Every time you think you've seen it all... you stumble upon something like this.
In any case, this looks incredibly rare, which just increases the odds that getting a straight answer about treatment options will be an uphill battle....
@Angela Wright, where does that confidence come from? Thinking an 83-year-old woman has nothing to lose during surgery—I’m asking because of your general stance on the American medical system.
I wanted to say thanks again for that link. The case is strikingly similar, almost identical, and I think it brings us much closer to a definitive diagnosis. From what I can gather, we're looking at an extremely rare tumor; I believe only a handful of cases like this have even been documented in global medical literature (this involves an 83-year-old woman). Even though quite a bit of time has passed since the initial scans back in January 2012, we might finally be able to pin down a final diagnosis. The only thing is, my mom's uterus happens to be involved too... but two gynecologists have already told us to leave it alone. Wishing everyone good health. Cheers!!!!🙂
Thanks. So, I have one more question: what’s actually the difference between a standard ultrasound and one done with color Doppler? Three different gynecologists looked at me using a regular ultrasound and said it was an intramural uterine leiomyoma, but during my last exam using color Doppler, the doctor told me it might be a sarcoma. Now I'm confused—if it's a sarcoma, can that even be identified with just a normal ultrasound? And one more thing: if it really is a sarcoma, would it have grown since January 11th of this year? Because it seems to stay the exact same size, maybe even a centimeter or two smaller than when it was first found.🙂
melloworca6 said:Is anyone taking anything for their stomach? You should look into Controloc or something similar; it basically creates a protective lining in your stomach so the meds don't tear it up quite as much. Most people who are on daily stuff like steroids or Advil take something like that, otherwise, your stomach is just going to be trashed after a while eventually.
Thanks for the advice, but does that require a prescription or can you just pick it up over the counter?
Angela Wright said:If you ask me, you can rest easy. If this were actually a neoplasm, your mother wouldn't have been with us all those years ago. So, it’s either surgery for the fibroid or radiation for the bone. There isn't really another way.
Thanks for the kind words, but I can't quite find any peace yet. I'm still leaning heavily on sedatives because that damn thing just keeps growing, and I honestly don't even know who would be willing to operate on it. It's sitting at 15 x 12 cm right against the bone, and on top of that, the uterus is 10 cm, with a 6 x 7 cm fibroid inside... Who knows. Maybe some radiation could shrink the tumor slightly—I did a little digging online and came across this newer method called "GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND" (MRgFUS), which apparently uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound to destroy the fibroid. Does anyone know if that's available here in the States, and if so, where I might be able to get it done?🤷
I picked up an older Philip medical infrared lamp through a local classified ad for $33, since I heard it helps with pain management. I also grabbed a Philip home tanning bed—the mini version with six bulbs—from an online listing for $67. My mom is dealing with some pretty intense pain running from her tailbone all the way down her left leg, so I’m trying everything I can to help her out. I’ve been applying some warmth with the infrared lamp for short bursts, followed by a bit of light exposure from the home tanning unit, then rubbing on some Deep Relief cream. Before she goes to bed, I give her legs a quick massage, and she takes some medication—today she had a packet of Advil granules mixed with 11 drops of Tramadol, which actually seemed to take the edge off... it wasn't hurting quite as badly. Now, I'm a bit unsure about the infrared lamp; is it safe to apply the heat to her tailbone and leg two or three times a day, or should I stick to just once? Also, regarding that home tanning quartz lamp, can she use it multiple times a day, and if so, how much? I've heard you only need about 10 minutes of sunlight daily for Vitamin D, so I'm wondering if that applies here too. Lastly, regarding pain relief creams—would something like Voltaren be more effective, or is there another specific gel or cream that works best for this kind of pain? Thanks so much for any advice!😕
mistyjackal842 said:Please, don't go judging the man. He's struggling to process everything right now, and honestly, he's just terrified for his mom. Maybe you've handled a situation like this better than he has, but if that's the case, then maybe... I don't know, maybe give him some actual guidance instead? And regarding the idea that his partner should be more important than his mother—why couldn't they both be equally important? It's not that simple.
Exactly. Finally, someone who actually gets where I'm coming from. I never claimed my mother was more important than my wife or kids; I don't go around using some "importance meter"—if God forbid my wife or children fell ill, I'd feel the exact same way. Besides, there's no way for things to get any worse than this. Look at that designer McQueen, or whatever his name was—he took his own life the very same day his mother passed away, and he was incredibly close to her. He just couldn't face it. It’s tragic, plain and simple, but that's the reality. No one can turn around now and call that man an idiot, a fool, a psycho, or a jerk because of it.....
Yeah, and? You’re acting shocked by that kind of extremism when you’re the one out here pitching the exact opposite. At the end of the day, it’s the same story. I think everyone around you can see that you’re completely medicated and totally disoriented. It would actually be weirder if you managed to hide all of that from your own family and only vented about it here on this forum. Honestly, I have no clue what you're even looking for on here. You just spit out prejudices against anyone who tries to talk to you, and frankly, by what metric are you measuring how much someone loves their parents?! Honestly, I don't need that in my life. Fight your own battles however you see fit. Besides, you can just act like a father figure to me if it makes you feel better.
Wait, have I ever even asked you for anything? I came here to read people's stories—real, heavy human dramas that actually moved me to tears, because at the end of the day, I'm only human. Emotions are a messy thing. Do you think someone like Mišo Kovač would be popping 40 pills a day if it were easy to deal with the death of a loved one? If he had emotions like yours, he wouldn't need a single pill. I was just an eighteen-year-old kid when I lost my father... and before that, I went through a similar kind of trauma to what I'm facing today... but I don't understand why you're forcing me into this argument with you right now. Maybe you're just one of those people who thrives on other people's misery... I just don't get it...
Angela Wright said:To you. It’s all just playing around. 😳The biggest issue in all of this isn't the sarcoma, nor the breast pain, nor even the combination of the heat, the ocean, and the braces—it’s not even the biopsy. The real problem is YOU. It’s how you are being to yourself, and more importantly, it’s the massive, unnecessary burden you are placing on your sick mother. On top of everything she’s already fighting, you're forcing her to deal with this extra weight while she's trying to manage her own pain. That is where the true problem lies. It’s just your irrational fear of losing your mother.Nothing else matters—all that counts is that she lives forever, or at least as long as you’re still breathing. It shouldn't even matter if she wants a damn clean deck, or if she wants to scrub and wring everything out in her own tub with her own two hands, or iron whatever she pleases exactly when she feels like it. Your mother is truly an exceptional, selfless woman for putting up with all this from you. My late mother—and honestly, me too—would have kicked your ass straight to the hospital just to get your weight down and your blood pressure checked, and then sent you right back home to your wife and kids, because at the end of the day, they should be the ones who come first in your life. Look, man, I get it. It’s great that you love her this much, and it's honestly admirable how much you value everything she’s done for you. But the way you're actually expressing it? That's completely unhealthy. To put it bluntly—and I'm not trying to be mean here—it's downright pathological. In that regard, I am in complete agreement with analogbison13—and I mean that with nothing but good intentions.
It looks like I've been completely misunderstood. I said I didn't give a damn about that stupid blanket because it isn't even HER blanket, it's mine. I told her I would wash it for her, but she wouldn't let me; instead, she insisted on scrubbing it in the tub herself. That's why I was angry at her—because she SHOULDN'T be overexerting herself. She needs to prioritize her health, which is far more important than that stupid blanket (it's actually just that factory cover for a futon bed). I am simply trying to help her. I massage her legs with black seed oil, I make her drinks out of every healthy thing imaginable so she's more loaded with vitamins than a pharmacy, I bring her food, change her linens, and do everything she can't do anymore... and now someone tells me I'm a burden to her? I never once complain in front of her about how hard it is; instead, I stay strong and encourage her to keep fighting, even though I know how difficult being sick is. Honestly, it feels like some people here think you aren't allowed to love your mother. I wish I didn't love her, because things would be a thousand times easier... and as for my wife and kids, they aren't being neglected; my mother lives in the apartment right next to us, so they aren't far away and they have everything they need. Actually, I'm just a fool for posting on this forum, because it just upsets me further, and I don't need that...🤷
analogbison13 said:Look, I’ll say it, so go ahead and sanction me if you want: I can’t even wrap my head around what life is like for that poor woman. She’s exhausted by everything, she's in constant pain, and on top of all that, she has to deal with the crushing thought that her son won't be able to make it without her at his age. It's falling apart at the seams—living on pills and all that crap. When I was 18, I was composed enough to convince my dying father that everything would be fine with me. To me, that is the ultimate proof of love.
The truth is, we don't all process things the same way. I know someone who spent the entire night partying, singing, and playing guitar at a blowout the very same day his mother passed away—before she was even cold... what else is there to say?🤷
Last night around 9 PM, she took one Ketonal, but then at about 1 AM, she ended up taking Tramal because it just wasn't cutting it. Now she feels like the Tramal actually worked, though she only took that initial Ketonal yesterday because the Tramal wasn't providing any relief. It seems to me that the Tramal might be working slightly better than the Ketonal—perhaps there's just a delayed effect. I'm not sure. Anyway, I'm currently waiting on the results of the PhD analysis with a lot of anxiety, and after that, she'll most likely have to go into the hospital. If they decide surgery is an option, then she should go through with it; if they can get it removed, she'll surely be in less pain once she recovers... I wonder, is 12-13 cm in diameter considered small or large for something like a sarcoma?😕
We finally got the biopsy done. We should have the results in the next few days, and then we’ll figure out our next move. Why am I bringing up sarcoma? Because the specialist at Nemetov wrote it down—she said the histopathology is consistent with leiomyosarcoma... Plus, the doctors over at the rib specialists were worried about the size of the tumor and suggested it might be a primary osteosarcoma, along with a uterine leiomyoma... Of course, I’d be overjoyed if it wasn't a sarcoma (to Mom, it seems to have been growing slowly for about six years, just to reach this stage now), but sarcomas grow incredibly fast... regardless, there is a mass there, and it's pressing on her nerves and muscles, causing her terrible pain lately. Previously, it was her right side where the tumor above the hip joint had wrapped around the iliac bone, but after four days of soaking in the pool about ten days ago, that stopped hurting, and now her left leg and left side have started aching... maybe that's because she spent all day on her feet using that walker, doing laundry, ironing, cooking, since it actually hurts less when she's moving than when she sits or lies down... I tell her repeatedly to just rest, but she constantly has to be doing something. Today, she could barely get out of bed to use the bathroom; apparently, she insisted on using some stupid "bath cover" that weighs about 100 kg once it fills with water... it drives me crazy. Or maybe it's the Tramal, which isn't even helping the pain anymore, and she can't eat because of it... When we were down in Miami recently, she wasn't taking the Tramal, just one Advil a day, and everything was fine... she ate like she hadn't seen food in a lifetime and everything seemed normal, but as soon as we got back to Indianapolis, things went south again... maybe it's because she isn't showering—the lack of water and sun... I installed a new showerhead and grab bars for her, but now there's that cover sitting in the tub that looks like it's drying, so tomorrow we'll put it out on the balcony to dry... she cares more about that cover than her own health—I don't give a damn about the cover or any of that, I just want her condition to improve, and we'll deal with the rest later... I don't know what comes next, we'll see. Honestly, I can't function without sedatives anymore because the fear is just overwhelming. Best to everyone.🙂
I have a question regarding that apricot kernel treatment (vitamin B-17 Laetrile)—there are claims that it can treat cancer, though it doesn't specify which type, so I was wondering if it would be effective against Sarcoma as well?🤷
wiredcanyon39 said:Based on my own experience, I can tell you that when my son had abdominal lymphoma, using a hair dryer on warm settings or taking warm baths worked as a sort of anesthetic, much like what you're dealing with now 🤷
I was also wondering what might be more effective for managing pain from bone tumors or sarcomas—taking a dip in cold water (like the ocean), swimming in an indoor pool with warm saltwater, or soaking in very warm water? What does a sarcoma react to more negatively: heat or cold? Since we aren't even certain if it's a sarcoma yet, I figure whatever those tumors dislike is what I should be doing... honestly, I feel like I'm losing my mind over all of this.🙂
Could someone please explain what "cervix displaced under the symphysis" actually means? Is it possible that a private doctor might have shifted it during an exam? This wasn't mentioned in her two previous reports, and everything happened within just a three-month window. After a manual pelvic exam—which was incredibly painful for my mom—and some internal pressure, she’s been in pain for ten days straight. She’s never experienced anything like this before the exam, so I'm wondering if it's even possible for the cervix to be pushed under the symphysis during a procedure like that. Thanks for any insight, everyone!
Does anyone happen to have a resource or a link showing how medication names differ from one country to another? Specifically, I'm looking for the equivalent of an American drug in Italy—for instance, would Tramal or Brufen be the same thing there? Thanks.
wiredcanyon39 said:Here are the exact CT results: it went from 8x7.5 cm down to 3.9x2 cm. The doctor said it's an unconfirmed complete remission?
That is nearly a three-fold reduction—truly incredible. If you don't mind me asking, where was the lymphoma located, and which facility did you go to for chemotherapy? Sending my best wishes for a full recovery.🙂
wiredcanyon39 said:Even though they said the CT results were ready, the doctor mentioned during the outpatient visit today that the lymphoma has shrunk significantly. He's saying we're looking at near-complete remission... 😁 A bit of a setback—hemoglobin is down to 7.5. We're currently waiting on a blood transfusion, but let's just hope it drops a little more... 😁
That’s great news. If those levels actually dropped, I can hardly believe there's even anything left to worry about. What exactly decreased? I haven't had a chance to go back and catch up on all the previous posts... I just want him to make a full recovery. Thank you and best regards.
Angela Wright said:Austin Moore, your blood pressure is high enough to land you in the hospital! You’ve been so worried about Mom that you've completely neglected yourself. With numbers like those, you could face a stroke at any moment, and then your mother would outlive you. I’m appealing to your maturity and sense of responsibility—please go seek medical help immediately!
Thanks, Angela, for the genuine concern. Honestly, I saw my doctor even before Mom got sick and was prescribed various "brand names" and God knows what else, but I just can't stomach taking them, and besides, I tend to forget. We're down by the coast right now, and I didn't even pack my meds. Before her illness progressed, I had quit smoking and drinking, and everything was fine, but as her condition worsened, I just... snapped. Now, all I care about are calming medications like Normabel and things like that, but they're hard to come by here... I'm trying not to lose my mind, but I already have; I find myself lighting up or pouring a drink. I feel a bit better right now, but once night falls, it's nightmares, hangovers, and a total system breakdown because I know I'm trapped in a dead end. Nobody likes feeling stuck, and I simply cannot imagine life without my mother. I've managed to get her almost every medication and supplement possible... strangely enough, she hasn't taken anything for pain all day, though she did take some Zaldiar before bed because her hip hurts when she moves. Does anyone happen to know what Zaldiar, Tramal, Brufen, Voltaren, and Normabel are called here in Italy? Since we're close to the border, I thought maybe, but it's not exactly easy being this far from Washington, D.C. right now... Thanks again, dear, and I wish everyone health and happiness in life.