modify_evolution
Day 345- Support
Okay, Casey update time. And it's not exactly terrific news, as a heads up.
We met with the surgeon, Dr. King, today, discussing the surgery. We don't have a date on the surgery, because there are some new things we need to think through. So, if she goes through with the amputation in a few weeks, if nothing changes, the amputation would include removal of all the nerves controlling bowel and bladder function. This means Casey would have a colostomy bag and catheter for the rest of her life.
Here are her options:
1. Do the amputation in about a month. This is an option because she fractured her pelvis, and would not be able to use her leg anyway, even after the fracture heals (which, with the chemotherapy, it probably wouldn't do so well on it's own; they'd fill the fracture with a type of cement they use on older patients who fall and break bones). Obviously, the colostomy bag and catheter are a major downside to doing this.
2. Continue with chemotherapy for 3-6 months, and see if the tumor shrinks more. This is an option because it would mean that maybe, they could save the nerves controlling bowel and bladder function. However, she would not be able to enjoy the last months with her leg or anything, because she can't put weight on it (she broke her pelvis without even falling or hitting it).
3. Start radiation therapy. This hasn't been done yet because osteosarcomas don't respond well to it; some stop growing but don't shrink at all, and some just keep growing right through therapy. This is an option because it's possible it would help shrink it anyway. However, with the location of the tumor, they'd be radiating her bowel and bladder, and she would likely lose all function.
4. Don't do the surgery. While no one directly said it, this would basically be giving up. Casey would either be on chemo the rest of her life, which would slowly kill her, or she would die from the cancer.
Doing a more localized surgery without removing the leg is not an option. As I've been saying, with the location and size of the tumor, removing it effectively would also remove all the tendons and nerves controlling the leg; the leg would basically just be a floppy dead appendage. Casey and I have briefly discussed her options, and she's probably going to go with option 2: Continue with chemo for awhile, and then see if she can save bowel and bladder function later on.
**The rest includes slightly gory details about the specifics of the surgery. If you don't want to know details, stop here.**
To do the amputation, the surgeon would make an incision like a C-section in the front, but also in the back. This is also when they would do the colostomy, if necessary. During the course of the surgery, they would save the attached skin and muscle from her inner right thigh and fold it up at the end of the surgery to cover where her leg connected. They do have some filler material to go in any empty cavities. To sit properly, Casey would need to carry around a small pillow, because they're obviously removing that part of the pelvis that you sit on on her right side. Even if she doesn't end up needing a colostomy bag and/or a catheter, this is going to be a major, life-changing surgery. If she doesn't get it, she will die. At this point, we're hoping that the tumor will shrink enough that she can retain bowel and bladder function.
We absolutely appreciate all the support, even that shown in the form of votes on Victoria's Secret.
Day 345- Support
Okay, Casey update time. And it's not exactly terrific news, as a heads up.
We met with the surgeon, Dr. King, today, discussing the surgery. We don't have a date on the surgery, because there are some new things we need to think through. So, if she goes through with the amputation in a few weeks, if nothing changes, the amputation would include removal of all the nerves controlling bowel and bladder function. This means Casey would have a colostomy bag and catheter for the rest of her life.
Here are her options:
1. Do the amputation in about a month. This is an option because she fractured her pelvis, and would not be able to use her leg anyway, even after the fracture heals (which, with the chemotherapy, it probably wouldn't do so well on it's own; they'd fill the fracture with a type of cement they use on older patients who fall and break bones). Obviously, the colostomy bag and catheter are a major downside to doing this.
2. Continue with chemotherapy for 3-6 months, and see if the tumor shrinks more. This is an option because it would mean that maybe, they could save the nerves controlling bowel and bladder function. However, she would not be able to enjoy the last months with her leg or anything, because she can't put weight on it (she broke her pelvis without even falling or hitting it).
3. Start radiation therapy. This hasn't been done yet because osteosarcomas don't respond well to it; some stop growing but don't shrink at all, and some just keep growing right through therapy. This is an option because it's possible it would help shrink it anyway. However, with the location of the tumor, they'd be radiating her bowel and bladder, and she would likely lose all function.
4. Don't do the surgery. While no one directly said it, this would basically be giving up. Casey would either be on chemo the rest of her life, which would slowly kill her, or she would die from the cancer.
Doing a more localized surgery without removing the leg is not an option. As I've been saying, with the location and size of the tumor, removing it effectively would also remove all the tendons and nerves controlling the leg; the leg would basically just be a floppy dead appendage. Casey and I have briefly discussed her options, and she's probably going to go with option 2: Continue with chemo for awhile, and then see if she can save bowel and bladder function later on.
**The rest includes slightly gory details about the specifics of the surgery. If you don't want to know details, stop here.**
To do the amputation, the surgeon would make an incision like a C-section in the front, but also in the back. This is also when they would do the colostomy, if necessary. During the course of the surgery, they would save the attached skin and muscle from her inner right thigh and fold it up at the end of the surgery to cover where her leg connected. They do have some filler material to go in any empty cavities. To sit properly, Casey would need to carry around a small pillow, because they're obviously removing that part of the pelvis that you sit on on her right side. Even if she doesn't end up needing a colostomy bag and/or a catheter, this is going to be a major, life-changing surgery. If she doesn't get it, she will die. At this point, we're hoping that the tumor will shrink enough that she can retain bowel and bladder function.
We absolutely appreciate all the support, even that shown in the form of votes on Victoria's Secret.