CA 19-9 Results

My mother's CA 19-9 result came in at 48. Dr. Laheru is taking a wait and see approach - we are scheduled for another blood test and CT scan in early December. We need to decide whether any action is warranted right now.

Eating Issues

After the stent insertion, we were hopeful our mother's condition would improve. Although she was certainly better than when she was in the hospital, her condition didn't improve that much. She still continued to suffer from terrible stomach aches, and her chronic fever returned. She went back for a follow-up with Dr. Hutcheon and we asked for some antibiotics. After she started taking the antibiotics her fever FINALLY subsided. It has now been a couple of weeks with only one small incident of fever. Dr. Hutcheon has prescribed the antibiotics for her indefinitely - we need to verify that this is OK. I suspect that all along her problems were related to this infection that caused her fever and stomach pains. I suspect that this condition worsened when she was last admitted and that perhaps the stent was not really necessary. In any case, she's doing a little bit better although she still has to eat very very carefully and she has not been able to gain any weight abover her 98 lbs. She has a hard time digesting certain foods and it turns out that one of the best things for her to eat is maguro sushi. That seems really easy to digest. I worry a little bit about getting some kind of food germ from the raw fish but the benefits I think outweigh the costs at this point. She has another CA 19-9 scheduled on Monday this coming week and I am very very worried about the results due to her previously slightly rising values. I am praying that the result is stable or lower than before. It has now been about 1 year since diagnosis - a year of struggle and suffering for her - I pray that her condition improves.