. However, the radiation did not work and she was required to undergo resection of the tongue and jaw on the right side in November of last year ('03). The pathology report was excellent and we had every reason to believe that she was on the road to recovery.
However, in the last three weeks, she began to experience pain in the tongue on the opposite side of the resection. That is, she had the surgery on right side and was now experiencing symptoms on the left side. Anotehr MRI and PET Scan revealed "worrisome" findings of "neoplastic" activity. In other words, the cancer had returned.
Today we received the bad news and she will be required to consult with a Chemotherapist with a goal of providing reduction of pain and better quality of whatever life remains for her. Needless to say, we (her three children) are shocked because we held out the hope that she would recover based on the clean pathology she received after her surgery in November.
My question is: Can anyone shed any light on how this awful disease will likely progress (even with chemo) and, what the likely timeline will be until the inevitable occurs? My mother's stated objective now is to be comfortable and to enjoy whatever time she has left. Any advice, sharing of similar experience, etc. will be deeply appreciated. Thanks!
Alan A.
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Posts: 3 | From: Southeastern Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2004 | IP: Logged