# Can I get some good thoughts/prayers for my mom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 20, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231 "2015-02-20T23:59:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/101 "2015-04-20T17:31:25Z")
Just read this, so sorry for the ordeal, I went through something similar though different with my mom, and know it’s not easy. Good thoughts and prayers sent your way and her’s. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/102 "2015-04-20T18:08:49Z")
Fingers crossed for you. I’ll be at a wedding in what I think is your neck’o’the woods this weekend, possibly even the same church you’ve posted about. I’ll say a prayer for your mom. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/103 "2015-05-21T21:42:35Z")
**Update on my mother:** Today she had a consultation with the doctor about the state of her cancer. On Monday she’d had her chest scanned again. It’s good news and bad news. The doctor said the lung tumor has receded noticably, and should continue to do so. But…the spots on her spleen are “more active” I think that’s doctorese for they are getting bigger. It’s probably a different cancer, according to the doctor. So her spleen will have to come out. Next week she will discuss with the doctor when that surgery will be scheduled. Damn, I was hoping against hope that her prognosis would be better. But hey, one can live without a spleen, so maybe things will be okay. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/104 "2015-05-21T23:31:20Z")
Of all the innards your mom could lose at this point, the spleen is probably the best in terms of “it won’t be missed.” My cousin lost his spleen when he was 12 and at 70 he insists it has had no impact on him at all. I’m glad to hear the lung tumor is doing what it should be doing: going away. Hope the spleen surgery is able to be done “keyhole” or at least that it’s minimally invasive and doesn’t set her back. Best of luck. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/105 "2015-05-22T01:36:34Z")
Pretty much what **KayT** said and continued good thoughts from us both. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2015, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/106 "2015-05-22T01:50:22Z")
I’m not familiar with spleen cancer, but I tend to agree with kayT there. The lung tumor is the big issue - lung cancer is notoriously difficult to treat. If she’s having good results there, it’s a very, very good thing. If the spleen is a different cancer, and not metastasized, then removing it is hopefully a simple and effective cure. You say you wanted her prognosis to be better…I don’t really see anything that would cause a bad prognosis here. Like you say…you can live without a spleen. I like to think of this asgood news", and send continued good thoughts to you and her! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/107 "2015-07-08T03:21:12Z")
Update: Mom had her spleen out July 1st. She went home the very next day. The doctor said she could stay one more night, but Mom actually wanted to get home. One doesn’t get a whole lot of rest in the hospital. There’s noisy machines, staff poking and prodding all the time, and no real time to sleep. The spots on the spleen will be analyzed, but we won’t get word on that for a while. Mom goes back to the doctor in a couple of weeks to see how the lung is doing. Mom has been eating well and getting better outwardly, but is distressed because today there was a meeing with her lawyer concerning the insurance claims following the death of my father last year. It seems there will be no criminal charges filed against the man who killed him, but that’s a story for another time. Mom had a bad headache this afternoon after the meeting. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/108 "2015-07-08T03:24:48Z")
Thank you for the update. Is the news on the lung cancer still good? Continued best wishes from CA. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/109 "2015-07-08T04:13:57Z")
Thanks for the update. I hope you get good news about the spleen, and that the headaches diminish. ---
**Author:** ![jimbuff314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c57346/32.png) [@jimbuff314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimbuff314)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2015, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/110 "2015-07-08T05:56:13Z")
**Baker** - thinking good thoughts for you and your mom from south of you in NE OK. Take care of yourself, mentally and emotionally, as well. {_hugs_} for both. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/111 "2015-07-16T20:46:04Z")
Another update. My mother spoke with the oncologist today, about the spleen. He said the spots were a potentially agressive lymphoma that has not, yet, shown up anywhere else. For a younger person he’d recommend chemotherapy. But what will be done now is a bone marrow biopsy. If that is clear then the doctor says it would be classified as stage one. If it is present in the marrow, then stage two or three. There was no discussion of the lung todayafter all. Mom is not sure at this point if she would want to do chemo. We sisters say it’s her call. If it couldn’t cure, I don’t see the point, but it’s not my life. I just hope the marrow is clear. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/112 "2015-07-16T23:13:16Z")
I am making positive waves again. When I had a malignant melanoma, and told Mama Plant, she said, “Why ME? Why MY son?” 🙂 There is some evidence that a positive attitude by the people around the patients increases the survival rate, but Mama was never one for statistics. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/113 "2015-07-17T16:18:09Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Another update. > > My mother spoke with the oncologist today, about the spleen. He said the spots were a potentially agressive lymphoma that has not, yet, shown up anywhere else. For a younger person he’d recommend chemotherapy. But what will be done now is a bone marrow biopsy. If that is clear then the doctor says it would be classified as stage one. If it is present in the marrow, then stage two or three. There was no discussion of the lung todayafter all. > > Mom is not sure at this point if she would want to do chemo. We sisters say it’s her call. If it couldn’t cure, I don’t see the point, but it’s not my life. I just hope the marrow is clear. When is she undergoing the biopsy? I want to send some positive thoughts her way on that day. Please keep updating us. ---
**Author:** ![Grrlbrarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrlbrarian/32/4048_2.png) [@Grrlbrarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrlbrarian)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/114 "2015-07-17T16:30:04Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Another update. > > My mother spoke with the oncologist today, about the spleen. He said the spots were a potentially aggressive lymphoma that has not, yet, shown up anywhere else. For a younger person he’d recommend chemotherapy. But what will be done now is a bone marrow biopsy. If that is clear then the doctor says it would be classified as stage one. If it is present in the marrow, then stage two or three. There was no discussion of the lung today after all. > > Mom is not sure at this point if she would want to do chemo. We sisters say it’s her call. If it couldn’t cure, I don’t see the point, but it’s not my life. I just hope the marrow is clear. {{{Hugs}}} and good thoughts for your mom and for you and your sisters, too. I am so sorry that she is going through ALL of this. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fool\_in\_the\_Rain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fool_in_the_Rain)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/115 "2015-07-17T17:21:34Z")
{{{HUGS}}} Prayers and good thoughts for you **Baker** and **BakerMom** from the Northeast! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/116 "2015-07-17T21:07:46Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > When is she undergoing the biopsy? I want to send some positive thoughts her way on that day. > > Please keep updating us. Next Wednesday is the bone marrow biopsy. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2015, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/117 "2015-07-17T21:48:07Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Next Wednesday is the bone marrow biopsy. I’m so sorry your mom, you and your family are going through this. I will be thinking about her on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2015, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/118 "2015-07-18T04:35:06Z")
Good thoughts for you and your mom on Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/119 "2015-08-14T01:45:40Z")
Update: The bone marrow biopsy showed clear, but my mother’s oncologist said the cancer that had been on her spleen, those spots, was a nasty, sneaky form of lymphoma. He still recommends chemotherapy, and Mom has changed her mind and atl least decided to start it. Next Tuesday she will have a port put in her shoulder, to facilitate the chemo drugs. Then, Monday August 24, she will have her first round of chemotherapy. If she tolerates it there will be three more sessions following, at three week intervals. Instead of taking a week’s vacation this year I will take it one day at a time, so I can go with my mother to her treatments at the cancer center. So she will always have someone with her. Thanks for letting me work things out here. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231/120 "2015-08-14T01:58:57Z")
Praying the chemo will have the desired effect without more side effects than she can handle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-get-some-good-thoughts-prayers-for-my-mom/713231.md?page=7)