Saturday, April 19, 2008

Is there Cancer?

That is the question we are asking about Keith's mom, Marge. Keith talked to her yesterday after she had been to see her oncologist. They gave her results from a blood test that she had done a week ago (before her recent surgery). Unfortunately, the news was not good. Or at least it doesn't sound good!

Her blood level count that can show if cancer is present was up! It was 23 a month ago and now it is 31. What does that mean? Well, we are not really sure to be honest. The doctor has told her in the past that this rise in her blood level count could mean that there is cancer somewhere in her body or it could mean nothing - just a residual count from the colon cancer she had removed last year.

So...what now? Well the doctor has scheduled her to have a full body scan and a mammogram done on April 28th & 29th. I was under the impression that they had ruled out breast cancer (because that is what Marge told us), but apparently since they have ordered her to have a mammogram, that is not necessarily the case.

She has been told that she will receive the results of the tests on May 5th. To me, that seems like a long time to wait to find out if she has cancer or not, but I guess the doctors know what they are doing. At least, we hope!

Keith has been very matter-of-fact about all of this in the past, but yesterday he admitted that he is scared and worried about his mom and what all of this might mean. I am trying to be supportive without sounding "preachy". And, we can both only hope that it's a false alarm and that there really isn't any major medical problem.

I ask you all for continued prayers for both Marge and Keith. We are praying for God's mercy and grace through all of this and hoping that good news will be forthcoming soon!

1 comment:

Sharon said...

We will certainly continue to keep all of you in our prayers. I assume you meant that her tests will be April 28 & 29 and May 5th is really not all that long to wait for results. It IS for the ones waiting, but not unusual in the medical world.
They may have the results by the end of that week, but this gives them some wiggle room, if they are not back.
love & prayers,
Aunt Sharon