Biography

I am actually an adult child (34-years-old) of a Previous Cancer Patient/Survivor. My mother was diagnosed with Uterine/Endometrial Leiomyosarcoma in November 2008.

*My mom is/was a travel agent with her own small business. She was in Nicaragua at her first symptoms and diagnosis.
My dad was visiting a doctor and my mother started hemorrhaging in the waiting room. They did initial labs that concluded it was cancer. Second tests were done here that determined to type of cancer and she was immediately scheduled for surgery.

*I am a massage therapist and front desk worker for a medical device & biopharma executive search firm. I was the first to be called and was entrusted to set up all the initial appointments. i am now the secretary and speaker of the house…
Mom underwent a complete hysterectomy in December 2008 and a 2nd tumor was found March 2009 at the site were the cervix was removed (in the vagina) – before starting radiation. 3rd metastatic sites on her ribcage and nodules in her right lung – to be biopsied. Radiation Tx started 4/20/09 for vaginal tumor, and 4/27 for ribcage…
The cancer metasticized to various areas in her body – she had a lesion on her upper arm bone and one on her thigh, her pulmonary nodules have increased and has various pelvic tumors blocking her kidney function. July 22-27 – waited intermedullary nailing surgery to support the arm and leg bone; July 28, she got tubes to support kidney function and then start chemo August 3 – it was a 4-day 24-hour infusion, it killed her White Blood Cells and slowed her surgery recovery process, her doctors gave up on her. Her white blood cells started going up on August 19 and were back at normal range by August 23. The doctors stopped all cancer treatment at their own insisting and kept her fairly sedated even after our family’s dissaproval. Mom spent a total of 50 days in the hospital where she passed away on September 10, 2009 – she was 64-years-old.

Cancer Symptoms

With the first tumor, there was hemorrhaging; With the second tumor, she was spotting, she was tired and hungry. Her ribs hurt where the new mass was growing and couldn’t lift her arm.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects

Dec. 17, 2008 – complete hysterectomy (post-menopause)
~because mom is diabetic, her incision took 6 months to heal before starting radiation.
July 27, 2009 – mom went into surgery to have metal rods placed in arm and leg.

Radiation Description, Dates & Side Effects

Radiation Tx for Vaginal Tumor – 4/20/09-5/5/09 (mom is fatigued, loss of appetite)
Radiation Tx for Metastasis on Ribcage – 4/27/09-5/8/09
Mom developed a UTI that went unnoticed – doc said it was normal pain – this delayed her chemo tx.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects

Chemo start date 7/15/09 – Doxil infusion with Ativan and Compazine every 21 days…that was “potponed”.
Chemo, once started, was be Doxorubicin and Ifosfamide – 4 days of 24-hour infusions.
Mom was having delirious thoughts from the chemicals, they took her off of food – the doc said she “had enough fat on her” to get by without food. She was in and out of sleep from the sedatives in between chemo.

Fundraising Description

Spirit of Survival West 2009 – www.sarcomaalliance.com
http://beatsarcoma.org

Also fundraising for Susan G. Komen SF Race for the Cure

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