Tests Are Back

My mom went in for a CAT scan this past Friday, along with a cardiac test, to find out more about why she's been short of breath and whether there are tumors anywhere in her body. She had just gotten home when the hospital called to tell her she needed to get back to the hospital immediately to check in for the weekend. They had finally gotten the results in from all her various tests...

Bad news:

1. the biopsy came back positive, so she does have cancer cells growing in her chest cavity
2. she got admitted in the hospital so immediately because the cardiac test had revealed blood clots in major arteries in her abdomen and they wanted to put her on blood thinners immediately
3. the fluid around her lungs had to be removed so she could breathe, despite risks

Good news:

1. the cancerous fluid isn't in the lungs or the sac containing the lungs, it's in the chest cavity
2. CAT scan revealed no big tumors anywhere, so surgery not required
3. Sonogram revealed no additional blood clots in her legs

On Sunday, Mom was taken off the blood thinners briefly so they could remove the chest fluid. The procedure was more painful than last time, so they didn't remove as much fluid. The procedure went well, though, so she was breathing a bit more freely. Then she was right back on blood thinners to minimize the risk of the blood clots moving somewhere dangerous. She'll be in the hospital for careful monitoring for a few more days.

It has obviously been a little stressful to have so many bad things happen in such a short time. I'm really relieved, though, because there was something obviously wrong and we were just dealing with it at home. Now at least we know what the wrong things were and she's getting treatment and being monitored. Even though the hospital obviously doesn't expect people to bring babies there (no changing tables anywhere), Penny and I have been every day so far to help raise Mom's (and all the nurses') spirits. Babies appear to be a real rarity on the pulmonary (lung) ward -- almost as rare as non-smokers. I'm not sure what to do about when Mom comes home, though. Word is, she'll probably have to inject herself with blood thinners at home. None of us currently in the house likes needles, though. I'm not sure how long the shots will be necessary, either.

We continue to play it by ear. We're not waiting on any more test results, though, so hopefully the bad news will thin out for a bit. The best way to help for now is to keep Mom in your prayers. We'll keep folks posted as new developments come.