#70148 02-20-2008 01:26 PM | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 | Hi Everyone,
Well, you all know mum went on vacation to Cyprus. She got back today, and apparently hadn't been eating. She was looking very grey, and her stomach was swollen and hard. She was also in a lot of pain. She was taken to the ER by ambulance, and right now she is on the assesment ward at the local hospital - they're giving her fluids and they think there is a problem with her kidneys. I'm expecting to hear more later, and will update you then.
Sue
Update from Ray:
The news is not very good. Brenda has been kept in hospital, at least for tonight and tomorrow undergoing some scans. Apparently from blood tests her kidneys aren't working properly so she is on a drip to put some fluids into her and checking the output. The medical doctor I saw, having checked her history, doesn't think its an infection but cancer related, but is still treating for infection. The fact that she is mumbling and halucinating also makes him think thats its not an infection. So hopefully we will find out tomorrow whats going on. This all surfaced initally on Sunday and when i checked what drugs she had on Saturday I assumed it was too much morphine on so little food which started it. After staying in bed on Sunday and sleeping most of it away she seemed a lot better on Monday but still wasn't eating. Tuesday was similar and today she ate nothing and drank little and was mumbling and incoherent. Somehow she managed the journey back home, with the help of a wheelchair and from Adrians son. Still I assumed it was the morphine but when Lesley saw her she convinced her to go to hospital.
Last edited by Brenfransdaughter; 02-20-2008 01:37 PM.
Mum - sick as a dog, see her sig. Dad - diagnosed with throat cancer late 2007.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Daughter,, as you know your mom is one of my main hero's. I am so sorry to hear she is doing poorly right now. We have to get her to get that battle started again as it was before her trip. She is in my prayers as always and you are too. Take care keep us posted.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Brenda is one of the heroes of this board, who always has something wise, funny and\or poignant to contribute to this community. She has picked my spirits up when I was in one of those valleys that we all find ourselves in from time to time. Our prayers are with her, and with you. Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | Please know that I will be keeping Brenda, her family and the doctors treating her in my prayers.
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Brenda is such a great source of inspiration for me. You are all in my prayers.
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008. Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer. | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 | Thanks guys. I just talked to the nurses in the hospital (thank god for TimeWarnerCable and their .07c a minute UK charges!). She is going into kidney failure, she's stable at the moment but she is very very sick. I am going to call back again in a few hours to set up an appointment to talk to her oncologist via telephone. It's not that I don't trust Ray and my twin, but I have more experience with cancer than they do. I think this is "it"..........the beginning of the end.....from what has been described to me she's the same as my father in law was last year when he started deteriorating. I just talked to DonnaRose an hour ago, and I will make her my main contact for this board. I'll come on and update as I can.
Thank you for all your support. You guys have been sooooooooo wonderful to my mum and I can't thank you enough. I'll update you tomorrow.
Sue x
Mum - sick as a dog, see her sig. Dad - diagnosed with throat cancer late 2007.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Hi Sue, Thank you for calling me today to let me know. I am feeling so heavyhearted for all of you, especially your mum, my friend. You are all on the prayer tree here, I hope that you are feeling all of them. Please, feel free to call me at any hour--I'm always up. I wish I had something inspirational to write to make you feel better....just know that I love your mum, and will do whatever I can to help you. Love, Donna
Donna CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Sue, I just read what you wrote--I'm here. Love, Donna
Donna CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 31 | Donna, hope that's ok. Thank you x
Mum - sick as a dog, see her sig. Dad - diagnosed with throat cancer late 2007.
| | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Hi sue
I guessed when she hadn't posted that all was not well and i just got her phone number out to send her a text.I know she told me a while ago she had a tumour on her adrenal gland and has been suffering pain in her kidney area for some time now.
I have walked evry step of brens journey from the very first day she contacted me nearly a year ago,at first i was helping her and then she helped me.Our long conversation in december before i went away was wonderful and she sounded so good.I am unable to tell you how i feel at reading this news i had said to her the day before she went was she sure she was up to it,but you know your mum.
I pray if this is her time she is at peace and painfree and sue, god bless you.
love liz
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007 Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
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