The biggest fuck cancer of all

[4speedy]

My mom (81 yo) was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer last week.  She has tumors on both ovaries and lesions/cancerous fluid throughout her abdomen.  She had a clean bill of health, including an ultrasound, 5 months ago.  Her doctors think it is a fast growing cancer, one tumor is 7.8cm, which is bigger than a tennis ball.  Her Dr. Says it is treatable but not curable.  She will have a laparoscopic procedure with a camera next week to see if one or both ovaries can be safely removed.  If the larger tumor has attached to the arteries feeding her bowels, it will not be safe to take out.  At 7.8cm, it is very like that it has grown around something beside her ovary.  So not looking good.

Here is the part that is pissing me off.  I was with her yesterday for her first oncology visit.  The doctor mention that surgery is her best option “right now.”  He then explained that it would normally be safer to shrink the tumor with chemo first before attempting to remove.  But the chemo drug she needs (carboplatin) has been on a national back order since February and may not be available for another 6-8 weeks.  They want to do the surgery first, if it is possible, to buy time and hope the chemo becomes available when she heals from her surgery.  

I just looked up info on the FDA website to see if there was any projection for when the chemo agent might become available.  No solid info available but there were guidelines for oncologists about decreasing doses and frequency of treatment.  It also suggested that if clinics are not able to obtain enough carboplastin, they prioritize patients with curative treatments and those patients with better long term outlooks.  I’m pretty sure my mom does not meet those two criteria for being prioritized for treatment.  

I can’t believe this is happening.

[bex1973]

((( 4speedy ))) I'm so sorry

[Pilsy]

Oh, 4speedy, this is horrible. I'm so sorry.

[TR]

I’m so sorry. My work tangentially involves drug shortages and the carboplatin shortage has been terrible.

[wildrice]

What the actual fuck? That is unbelievable and so incredibly unfair to cancer patients. I am so sorry! I hope the surgery does what it needs to and this doesn't end up impacting her prognosis.

[lovelovelove]

I am so so sorry

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m so sorry. 💔

[nsl]

I am so incredibly sorry. My H is a physician and we were talking about the chemo drug shortage last night. My thoughts are with you and your mom!

[daisycat]

I am so sorry.

[ssmjlm]

I'm so sorry.

[somersault72]

That is absolutely infuriating. I always have so many questions about drug shortages, especially drugs like this that can literally save lives. I am so, so sorry. I am mad for you and sad for you. Big, big hugs.

[erbear]

That's infuriating. I'm so sorry.

[cricketwife]

I’m so sorry. That’s both infuriating and heartbreaking. I really hope your mom does well with the surgery.

[fryjack2]

I'm so sorry. What a shitty, unfair gut punch to have to deal with med shortage on top of the diagnosis.

[nicolewi]

I am so very sorry for you and your mom! How awful.

[cleo29]

I am so sorry, 4speedy,. This is just terrible.

[dove]

Fuck cancer, indeed. I am so sorry. The meds situation just adds another layer of “fuck cancer”.

[momin2013]

I'm so sorry. This is just so incredibly unfair and infuriating.

[litskispeciality]

I'm so angry on your behalf. Huge (((HUGS))) please vent, and let us know if we can do anything to help

[wise_rita]

That is horrendous! I had no idea there were other med shortages out there (and only know about the ADHD med shortage from this place).

[womet]

I am so sorry.

[kdubs923]

I am so sorry. Sending good thoughts to you & your mom.   

Fuck cancer, indeed.

[Jalapeñomel]

I’m so sorry😞

[gottadobe]

I'm so sorry.

[hermione]

I am so sorry you and your mom have to deal with this. It's a nightmare on top of a nightmare.

[1confused1]

What a nightmare, I’m so sorry

[fluffycookie]

4speedy, I am so sorry! I just heard about the cancer drug shortage last week. I had no idea.

[sunshineluv]

I am so sorry. I can’t imagine the anger sadness and frustration you are feeling.

[bugandbibs]

My heart breaks that you and your mom are dealing with this. This makes something already hard, even more stressful.

[blondemoment123]

How awful. I'm so sorry.