Any hope?

[Cilla18]

Hello Brave ladies. My mum has now been admitted to hospital again with severe vatigue and tummy pain. They carried out a CT Scan and now the liver and the pelvic lesions has increased whiles the lungs one has stayed the same. Not forgetting the brain mets too. She had radiotherapy for the brain and now waiting an mri to check if it made a difference. Now the CT shows a spread to the lymph nodes and spleen. So now she's got mets to the liver, lungs, lymph nodes, spleen and Brain. The consultant wants to give her more chemo but has said it has a slim chance of working. She was diagnosed in 2014 at the age of 48. It's now setting in that I might actually loose her. It's just so confusing. Thank you all

[CallmeMum]

Hi lovely,

Take the chemo there's always hope it will work. Have they offered parp inhibitors at all? Xxx

[Cilla18 in reply to CallmeMum]

Thank you for the reply. We will find out later today which chemo they will be offering.

[Alikay]

I'm so sorry that you and your mum are in this position. However, if the consultant is recommending more chemo, they must have some hope, so please don't give up. Wishing you both all the best. Take care. Ali xx

[Katmal-UK]

Hi Cilla So very sorry your mum is having such a tough time (to say the least). The fact that they are even willing to try chemo means that they haven't given up. Have you had the opportunity to speak with your Mum's consultant on your own? If you think you are able to deal with the information he might give it might be worth having that conversation. Not an easy call, I've been there with my mum. Sending you the biggest hug. Kathy xx

[Cilla18 in reply to Katmal-UK]

Thank you Katmal. I have spoken to her. She is willing to try chemo but has warned us it might not work. Literally said expect the worse and hope for the best. Thank you

[Maus123]

Hi Cilla. Uh... I'm sorry... that's surely not what you two wanted to hear and I know, there is a moment where the worst outcome suddenly seems to become a possibility rather than an abstract and unlikely idea. Punches you right in the gut.

But don't give up. As long as she is offered treatment, it means the medical experts on her team believe it could do good.. even with the caution you mentioned.

So hopefully chemo will be beating your mum's disease back.

But also important: Please look after yourself as well, and don't feel obligated to always be the unwavering strong one in the face of challenging odds. This disease can break us for a time and toss us into a deep black hole... both those with OC, and their loved ones too. Please believe that you will get out of it, and pick up life on the other side. Just take one step at a time for now. If I presume too much, I apologize.

Wishing you the best. Maus

P.S. How did the brain MRI turn out?

[Purple-iris]

Oh Cilla

You are having to deal with so much and I know your mum must appreciate your love and support but would also want you to take care of yourself , physically and emotionally. My heart goes out to you and your family but as others have said if they are offering chemo there is always hope .

I was diagnosed stage 4 in June 2016 at age 53 and my greatest fear has always been how my 20 year old daughter will cope with my treatment and beyond and that I don't want this disease to ruin her dreams and happiness. I know how difficult it is caring for your mum , I looked after my own mother when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and used to lie awake at night wondering if she had the correct treatment or how long her heart would cope . ( now 82 and still nagging me despite my cancer lol 💜)

Remember you can get support as a carer and don't be afraid to ask for help .

Sending you love and prayers that your mums chemo is successful . Love Kim x

[come-unto_Me]

Hi Cilla, my heart goes out to you and your mother there is a lot to cope with. I was told in January 2016 that I had aggressive bladder cancer with secondaries on the lungs, firstly they had removed most of the tumor from the bladder and treated the bladder with 20 sessions of Radiotherapy in April they then tackled the lung cancer with Chemotherapy. When I was offered the Chemotherapy the Oncologist told me that it had little chance of working and probably had 11 months to live. That was more than a year ago, I know Chemotherapy takes a lot out of you, I have no regret going ahead with it. My cancer is stable and I know it will come back but I am taking it a day at a time and with a positive spirit and my faith I am making the most of life, I have a great family supporting me. It is my prayer for your mother and yourself that you get better news. God bless.

[Cilla18]

Thank you all for your replies. I really

appreciate your kind words. Wish you all the best of luck and praying for all of you. Take care xxx

[Nicky100]

Hi Cilla,

I'm so sorry you are both dealing with this news- it's a b^*¥$€ disease and s. Instant rollercoaster but you have to try and stay hopeful whenever you can. If you feel worried today, try and remember that tomorrow is another day and something might be different.

My own mum had it and at various stages we had news that seemed like a finality but somehow she kept on, for longer than we thought and that was 17 years ago. The teams and treatment have improved since then and there are more options available like PARPS etc.

Let us k ow what you decide to do and what they recommend to you both? It's a tough road but things can change.

Nicky x

[greenpink]

Hi Cilla 18. Very sorry to hear what you & your mum are going through. As another post mentions below, PARP inhibitors are not chemo, but a drug currently in capsule form. Has your mum had a genetic blood test for BRACA 1 & 2?. Have any of her tumours been tested to see if the tumour itself developed a BRACA mutation?. I ask because I was diagnosed at age 48 in 2012. My oncologist told me that was young and so I had genetic testing -- discovered I am BRACA 2 positive. I am having third line chemos now and after that hope to have Olaparib, which is a type of PARP inhibitor -- it is a maintenance drug. If the chemotherapy could reduce the tumours then the PARPS can control it. There are also PARP inhibitors for people who are not BRACA positive too. All PARP drugs inhibit the cancer cells from repairing their DNA with PARP.

Sorry if this is a lot of info. Sending a big hug.