In Focus

As we’ve suspected for weeks, Mom’s lung cancer has returned. This was not a surprise for us. The cancer reappeared in a lymph node in the upper part of her right lung and has spread to the right side of her neck and her brain.

Confirming the brain cancer was not an easy task. Because she has a pacemaker/defibrillator, she cannot undergo an MRI. Her doctors were relieved that the CT scan with contrast dye was able to capture an image sufficient to confirm the presence of a tumor, which is just under 2 x 2 cm in size. I suspected this could be the case, as she has been nauseous and experiencing frequent headaches for weeks.

Then came the multiple trips to the St. Cloud Hospital for a bronchoscopy, where doctors use a small camera to examine the airways and they took a biopsy. A week later, we returned to Staples to confirm what we already suspected. Now, her blood samples are being tested to determine the best treatment for the cancer.

Previously, about two years ago, when the cancer first appeared, she underwent only one chemotherapy treatment before being hospitalized for 10 days due to sepsis. Because of her pacemaker/defibrillator, she must take antibiotics for the rest of her life, as the bacteria from the sepsis can linger there. This situation is complicated, as the leads for the device would be extremely difficult to remove due to over a decade of scar tissue and muscle regrowth. She continued with immunotherapy, which did work but caused severe itching to the point of bleeding and scabbing. It will be interesting to see what they try this time.

Regardless, those treatments likely won’t address the cancer in her brain, as the brain membrane (meninges) could prevent the medications from being effective. Therefore, she will undergo 10 days of whole brain radiation treatment, excluding weekends. By the time you read this, she will have already received 4-5 treatments. Side effects may include slowed neurocognitive function and short-term memory loss. They have put her on a dementia medication to help with this, but it could also cause nausea, along with the radiation’s effects of hair loss and sunburn.

The doctor’s appointment to confirm all of this was a long day. We had planned to eat between appointments, but because she was having breathing problems and pain they sent her for a CT scan. Turns out she has pneumonia on top of all this. And with the urgency to start the radiation she had to get her mask made and other menial things done before we could leave. Her team is amazing, and even brought us snacks as we were starving, enough to hold us over until we left.

Once she completes the radiation, the doctors will develop a plan to treat the remaining cancer. For those of you who know her, feel free to call or stop by. She cannot read text messages due to central vision loss from macular degeneration.

She is also planning for worst case scenario and has decided to donate her body to science—due to her various medical maladies she hopes much could be learned from her body.