About two months ago, Mom went in to have a lump on her neck looked at. Dr. Southwick, who is a wonderful doctor, was concerned and sent Mom to Dr. Backer, an ear, nose throat doctor. After a biopsy, they decided it was best for them to remove it. The tumor was located in her saliva gland. Dr. Baker removed the gland as well as scraped the lymph nodes around the area to do more testing. The test were positive for cancer, Adenoid-Cystic Carcinoma or ACC. It is a rare cancer that can either stay dormant for many years or become fierce. It is a jumping cancer, so the entire thing can move rather than stay isolated in one area. It follows the nerve and usually move to the lungs first.
Dr.Baker felt it was important to get Mom down to the University of Utah. There she met with a Dr.Bents. He feels confident that chemo therapy does nothing to this type of cancer, and he isn't real sure that radiation does much. He feels strongly that the best way to get rid of the cancer is surgically.
Mom had an appointment on Monday the 30, and on Thursday they took her in for surgery. I wasn't sure to take the hastiness of the operation as relief or concern. You would like to think that after 18 operations Mom would be a pro, but it still gets to her. She did really well considering she had to sit for about four hours in a room where only two of us could be at a time. Dr.Bentz was concerned that the cancer had spread to her nerve so he had to take a small portion out to see if it had been infected by cancer. By doing this, Mom lots feeling in part of her tongue, which probably won't come back. After the operation she spend three nights in the hospital. She went to Drue's house in Layton rather than traveling all the way back to Dubois. The waiting game was hard...but today finally came. And it was...
GOOD NEWS!
No cancer in the nerve and the inflamed lymph nodes were not cancerous! She goes back for another check up in six months, but for now she can get back to her busy life with friends and family!
Thank you, everyone for you concern, prayers, and gifts. It really helped to know that there was so much support.
10 comments:
WHOO HOO!!!That is so great. I'm glad to hear everything is going well and she is feeling good. If there is anything else I can do though...please please let me know. I had a blast with your kids last week. Guess what? 10 more days and I get to come see you guys! Yeah! You up for some scrapbooking?
I'm so glad to hear the GOOD NEWS. I will still continue to keep her in my prayers.
Good to hear about your mom. Keep us posted on any updates!
Yeah!! I am so glad that there wasn't more cancer in other areas. My sister-in-law had a surgery where they cut some nerves and she has lost her sense of smell and it was frustrating for her at first, but is now something that she has learned to live with. I hope it will be the same with your mom and her tongue. I am so glad for your family that you had GOOD NEWS!!
That is so awesome!!! I love your mom so much. She has taught me so much. Please send her my love and we will still keep praying for you all!
Echo I am so excited for you and your mom. I love her death and your whole famliy. YEAH!!!!
We are so glad for the good news!! Your mom is such a awesome lady!
Hey, I am experimenting on your blog. Hope you don't mind. I am checking to see if my profile picture comes up. Can't wait to see you guys this weekend. And congrats on the interview!!! That is so great!
Echo, I had no idea your mom was having a health scare. I'm so glad that she is alright. She is such a great woman. My sister came to visit last night and slept with the blanket your mom made for me. I think about you guys every time I get it out.
Thank Heavens! We are so glad that everything worked out! We've been so concerned and wondering how things have been going. Jeff has talked to Brock a couple times but guys don't really get details. We love your mom and are so grateful she's okay!
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