ALL ~ final stages, want to know if anyone else experienced

savlinton · New User Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

My mother had breast cancer 8 years ago following a full mastectomy and chemotherapy she had been fine (8yrs clear), then 16 months ago she was diagnosed with ALL, doctors have now told us that she only has a few months and have stopped treatment, they are just giving her palliative care.
At present her spleen is enlarged and is causing immense pain which they are trying (unsuccessfully) to control the pain so that she can come home for a better quality of life over next few weeks / hopefully months.
My question is has anyone had a family member go through the same, trying to understand how long we might have? Does anyone know what is likely to go wrong next? Having known someone with same situation.
They are going to try radiography to try and reduce the spleen so that the pain eases, but still won’t fix.
Any information be appreciated

brainman

savlinton, I am so very sorry about your mother's cancers. It is hard enough to go through it once but to have to face it twice?? I cannot even imagine how hard this must be on you and your mother.

My father died in Sept 2006 of complications due to ALL. He got a blood infection that just could not be controlled. It took the doctors a very long time to even diagnose his ALL. The first biopsy was negative. They went so far as to remove his spleen before his platelets dropped and white cells went through the roof. It was a very hard battle. As his primary care provider and going through my own fight with cancer at the same time, it was also hard on me. Come to think of it, at times he was my primary care provider too.

I will keep you and your mother in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
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savlinton · New User Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

Many thanks for your reply and kind words.

The signs indicate that the leuikemia has gone into the brain, she is very confused etc we thought it was down to the combination of drugs making her spaced out but Doctors claim that its the ALL in the brain not all the drugs, although of course they do not help.

Does anyone have an idea when in the brain which is clearly serious how long we might have, based on other similar cases.

Many thanks

brainman

savlinton, there is really know way to know for sure. It really depends on what exactly is causing her confusion. ALL is a blood cancer so it is really all over her body. Obviously, I do not know this for a fact but there is a possibility that their are so many ALL cells that they are forming a clot in her brain... like a stroke. I wish I knew more to tell you.

The way you deal with a confused person is the same regardless of the cause. I always thing of the care giver as that persons one sure contact with reality. You can gently clarify her confused mind. It does take a lot of patience.

As always, you and your mother are in my thoughts and prayers.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

savlinton · New User Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

Mum is now at home the final stage, she is on constant medication and still the pain comes

She is getting weaker day by day and suppose we have to take things a week at a time rather than months, its her 61st Birthday today.

savlinton · New User Joined: 29 Feb 2008 Posts: 5

Mum lost her battle with ALL, the final 4 weeks have not been pleasant this is a horrible disease and my sympathy goes to any person / families that have to go through what she did and us as her family.
She is now at peace but it still seems so unfair.

My only advice would be if possible like we did and my Mums wishes, be at home and use the fantastic support of the Home hospice / district nurse teams its better for everyone to be in their own home, especially in the UK as the NHS hospitals you are just a number

Bless her: 12th March 1947 ~ 28th April 2008

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 817 Location: UK

My deep condolences. It is good that she was able to be at home and with her family.

brainman

savlinton, I am truly sorry about your mother's death. My father died of ALL in Sept 2006. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this sad time.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendroglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

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