Hi again, thank you all for the replies. My computer was on the fritz the last couple of days so I wasn't able to get here or anywhere else.
Cindy, thank you for you input. I've talked to my mom a lot about a second opinion. I don't know if you know anything about Kaiser...I don't really know how to explain what they and how they work...I guess I would say they're a mananged health care insurance. Here's a link
http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/ We're trying to figure out how we go about getting a second opinion...we don't know if we can use an "outside" Dr. or if we have to use another Kaiser Dr. We're within 3 hours of Stanford University but again, I don't know if it's possible to get a second opinion there. I do have some other questions...if you don't mind I will email you. Thank you so much.
Millie, I'm very sorry for your loss. I did start a notebook and finished it during my mom's biopsy on Friday. I took it to the Dentist today and wrote some notes. Later my mom asked me to make her a notebook. I had offered to make her one but she wasn't ready...now she is. You were right...I did learn some more of the abbreviations on Friday, UGH.
Jennifer, I'm sure we'll have lots of questions..thank you. I'll post an update at the end of this post.
Thank you Michael!
Tina, thank you for your post...it mad me cry. The hard part of all of this is that my maternal grandma passed away a month ago...2 weeks after she died my mom was diagnosed. Doing all of this is already a comfort to us both.
Gary, thank you for the links. I'll check them out.
I don't know if I should post this here or in another forum...so I'll do both.
My mom had the biopsy Friday on the back of her tongue. The head and neck surgeon said everything went well and she didn't think the biopsy would show anything to be concerned about. She also said with the partial glossectomy and neck dissection my mom could possibly avoid radiation. We were thrilled to hear this.
My mom had a dental appt today to prepare for radiation...if deemed necessary. My mom has not been to the dentist in many years and needs some work...cleaning, extractions, etc. At the very least she needed this work done and I know it will make her feel better to get it done.
Today the head and neck surgeon called my mom with the PET results...the surgeon said they were not really helpful. The cancerous lesion under her tongue did NOT 'light' up. Area's behind her right ear, in front of her left ear and the back of her tongue DID lite up. All the "we don't know" is driving me crazy. Now we don't know what to think. I called the surgeon but she hasn't called me back yet.
My mom has a head and neck surgeon, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist(1st appt is 6/29), and now a dentist. Who should we get a second opinion from? Do we get a second opinion from a new team of Dr's or just a head and neck surgeon?
Right now the neck dissection and partial glossectomy are scheduled for 7/19. We were told this will be a 6-8 hour surgery.
Why doesn't the PET show what is going on in the lymphnodes if it messures the metabolic rate of cells? Is the neck dissection precautionary?
I guess that's all for now.
Thank you all!
Oh, sorry this post is all over the place...I'm very tired.
